bbcuk--2020-05-14--Covid antibody test a 'positive development'

A test to find out whether people have been infected with coronavirus in the past has been approved by health officials in England .
Public Health England said the antibody test , developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche , was a `` very positive development '' .
The blood test looks for antibodies to see if a person has already had the virus and might now have some immunity .
Until now , officials have said such tests are not reliable enough .
The government previously spent a reported £16m buying antibody tests which later proved to be ineffective .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the first one to offer serious potential .
Antibodies are made by our immune system as it learns to fight an infection .
Finding antibodies that attack the coronavirus show that person has been infected in the past , but they do not prove they are protected against it in the future .
Experts at the government 's Porton Down facility evaluated the Roche test last week , Public Health England said .
They found that if someone had been infected , it gave the correct result 100 % of the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught coronavirus then it gave the correct result more than 99.8 % of the time .
It means fewer than two in 1,000 healthy people would be incorrectly told they had previously caught the coronavirus .
• New virus antibody test is 'fast and accurate' Health minister Edward Argar said the tests would mainly be used on those in the NHS and social care settings to begin with .
He could not give an exact date for when the testing could start .
Prof John Newton , national coordinator of the UK coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a very positive development because such a highly specific antibody test is a very reliable marker of past infection .
`` This in turn may indicate some immunity to future infection , although the extent to which the presence of antibodies indicates immunity remains unclear . ''
Roche is understood to be in talks with the Department of Health and Social Care about possible use by the NHS in England , though other testing products are also being assessed .
Health officials in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland make their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit if England does adopt it .
The test already has approval from medical regulators in the EU and the United States .
The main use of an antibody test is to find out how many people have been infected .
The official figures are only a fraction of the total number - not everybody is getting tested and some people are being infected without developing symptoms .
Antibody tests will help answer questions such as how far and how easily the virus has spread and , crucially , how deadly it really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lift lockdown - is highly controversial .
The idea is if you have antibodies , then you can go back to work .
This could be particularly helpful in hospitals and care homes full of vulnerable people , if you could guarantee the staff were immune .
But having antibodies does not automatically mean you can not get sick or harbour the virus and pass it on to others .
World Health Organization scientists advise against using so called `` immunity passports '' because of the lack of evidence .
The swab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK determine whether someone has the virus at the time of the test .
These will remain the core part of the government 's test , track and trace strategy for containing the spread of the virus .
Sir John Bell , regius professor of medicine at Oxford University , described the test as a `` major step forward '' .
But although it could determine whether someone had had the infection , it did not determine `` for sure '' whether they would be protected from the virus in future , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to completely understand what a positive result actually means , '' he told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme .
`` So we 're not there yet . ''
Last week , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK was in talks with Roche about a `` very large-scale roll-out '' of coronavirus antibody testing .
But he acknowledged there had been `` false hope before '' and that he would only make an announcement when the government was `` absolutely ready '' .
The Department of Health and Social Care said antibody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus strategy and an announcement would be made `` in due course '' .
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• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• The World Health Organization has warned that coronavirus may never go away • Re-starting NHS services , including cancer care and routine surgery , could take many months , experts have warned • Scores of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus • Allowing family gatherings is an `` important public health issue '' , England 's deputy chief medical officer has said - but it is `` complicated '' to make the rules fair • It is `` very likely '' the UK is in a `` significant recession '' , the chancellor has said , as figures show the economy contracting at the fastest pace since the financial crisis • HOSPITAL SPECIAL : The human stories behind the headlines • JESSE LINGARD 'S HOME WORKOUT @ @ @ @ @ @

But although it could determine whether someone had had the infection, it did not determine "for sure" whether they would be protected from the virus in future, he said.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: A&E visits in England down to record low

A & E visits in England have halved since the coronavirus outbreak started , dropping to their lowest level since records began .
Before the pandemic , more than 2.1m patients a month were visiting A & E .
In April that dropped to 916,581 .
Everything from cancer care to routine surgery has been disrupted by coronavirus , although ministers have called for services to be restored .
But re-starting NHS services could take many months , experts say .
Three think tanks said reorganising care and the need for protective kit and extra cleaning meant it would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NHE England data also shows urgent cancer referrals by GPs and routine operations have slowed .
It comes as NHS bosses have once again urged patients to seek urgent medical treatment if they need it .
There is particular concern that patients who have suffered strokes and heart problems have stayed away because of fears over coronavirus .
NHS England clinical director for stroke Dr Deb Lowe said she and fellow doctors were `` really worried '' that the numbers seeking help for stroke care had gone down .
• What protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are these seven targets being hit ?
• Who am I allowed to meet now ?
Figures published on Thursday showed A & E visits in England have halved since the outbreak began .
During April , there were 916,581 attendances - the lowest since records began in 2010 .
Before the coronavirus outbreak , more than 2.1m patients a month were visiting A & E .
In March that dropped to 1.53m .
Data for other areas lags a month behind - so for routine treatments and cancer care NHS England has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for March .
Lockdown was announced in late March .
GPs made 181,873 urgent cancer referrals during March - down from 196,425 on the same month in 2019 .
The number of patients admitted for routine surgery and treatment , such as knee and hip operations , dropped by a third to 207,754 , down from 305,356 in March 2019 .
Hospitals were told to start stopping routine care to free up beds for the coronavirus peak .
Meanwhile , community services have had to be scaled back as staff have been redeployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restricted .
Health visitors , for example , have been having to carry out most of their consultations with new mothers via phone or using video technology .
Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Lynda Thomas said despite urgent cancer care being prioritised during the lockdown , services were still affected , while she fears some patients were put off seeking help .
'Cancer must not become the forgotten ' C ' in this pandemic . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to look after your mental health The think tanks - the Nuffield Trust , King 's Fund and Health Foundation - said tackling the backlog in cases and restoring services was going to take time .
They warned staff were exhausted because they had been working flat out and needed time to recover .
The availability of protective kit , such as aprons and goggles , would need to be improved and expanded , while changes would need to be made to allow for social distancing .
What is more , capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a second peak .
• HOSPITAL SPECIAL : The human stories behind the headlines • JESSE LINGARD 'S HOME WORKOUT : Can you keep up ?
The NHS is expected to use the space at the 10 field hospitals - known as Nightingales in England - to provide some of this .
Only two of them are currently being used .
Nuffield Trust chief executive Nigel Edwards said : `` With the virus still at large there is no easy route back to the way things were before .
`` Unfortunately that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some services being put on hold . ''
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The NHS is expected to use the space at the 10 field hospitals - known as Nightingales in England - to provide some of this. Only two of them are currently being used.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Care homes felt 'completely abandoned'

Care homes felt `` completely abandoned '' as the coronavirus crisis swept across the UK , the National Care Association has said .
Nadra Ahmed , chair of the association , said advice to prioritise the NHS without adequately protecting elderly people in care may have been `` wrong '' .
It comes as the government announced £600m to improve infection control in homes .
Ms Ahmed told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme that care homes had been happy to support the NHS but struggled with a lack of protective equipment as well as with people being discharged from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus .
She said : `` Here we were , suddenly left completely abandoned .
And we understand the mantra that was about save the NHS - but our concern was , at what cost was that going to happen ? ''
The advice to government was `` certainly not well put and , yes , perhaps it was wrong '' , because the sector looking after `` the most frail and vulnerable '' should have been shielded .
• How many people have died in care homes ?
Despite promises that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now be tested , she said there were delays in getting results and funding promised for the sector was not yet reaching providers .
There have been more than 9,700 deaths linked to coronavirus in care homes , with 2,800 in the most recent week for which figures have been published .
The NHS Confederation , which represents NHS trusts and other organisations , said when the crisis was over the UK would need to address the `` national disgrace '' of `` our collective failure to address social care '' .
Niall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said it had been neglected too long and there needed to be `` fundamental reform '' to combine the social care system and NHS .
Mr Argar told the BBC the £600m announced by government to help stop the virus spreading in care homes had to `` get to the front line '' .
He acknowledged there were still issues with testing , saying the government would continue to `` ramp up '' its efforts in the coming weeks .
He said : `` There is still some capacity there that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that everyone can access it quickly and to make sure they can get the results back quickly . ''
But Labour 's shadow housing , communities and local government secretary Steve Reed said the £600m was `` a drop in the ocean '' .
He said that local authorities faced a £10bn shortfall , a third of which was for care homes , and he accused the government of `` backtracking '' on a promise to provide them with `` whatever was necessary to get communities through this crisis '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been badly advised by scientists when it failed to lock down care homes and stop non-essential visits at the same time as Italy on 5 March .
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`` We have some of the best scientists in the world modelling this and giving us the advice , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new , and every day we were learning something new about how it behaved .
And it did n't always behave exactly the same way in different countries . ''
He said Italy was `` ahead of us in terms of the curve and community transmission '' , which Mr Argar said was not occurring in the UK until it moved from the containment phase on 13 March .
But on 5 March , Prof Chris Whitty , the UK 's chief medical adviser , told MPs it was `` highly likely '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK .
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He said: "There is still some capacity there that we need to make available to care homes make sure that everyone can access it quickly and to make sure they can get the results back quickly."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Children affected by rare Kawasaki-like disease

Scores of UK and US children have been affected by a rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus .
In a tiny number of children it can cause serious complications , with some needing intensive care .
Up to 100 children in the UK have been affected and studies suggest the same reaction is being seen in children elsewhere in Europe .
It is likely to be caused by a delayed immune response to the virus which looks like Kawasaki disease .
In April , NHS doctors were told to look out for a rare but dangerous reaction in children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill in London , including a 14-year-old who died .
They all had similar symptoms when they were admitted to Evelina London Children 's Hospital , including a high fever , rash , red eyes , swelling and general pain .
Most of the children had no major lung or breathing problems , although seven were put on a ventilator to help improve heart and circulation issues .
Doctors are describing it as a `` new phenomenon '' similar to Kawasaki disease shock syndrome - a rare condition that mainly affects children under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rash , swollen glands in the neck and dry and cracked lips .
But this new syndrome is also affecting older children up to the age of 16 , with a minority experiencing serious complications .
• Coronavirus : 'My son had symptoms of rare syndrome' Dr Liz Whittaker , clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology , at Imperial College London , said the fact that the syndrome was occurring in the middle of a pandemic , suggests the two are linked .
`` You 've got the Covid-19 peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later we 're seeing a peak in this new phenomenon which makes us think that it 's a post-infectious phenomenon , '' she said .
This means it is likely to be something related to the build up of antibodies after infection .
Prof Russell Viner , president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health , said the majority of children who have had the condition have responded to treatment and are getting better and starting to go home .
The syndrome is `` exceptionally rare '' , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease `` might explain why some children become very ill with Covid-19 , while the majority are unaffected or asymptomatic '' .
Children are thought to make up just 1-2 % of all cases of coronavirus infection , accounting for less than 500 admissions to hospital .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
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• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
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Michael Levin , professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imperial , explained that most of the children tested negative for coronavirus , but tested positive for detection of antibodies .
`` So we really think that the biology of the disease , somehow involves an unusual immune response to the virus , '' he said .
However Prof Levin said there was `` a vast amount to learn '' about the reaction , which had only been known about for two to three weeks .
Children appear to be affected up to six weeks after they have been infected with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new syndrome several weeks after the peak of UK cases .
What is the situation elsewhere in the world ?
There have been similar cases in the US , Spain , Italy , France and the Netherlands .
At least 15 US states are looking into the rare condition , according to New York governor Andrew Cuomo .
Out of 82 diagnosed cases of the inflammatory syndrome in New York , 53 children tested positive or had antibodies for Covid-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated definition of the syndrome to healthcare providers this week .
Meanwhile , according to a study by doctors in northern Italy , 10 children have been affected by the disease .
All 10 of the children in the study were admitted to a hospital in Bergamo - the city at the centre of the worst outbreak in Italy - between mid-February and mid-April , and recovered .
The children , who had an average age of seven , tended to have severe symptoms such as heart complications and signs of toxic shock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with steroids .
In antibody tests on the children , eight appeared to have already had the coronavirus while the other two had not .
But the researchers said the tests were not 100 % accurate .
Swab tests to detect the virus are not thought to be useful because the reaction tends to occur many weeks after infection .
Dr Lucio Verdoni , report author and doctor at the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo , said : `` Although this complication remains very rare , our study provides further evidence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Child health experts in the UK say it may not be something which just affects children .
They are now working with researchers in the US and across Europe to find out more about what they have called paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome or ( PIMS-TS ) .

In antibody tests on the children, eight appeared to have already had the coronavirus while the other two had not. But the researchers said the tests were not 100% accurate. Swab tests to detect the virus are not thought to be useful because the reaction tends to occur many weeks after infection.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--EastEnders and Top Gear to resume filming in June, BBC says

EastEnders and Top Gear will go back into production in June , but the stars will be socially distanced and will have to do their own hair and make-up .
Virtually all filming has been on hold since the lockdown began in March .
The BBC said it would use `` strictly limited '' crews and stick to government guidelines when it resumes .
BBC director of content Charlotte Moore said : `` We 're also exploring ways to re-start filming on more dramas and other major BBC shows as soon as possible . ''
Writing in The Telegraph , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help fire up the engines of British TV production - safely and sensibly '' .
She wrote : `` We 've been looking very carefully at how we can safely put some of our shows back into production , and I 'm pleased to announce that we plan to begin filming again on both EastEnders and Top Gear by the end of next month . ''
She continued : `` Cast members will do their own hair and make-up .
Social distancing measures will be in place . ''
Episodes of EastEnders that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been rationed by BBC One .
But when existing episodes run out , there is likely to be a gap before the new ones reach screens .
Coronavirus is expected to be referenced as part of the storylines , although not in a prominent way .
The corporation has been filming one drama series during lockdown .
New versions of Alan Bennett 's Talking Heads monologues are being made by skeleton crews on the EastEnders and Holby City sets , which is `` showing what 's possible under Covid-19 restrictions '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anniversary special from Buckingham Palace and the recent Hospital coronavirus specials `` are examples of how well we can rise to the creative and technical challenge '' , she added .
She did not say when other dramas like Line of Duty , Peaky Blinders and Call the Midwife - which all put filming on hold - are likely to return to set .
She added that the BBC was `` determined to do everything we can '' to `` kick-start the TV industry and support our brilliant production sector nationwide '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with reworked scripts and fewer characters in specific scenes .
Some are being filmed in `` smaller components '' before being stitched together in the editing room , executive producer Jason Herbison told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday .
In intimate scenes , a character might `` lean in for a kiss , and then the camera pans away and we hear a little bit of a giggle '' , he said .
`` It 's just about re-imagining the scene differently , so you do n't see that moment of impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Coronation Street • How socially distanced stars are still shooting TV dramas Herbison said there would be no explicit references to coronavirus in the show , but viewers would see characters doing thing like sanitising their hands in restaurants .
Other British soaps , such as ITV 's Coronation Street and Emmerdale and Channel 4 's Hollyoaks , have not yet announced how and when they expect to start filming again .
Corrie producer Iain MacLeod did recently say the pandemic would feature in future episodes , but it wo n't `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

She wrote: "We've been looking very carefully at how we can safely put some of our shows back into production, and I'm pleased to announce that we plan to begin filming again on both EastEnders and Top Gear by the end of next month."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Spurs star Alli held at knifepoint in robbery

Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli was held at knifepoint during a burglary in the early hours of Wednesday morning .
Two men broke into the 24-year-old 's house in north London , where he is spending lockdown with his brother and their respective partners .
Alli was threatened and punched during the incident and suffered minor facial injuries in a scuffle .
Alli has handed CCTV footage to the police .
`` Thank you for all the messages .
Horrible experience but we 're all okay now .
Appreciate the support , '' Alli posted on Twitter on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been offering our support to Dele and those isolating with him .
We encourage anyone with any information to help the police with their investigation to come forward . ''
A Metropolitan Police statement said : `` Police were called at approximately 00:35 BST on Wednesday , 13 May to reports of a robbery at a residential address .
`` Two males gained entry to the property and stole items of jewellery , including watches , before fleeing .
`` Two male occupants at the property suffered minor facial injuries after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
`` There have been no arrests .
Enquiries into the circumstances continue . ''
In March , the family of Alli 's Spurs team-mate Jan Vertonghen was robbed at knifepoint while he was away on Champions League duty .

Last updated on .From the section Tottenham
Alli has 37 England caps and was part of his country's squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia
Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli was held at knifepoint during a burglary in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Two men broke into the 24-year-old's house in north London, where he is spending lockdown with his brother and their respective partners.
Alli was threatened and punched during the incident and suffered minor facial injuries in a scuffle.
The intruders stole items of jewellery including watches.
Alli has handed CCTV footage to the police.
"Thank you for all the messages. Horrible experience but we're all okay now. Appreciate the support," Alli posted on Twitter on Wednesday night. external-link
Spurs added: "We have been offering our support to Dele and those isolating with him. We encourage anyone with any information to help the police with their investigation to come forward."
A Metropolitan Police statement said: "Police were called at approximately 00:35 BST on Wednesday, 13 May to reports of a robbery at a residential address.
"Two males gained entry to the property and stole items of jewellery, including watches, before fleeing.
"Two male occupants at the property suffered minor facial injuries after being assaulted. They did not require hospital treatment.
"There have been no arrests. Enquiries into the circumstances continue."
In March, the family of Alli's Spurs team-mate Jan Vertonghen was robbed at knifepoint while he was away on Champions League duty.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Uber drivers told to wear face masks but not in UK

Uber drivers and passengers in most countries will have to wear face masks from next week as the ride-hailing firm toughens its coronavirus policy .
The new rule takes effect on Monday .
It applies to services in the US , Canada , Mexico , India and most of Europe , Latin America , the Middle East and Africa .
But the UK is not on the list , following government guidance which advises but does not require people to wear face coverings in confined spaces .
Although it is not making it compulsory to wear a face mask in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed free protective equipment to UK drivers , including more than a million single-use face masks , as well as 95,000 cleaning sprays .
In the coming weeks , it will hand out another two million masks .
`` As well as working with Unilever to provide drivers with free sanitising products , Uber is distributing millions of masks and directly reimbursing drivers if they choose to source the PPE themselves , '' an Uber spokesman told the BBC .
At the same time , Uber , along with taxi firm Addison Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government looks to ease coronavirus restrictions and people return to work .
Addison Lee will fit perspex partition screens between drivers and passengers across its 4,000 vehicles next week .
And Uber is paying the AA to install partitions in 400 cars in Newcastle , Sunderland and Durham as part of an initial pilot .
`` We know there is significant demand from drivers , passengers , businesses and the general public for more to be done to make transport cleaner and safer as we go back to work - including calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private hire vehicles , '' said Liam Griffin , chief executive of London-based Addison Lee .
`` That 's why we have taken the decision to begin rolling out the installation of safety screens between drivers and passenger seats . ''
Uber said its pilot in the North East of England was crucial for the company to get a better understanding of how to carry passengers on journeys as safely as possible .
Uber is first trialling the partition screens in areas where it has been able to gain the permission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that the screens are installed safely .
• Coronavirus : The taxi drivers left 'desperate ' by the lockdown On Wednesday , Transport for London ( TfL ) updated its guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle firms .
The regulator is advising firms to have drivers and passengers socially distance , with passengers sitting in the back seats of cars .
It advised drivers to carry a bottle of hand sanitiser gel in their vehicle that contains at least 60 % alcohol .
However , when it comes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) such as face masks , gloves or partition walls , TfL said it is waiting to hear from the London Strategic Coordination Group ( SCG ) on recommendations before mandating additional coronavirus prevention and control measures for taxis and private hire vehicles .
The BBC understands that a number of taxi firms in the UK are seeking clarification from the government on health and safety precautions to take once the lockdown ends , and would prefer regulation rather than advice .
In Wales , taxi drivers told the BBC they experience anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are still waiting for approval from their local councils before they can make any modifications to their vehicles , such as installing a screen .
`` Two months into a public health emergency which has seen private hire drivers suffer one of the highest occupational mortality rates , yet TfL and the Department for Transport ( DfT ) are still not taking responsibility to introduce necessary safety controls , '' James Farrar , chair of the United Private Hire Drivers trade body , told the BBC .
`` Poor regulatory standards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for desperately exploited drivers . ''
The trade body is similarly concerned that Uber is not providing partition screens to its drivers in other parts of the UK , such as London , which has the largest concentration of Uber drivers in the country .
Mr Farrar wants to see Uber commit to limiting bookings to no more than two passengers per vehicle , and to make the wearing of masks mandatory for both drivers and passengers .
For now , there is no evidence available that demonstrates that partitions in taxis will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But there is some evidence that the use of cloth face coverings can help to reduce transmission of coronavirus infection where it is not possible for people to maintain a distance of 2m .

Although it is not making it compulsory to wear a face mask in the UK, Uber said it had distributed free protective equipment to UK drivers, including more than a million single-use face masks, as well as 95,000 cleaning sprays. In the coming weeks, it will hand out another two million masks.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: From being an MP to claiming universal credit

A former Labour MP has spoken about being unemployed for the first time and having to apply for universal credit during the coronavirus lockdown .
Paul Sweeney lost his Glasgow North East seat to the SNP at last December 's general election .
Until then , he had been expected to rise through the Labour ranks and was working on Angela Rayner 's bid to become deputy party leader .
Now he finds himself with no income as the jobs market has ground to a halt .
The 31-year-old lifelong Labour activist admitted he found it `` quite disorientating '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no work to focus on .
`` The expectation was that something would come up and I would find something useful to do , '' he told the BBC .
`` But when you are stuck at home all the time with the lockdown , it is very tricky to do that .
`` There was little alternative but to apply for universal credit . ''
Universal credit is a consolidated monthly payment for those of working-age , which replaced a host of previous benefits including income-based Jobseeker 's Allowance , housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax credit .
Nearly two million people have applied for universal credit benefits since the government advised people to stay at home due to coronavirus in March .
The government said that figure was six times the normal claimant rate .
Having only served as an MP for two years , Mr Sweeney received two months ' salary as a redundancy payment .
`` That quickly runs out when you 've got ongoing costs like a mortgage to deal with , '' he said .
`` But there is no shame in having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there for everyone , regardless of how prestigious you think your previous job was .
`` If they are in a sticky situation , that is the reality for many people on UC . ''
Mr Sweeney applied for the benefit last week and is still waiting for his case to be processed .
He said the turn of events in his life had been `` bizarre to say the least '' .
`` Six months ago I was an MP helping people deal with the Department of Work and Pensions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself having to apply for it .
`` But I think it just shows that if you are from a working-class or a lower-middle-class background like mine , you rely on your salary to live .
`` If you do n't have that salary , then in a couple of months you are going to find yourself in difficulties . ''
He added : `` In the future for me , like many people I have skills to offer and I hope it will pick up in due course and we will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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bbcuk--2020-05-14--George Alagiah's debut novel up for author's award

BBC newsreader George Alagiah has been shortlisted for a Society of Authors award for his debut novel .
Alagiah 's The Burning Land , is up for the Paul Torday memorial prize , awarded to a first novel by a writer over 60 .
The thriller 's plot revolves around corruption and homicide in South Africa .
Also in contention for the award include Madeleine by Euan Cameron , Gaby Koppel 's Reparation and Find Me Falling by Fiona Vigo Marshall .
Also competing are Donald S Murray 's As the Women Lay Dreaming and The Stranger She Knew by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judged by fellow authors William Fiennes , Catherine Johnson and Sarah Waters .
`` There 's a great range of novels on this exciting shortlist : some have the pace and punch of thrillers and detective stories , others have the lyricism of poetry or the disconcerting shimmer of dream and nightmare , '' said Waters .
`` What they all have in common , however , is an interest in tackling some of the big issues of our time - issues like injustice and reparation , trauma and recovery .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Alagiah tweeted to say he was `` so proud to be in the company of such amazing talents in the shortlist '' .
Last year , the 64-year-old said he 'd been `` overwhelmed '' by supportive comments from viewers welcoming his return to BBC One 's News at Six .
The journalist , who is being treated for bowel cancer , also revealed last month that he had had a mild case of coronavirus .
`` In some ways , I think that those of us living with cancer are stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is like to go into something where the outcomes are uncertain , '' he told colleague Sophie Raworth .
The Society of Authors also announced on Thursday that Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston - sometimes referred to as the `` Banksy of Poetry '' and `` Twitter 's unofficial Poet Laureate '' - has been shortlisted for the McKitterick Prize , awarded to a first novel by a writer over 40 .
Elsewhere , Costa Award-winner Sally Gardner has been shortlisted for the inaugural Queen 's Knickers award for her children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sea Dragon , illustrated by Nick Maland .
All the winners will be revealed online on 18 June , along with a series of short films marking each of the selected works , as part of the free digital SoA @ Home Festival .
It will also feature an in-conversation event with How to Train Your Dragon writer , Cressida Cowell .
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If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"In some ways, I think that those of us living with cancer are stronger because we kind of know what it is like to go into something where the outcomes are uncertain," he told colleague Sophie Raworth.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Birmingham City Council 'was sent PPE six years out of date'

A council has asked for government reassurance that a supply of personal protective equipment for staff on the front line against Covid-19 is safe , despite being six years out of date .
Birmingham City Council said it received a delivery in April of about 4,000 masks with 2014 use-by dates .
The authority claims a further supply was sent to it with plain stickers covering the 2014 date with a 2019 one .
A minister overseeing PPE would respond to the council , the government said .
It has also emerged more of the same FFP3 masks have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing to 16,000 the total number of masks the council has in stock but said it could not use .
In a letter to housing minister Chris Pincher , who has been co-ordinating the government 's efforts to supply local authorities with PPE , council leader Ian Ward said it was first made aware of a potential issue with the masks on 22 April .
The Labour-controlled authority had since then been asking `` on a daily basis '' for written confirmation of their safety from the Ministry of Housing , Communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Social Care , he added .
Mr Ward said it was `` incredibly concerning '' the government had failed to do so , despite the `` severe implications '' of it not providing assurances - specifically that the council had only `` a few '' days ' supply of useable FFP3 masks left to distribute .
He wrote : `` Our primary objective is to protect the health and safety of those that may need PPE .
We will not jeopardise their safety by releasing potentially ineffectual , date-expired stock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been tested `` a clear , documented audit trail should be readily available '' .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Mr Ward said : `` It is quite frankly outrageous that we are having to chase the government on this issue .
`` Those workers , that are putting themselves in harm 's way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , should not be put at even greater risk with the supply of potentially defective PPE .
`` Please can we receive the ministry 's urgent written assurance that our current stock of date-expired PPE is safe to use ? ''
The Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government told the BBC Mr Pincher would be `` responding to the letter in due course '' .
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It has also emerged more of the same FFP3 masks have been sent out in the past two weeks, bringing to 16,000 the total number of masks the council has in stock but said it could not use.


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Will I be able to go on holiday?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has eased some of the lockdown restrictions in England .
People in England can now go outside for unlimited exercise and recreation , and more people are returning to work .
But when will people be able to go away for a break ?
Can I go on holiday now ?
Holidays are not permitted under the new guidance .
You are free to drive any distance to other destinations in England , like parks and beaches , but are not supposed to stay overnight somewhere you do not normally live .
This includes any second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can not rent a self-catering cottage or Airbnb property , and UK campsites , hotels and holiday parks will remain shut until at least 4 July .
In terms of day trips , many national parks remain closed , and public facilities such as car parks and toilets may not be open either .
People are also being advised to avoid public transport wherever possible .
Cumbria Police has urged people not `` to rush to the Lake District '' and Visit Cornwall also asked visitors to stay away .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not travel into Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland , where residents are are still being told to avoid any non-essential travel .
Can I go on a foreign holiday ?
The Foreign Office is still advising British nationals against any non-essential foreign travel , and is urging those abroad to return home , if possible .
Various other countries like the US have travel restrictions which prevent or limit foreign arrivals , and many airlines are offering a reduced service , or have suspended all flights .
The UK has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as possible , which will apply to both visitors and UK nationals returning home , although people coming from Ireland and France will be exempt .
It is just not possible to say at this stage .
Hotels and holiday resorts in England may start to reopen at the beginning of July , if the government considers enough progress has been made against its five tests .
Restrictions may also ease across the rest of the UK , allowing people to travel more widely at home .
Ryanair and British Airways plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and EasyJet hopes it will join them .
All TUI and First Choice holidays are cancelled until at least 11 June .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned `` big , lavish international holidays '' are unlikely to be possible this summer .
What are other countries doing ?
European countries are also considering how to handle the summer holiday season .
The EU has insisted there will be a summer season this year .
The European Commission has proposed a gradual lifting of travel restrictions throughout the EU .
Seasonal workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections could start to travel more freely first .
The commission recommends people follow social distancing rules and use mandatory face masks while travelling , and that there is controlled access to hotel and restaurant facilities in resorts .
There would have to be enough hospital capacity to deal with any spike in cases , and it is clear that if infections start to rise again , restrictions may be reimposed .
The plans are non-binding , so it will be up to individual countries to implement changes , and it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for UK travellers .
• How is the lockdown being lifted across Europe What about going away in the autumn ?
Again , it is impossible at this stage to say if it will be possible .
Travel advice will need to have been updated , but it depends on the disease 's progress .
Holidays and flights booked against Foreign Office travel advice are unlikely to be covered by travel insurance if you are not able to travel after all .
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms ?
What about holidays already booked for this year ?
If your package holiday or flights have already been cancelled , then you are are entitled to a full cash refund .
However , lots of people are struggling to get their money back , and being offered vouchers or rebooked trips instead .
The Association of British Travel Agents and Ryanair 's chief executive Michael O'Leary have both told the BBC that customers will have to wait longer than normal to get a refund .
If you are offered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cash , you can accept or refuse it .
But if the airline later folds , the voucher may no longer be valid .
Some customers have asked their credit card provider to help get their money back .
What about trips that have n't been cancelled yet ?
If your airline or holiday company has n't cancelled your holiday yet , but you no longer wish to travel , you may not be entitled to a refund .
However , some providers are allowing people to rebook trips for a later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to wait until nearer the time to request a refund , but should contact your airline or holiday company to discuss your options .

UK holidays: What are the rules? Published 17 August 2021
Image source, Getty Images
Going abroad is not straightforward at the moment, so many people are choosing to holiday in the UK this summer.
What are the current rules?
Can I go on holiday anywhere in the UK?
You can travel freely between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, unless you have to self-isolate because you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive.
All holiday accommodation - including hotels, hostels, B&B, caravans and boats - can operate across the UK.
If you have to cancel a trip because of Covid, you may be entitled to a refund or to rearrange for a later date, but this will depend on the terms and conditions of your booking, so you will need to discuss this with your holiday provider.
Anyone planning a trip to the Scottish islands is asked to take two lateral flow tests - one on the day of travel and one three days before.
People travelling to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are also advised to test before departure and after arrival, but this is not law.
Some UK cruise operators are insisting passengers do a rapid test before boarding. Saga and P&O have said all cruise passengers must be fully vaccinated.
Image source, Getty Images
Can I stay with people I don't live with?
There is no longer any requirement for social distancing, and no limits on how many people can stay together in holiday accommodation or private homes in England, Scotland or Wales.
However people are still advised to meet others outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces wherever possible.
There are still some restrictions in place in Northern Ireland:
10 people from three households can meet and stay indoors in private dwellings and holiday accommodation
Unlimited households can meet outdoors
Social distancing of 1m (3ft) remains for many indoors activities, including restaurants, retail and shopping centres
No social distancing laws outdoors, or on public transport, but 1m (3ft) recommended
The Northern Ireland Executive is due to discuss easing remaining restrictions at its next meeting on 1 September.
Image source, Getty Images
Do I have to wear a mask on holiday?
Face coverings are no longer required by law in England, although the government "expects and recommends" that they are worn in crowded and enclosed spaces.
However, a number of transport operators in England are still asking customers to wear masks, as are a number of shops and supermarkets.
Wearing a face covering remains compulsory in many public indoor spaces in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, including on public transport, so you will be expected to use a mask on any cross-border plane, train or bus journey, unless you are exempt.
Image source, Getty Images
Are all visitor attractions open?
Museums, galleries, amusement parks, leisure centres, cinemas, theatres, stately homes and gardens can open across the UK.
However, some venues are still not operating at full capacity, and you may need to pre-book tickets, so you should check before you visit.
You may still be asked to wear a face covering or physically distance from other people.
Businesses in Wales are required to carry out risk assessments to decide if social distancing measures are still needed.
Indoor hospitality venues in Scotland must continue to collect customer contact details. Organisers of outdoor events for more than 5,000 people and indoor events for more than 2,000 have to apply for permission to go ahead.
Nightclubs are still closed in Northern Ireland.
Image source, Getty Images
What are the rules for visiting the Common Travel Area?
The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a term which covers the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Travel within the CTA is not considered international travel.
Fully vaccinated adults or under-18s travelling from the UK to other CTA destinations may not need to do any travel-related testing or quarantine on arrival, but the rules do vary, so you need to check before arranging a trip.
Read the rules for journeys to Ireland
Read the rules for journeys to the Isle of Man
Read the rules for journeys to Jersey
Read the rules for journeys to Guernsey (also Alderney, Sark and Herm)
As long as you've not been outside the CTA in the previous 10 days, you do not have to complete a passenger locator form, take any Covid tests or quarantine on your return to the UK.
Image source, Getty Images
What are the rules for travelling abroad?
Foreign travel is allowed, but people must follow different rules about testing and quarantine according to the traffic light status of their destination country.


bbcuk--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation rules?

From Wednesday , individuals in England will be allowed to meet with one other person from outside their household if they stay outdoors .
They will also be able to take part in more outdoor activities and exercise as much as they want .
However , people will still need to follow social distancing rules by keeping more than 2m ( 6ft ) apart from anyone they do n't live with .
It 's part of the government 's `` careful steps '' to ease lockdown measures for England .
Who am I allowed to meet ?
The new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person from outside their household outdoors - as long as they stay more than 2m apart .
They can also play a non contact sport together outdoors , such as tennis , if they stay distanced .
This easing only applies to two individuals from separate households , so , for example , someone would n't be allowed to meet both their parents together .
It also means that having a barbecue in your garden for friends would not be allowed , even if you all stayed 2m apart .
And you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your home .
However , anyone who is shielding and has been asked to stay at home should continue to do so .
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) , is investigating whether to allow two households to socialise with each other , provided neither side mixes with other groups - this is known as a `` social bubble '' .
This would allow more social contact , and allow households to share childcare , while hopefully limiting transmission .
The government is also looking at ways small weddings could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I exercise with other people ?
People in England are allowed to spend more time outdoors , for example to have a picnic in the park , provided they observe social distancing .
They can also exercise as much as they wish and play certain non contact sports like golf tennis or basketball with one other person from outside their household .
However , they are still unable to use areas like playgrounds and outdoor gyms where there is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces .
People in England are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to outdoor open spaces .
But they should not travel to Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland , or stay anywhere else overnight , including at a second home .
• In Scotland and Wales , people have been allowed to exercise more than once a day since Monday .
• In Wales people should start and finish exercise from home • In Northern Ireland you can drive to a safe space for exercise • Dogs can be walked as part of a person 's daily exercise Why is social distancing necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets - packed with the virus - into the air .
These can be breathed in , or can cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on , and then touch your face with unwashed hands .
• Should outdoor exercise be banned and parks closed ?
Why does the virus spread less outdoors ?
For many reasons , the transmission of viruses is less likely when `` fresh '' air is involved - and that 's usually when people are outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in crowded , indoor spaces which is why pubs , restaurants and many workplaces have been closed and the public has been advised against using public transport .
Outdoors , it 's a different matter - and that 's mainly to do with what we know about how the virus is spread .
Most scientists agree there are three main ways infections could happen : • By touching a surface which has been infected by droplets and then touching your face • From tiny particles that stay suspended in the air • From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall to the ground more quickly When outdoors , we 're much less likely to come into contact with an infected surface , while any tiny particles of virus ( called aerosols ) would be dispersed by fresh air .
So the main remaining danger comes from large droplets , and staying 2m ( 6ft ) away from other people - as social distancing guidelines recommend - should overcome that .
There are also natural elements working in our favour outside - breezes , air currents , rain , wind - which all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being passed from one person and landing on another .
The latest government guidance suggests the virus is less likely to be passed on in well-ventilated buildings , too .
People are advised to open windows and use fans to increase ventilation .
If you show symptoms of coronavirus - such as a dry cough and high temperature - you must take extra precautions .
You should stay at home and not leave it for any reason .
This is known as self-isolation .
You should not go out even to buy food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online , or ask someone to drop them off at your home .
You can use your garden , if you have one .
What about those who are clinically vulnerable ?
The advice has n't changed for those who have an underlying health condition which makes them `` clinically extremely vulnerable '' They are more likely to be seriously affected by coronavirus and should remain at home .
To minimise the risk , friends or family should drop off food and medicine at the door , or it should be ordered online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone , or online .
Others in the same household , and carers , can go out as long they observe proper social distancing .
People aged over 70 are advised to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside their household .
• Will over-70s have to stay in lockdown ?
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?

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


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Behind each statistic, there was a life

As the hundreds of Covid-19 deaths in the UK became thousands and then tens of thousands , it 's sometimes overlooked that behind each statistic lies a person 's life .
Here three families share their memories of the people they 've lost with the virus .
On Sundays he would come home to his wife and kids , put on the Fidelity record player and accompany Nat King Cole .
He also loved a drink - one of his main tipples being Joseph Holt bitter .
You 'd find him in a pub dressed in a suit , belting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of his favourites was Here In My heart by Al Martino .
`` He was a great singer and he loved it , '' says his son Alan , 56 .
`` As he got older sometimes he could n't hit the note .
So he 'd get to a certain point and be like , 'Right that 's all you 're getting now ' .
That 's what one of his lines was . ''
Thomas was a proper Salford character who did n't suffer fools .
To family and friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone else : `` Mr Fox '' .
A lifelong Salford resident , Thomas was father to eight sons - Tony , David , Ronny , Danny , Andrew , Alan , Richard and Robert - and worked in a number of jobs to provide for them , including as a miner .
When his wife May was working night shifts at a care home , Thomas would step in as family cook .
It did n't always go to plan though .
`` Everything in the pan was green , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potatoes , even the carrots and the meat .
He 'd put mint in it .
We both sat down and my mate just looked at it and said , 'No you 're OK , I 'm not hungry ' .
But dad said , 'You 're eating it ' .
`` He sat with us so in the end… Terry never came again . ''
Losing May in 2002 was hard , but Thomas soldiered on into old age - cooking , cleaning , keeping house .
`` I expected him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telegram off the Queen so he could send it her back , '' Alan laughs .
`` He was n't really a royalist . ''
`` I want my dad to be remembered as one of Salford 's great characters , '' says Alan .
`` A good singer and a good father . ''
While the elderly at greater risk from the effects of Covid-19 , others are not immune .
Raj Aggarwal was 51 when he died .
His wife Sunita was with him until the end - allowed , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's bedside to say their farewells .
Sunita remembers the first time she set eyes on Raj .
She `` knew he was the right one '' .
The pair met through an arranged marriage but dated for a year before they wed. '' He was such a romantic , '' says Sunita , 48 .
`` He would always be sending me a tape of his favourite songs and he 'd send me presents on my first week anniversary , our first month anniversary .
He could n't do enough . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife to the Maldives to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary and her birthday .
One morning , he treated Sunita to a floating breakfast in a private pool which overlooked the pristine blue sea .
`` Then he surprised me on the way back with a first-class ticket .
Even then it did n't stop , he still bought me a present on the plane .
It was a necklace and matching earrings . ''
Dad-of-two Raj was a `` born and bred '' retailer , owning grocery stores and cafes in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always also generous with his time , says Sunita , donating food to homeless agencies and sponsoring the shirts of the local football team .
His last post on Facebook on 27 March showed him dropping off tea , coffee and biscuits at Glenfield Hospital for NHS staff .
`` Recently if any of the paramedics came into the store he would n't charge them for their lunches , '' says Sunita .
`` He said , ' I 'm not charging them because they 're doing such a good job ' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembered as the unselfish person that he was , '' says his wife .
`` Full of love , smiles and energy . ''
Not everyone has been able to have their family around them during their final days .
Felicity Siyachitema , 51 , lived alone in Southend-on-Sea in Essex .
Her eldest son , Tapiwa Nyatoro , 33 , lives in Canada and was only able to get a phone call with his mum before she died .
The pair last saw each other over Christmas , when Tapiwa visited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make her son a traditional Zimbabwe meal of cornmeal with vegetables and beans .
`` There 's nothing like a meal that your mum actually makes , '' says Tapiwa .
Like her son , Felicity loved football .
She was a Manchester United supporter , he Arsenal .
Knowing it was on her son 's bucket list to see a Premier League match , she surprised him on a cold , fresh 1 January night , with tickets to see a match between the teams .
`` It 's an experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to live with me for a long time , '' says Tapiwa .
`` That 's the kind of person she was .
She would do anything to make sure her family was happy . ''
Felicity moved to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2002 , fleeing her home country due to political unrest .
Without family around her , she threw herself into her work as a switchboard operator at University College Hospital in London - often working extra shifts and long days .
Despite being more than 8,000km ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Felicity was still the `` rock '' of the family .
She 'd keep in touch with her younger son , Nyasha , and her mum through video chats .
`` She was the glue that kept everyone together , '' says Tapiwa .
`` She provided everything for them .
I have to step into that role and try to keep everyone together and keep her memory alive . ''
More than $ 5,000 ( £4,000 ) has been raised to pay for her funeral and have her ashes sent back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my wish for her to grow into an old woman and get to retire so I could take care of her , '' says Tapiwa .
`` It 's unfortunate that 's not going to happen now . ''
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?

"He was a great singer and he loved it," says his son Alan, 56. "As he got older sometimes he couldn't hit the note. So he'd get to a certain point and be like, 'Right that's all you're getting now'. That's what one of his lines was."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Staff 'saved lives' by moving into Doncaster care home

Workers have been praised for managing to stop an outbreak of coronavirus in their care home by spending all of lockdown living with residents .
Nine staff members moved in to Anchor House in Doncaster full-time in March to reduce the risk of infecting the 21 vulnerable residents .
Manager Karen Greaves said the efforts meant the home was `` Covid-free '' .
Sue Riley , whose mother-in-law is cared for at the home , said staff had `` undoubtedly saved lives '' .
More than 9,700 care home residents across the UK have died amid the pandemic .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had effectively been locked down since 24 March with staff members staying put and no visitors allowed .
Her 13-year-old granddaughter has also joined the lock-in as well as the teenage son of a member of staff .
Several employees are living in the upstairs of the building while Ms Greaves and her granddaughter have turned the basement into their living quarters .
She said : `` She may not be in school but she is learning so much and is helping take the residents ' temperatures every day . ''
Ms Greaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone was `` quite content and living in a bubble '' and keeping in touch with family using video messaging .
She added : `` All our residents and staff are healthy and well but obviously we are all missing the people we have left behind at home . ''
Ms Greaves said relatives were able to visit family members by staying outside and speaking through the windows .
She said they were now looking at replacing staff with another team as workers were `` absolutely exhausted '' .
Ms Riley praised staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
She said : `` One young carer in particular said to us a while back she had n't seen her son for 39 days , which just hit home really with us . ''
• 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 Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

She said: "One young carer in particular said to us a while back she hadn't seen her son for 39 days, which just hit home really with us."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Why hasn't the UK listed smell loss as a symptom?

Government advisers have been considering since March whether to include loss of smell among the criteria for deciding whether someone has Covid-19 .
Evidence that it is one of the symptoms is already strong and some scientists argue this is now an urgent step , as the lockdown is eased .
At first Dan , 23 , dismissed his stuffy nose as hay fever , but when he could n't taste his beans on toast , he began to worry he had come down with Covid-19 .
`` I thought something must be up so just to check I poured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Dan , who works as a respiratory physiotherapist at a West Midlands hospital .
`` I just could n't taste that at all . ''
He tried inhaling a nasal decongestant made with eucalyptus oil and menthol , but could n't smell that either .
Dan worried that if he did have Covid-19 , going into work might have serious consequences .
But when he called the NHS helpline , 111 , he was told there was no problem as he did n't have a cough or a high temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a script and they said , 'You 're good to go back to work , ' which I felt a bit funny about , '' Dan says .
`` To have suddenly lost my sense of smell and taste when I work with some patients who have coronavirus felt like too much of a coincidence . ''
Ignoring this advice , he began self-isolating , as did the rest of his family , including his mum , a podiatrist whose clients include vulnerable elderly people , and his sister , an intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile Dan 's manager arranged a coronavirus test for him - and a few days later it came back positive .
`` Based on government advice alone , I would have been back at work , going from patient to patient and potentially giving them coronavirus , '' says Dan .
That was in April , just after the Easter bank holiday , but the advice from 111 and on the NHS website remains the same today .
The website mentions only two symptoms , a high temperature and a new continuous cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Throat consultant Prof Claire Hopkins , president of the British Rhinological Society , who has been arguing for eight weeks that people suddenly losing their sense of smell should be told to self-isolate .
She accepts that when she first gave this advice to Public Health England on 19 March - later published as a joint press release with Prof Nirmal Kumar , president of the ENT surgeons ' professional body , ENT UK - the evidence for loss of smell being a symptom of Covid-19 was anecdotal , but she now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At first there were signs that Hopkins might be succeeding in getting her point across .
Loss of taste or loss of smell ?
• With Covid-19 loss of smell and taste can occur suddenly , Claire Hopkins says , and without an accompanying blocked nose • This may be the first symptom to appear , or may start at the same time as other symptoms - and in some cases it is the only symptom • Perception of flavour is dependent on the sense of smell so patients who can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of smell is more common in people under 40 , Claire Hopkins says , and could be a marker of more mild disease On 30 March , the government 's chief scientific adviser , Sir Patrick Vallance , said at the government 's daily briefing that loss of taste and smell `` does seem to be a feature of this , from what people are reporting , and it is obviously something that people should take into account as they think about their symptoms '' .
At the briefing on 3 April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that experts did not at that stage think loss of smell and taste needed to be part of the `` case definition '' - the set of criteria used to determine whether someone has the disease - but that the government 's advisory group on new and emerging respiratory virus threats ( Nervtag ) had been asked to look into the question .
In the nearly six weeks since then , though , while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have both joined France in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their official lists of Covid symptoms , the UK has held back .
Throughout this period , Claire Hopkins has been among those updating Nervtag on data that she and medical colleagues from a range of countries have been collecting .
First results from the King 's College coronavirus tracker app , published on 1 April , found that 59 % of users testing positive for Covid-19 reported loss of smell or taste .
The latest research from the same team , produced in collaboration with partners in Massachusetts and Nottingham and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 % of the more than 7,000 users of the app who had tested positive for Covid-19 reported loss of smell and taste , compared with just over a fifth of those who tested negative .
This , the authors say , suggests that loss of smell - anosmia - is a stronger predictor of Covid-19 than fever .
Where to get help • Most people who lose the sense of smell as a result of Covid-19 regain it in seven to 14 days , Claire Hopkins says , but it 's taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Post-viral anosmia ( loss of smell ) can be permanent , she says , but recovery remains possible for at least 18 months • The charities AbScent and Fifth Sense can provide support , and give advice on smell training • See also : NHS advice - lost or changed sense of smell Hopkins herself has been working with teams of doctors in Italy , France , Belgium , and Spain measuring the ability to smell of thousands of patients with known Covid-19 infection , and has concluded that sudden loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms such as a blocked nose or a head injury , is in fact the best predictor of infection .
`` We 've been able to show that in groups of patients that have lost their sense of smell without any other symptoms , there 's a greater than 95 % chance it is due to Covid-19 at the moment , '' she says .
By contrast , fever is not a good marker , Hopkins argues , because many things can cause a fever , and this symptom is only present in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By focusing only on fever and a continuous cough , she argues , citing published papers , the NHS will only catch 50 % to 60 % of cases .
Hopkins has also been involved with the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research , which has published results from a survey of more than 4,000 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 , who reported on average an 80 % drop in ability to smell and a 69 % drop in ability to taste .
All these results suggest to Hopkins that key workers who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sense of smell have probably been contributing to the spread of the virus .
`` There are a significant number of essential workers , who got in contact and told me that , because they do n't meet the criteria , their employers have told them that they still have to go to work , '' she says .
`` For example somebody who 's involved in food delivery , potentially delivering food to vulnerable groups , is still having to go out despite having very recently lost his sense of smell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' As the lockdown eases , this group of people will grow , Hopkins says , unless the 111 helpline changes its criteria .
`` I can still put in my symptoms into NHS 111 and claim to have muscle ache , fatigue , loss of smell , diarrhoea [ all recognised as symptoms of Covid-19 by the WHO ] and be told that I do n't have coronavirus , '' says Hopkins .
`` I think that is now actually , clinically , negligence . ''
• SCHOOLS : When will children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters Prof Peter Horby , director of the epidemic diseases research group at the University of Oxford , who chairs Nervtag , told the BBC it was important to find the cluster of symptoms that most reliably identifies Covid-19 cases at an early stage of the illness , but also distinguishes it from other respiratory infections , so as to avoid large numbers of false-positive cases in the winter .
`` Anosmia is certainly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case definition , and is included in the app being piloted on the Isle of Wight , '' he added .
Nervtag member Dr Ben Killingley , a consultant at University College London Hospital , commented that loss of smell was a `` definitely a symptom '' of Covid-19 but the question was `` whether the positive predictive value of the symptom is high enough to warrant its inclusion in a case definition '' .
He added : `` Whether the symptom is included in the symptom/contact tracing app will give you a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Another member of the advisory group , Prof Andrew Hayward , director of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care , commented : `` All I can really say is that Nervtag have recently provided scientific advice on this and it is being considered by the Department of Health and Social Care and other bodies , so I would expect an announcement about case definitions soon . ''
A DHSC press officer told the BBC : `` Symptoms of Covid-19 , including loss of smell and taste , have remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
At all times during this global pandemic we have been guided by the evidence , taking the right steps at the right time to deliver a strategy designed to protect the NHS and save lives . ''
As for Dan , he regularly tested his taste buds by eating salt and vinegar crisps , and noticed a gradual improvement .
`` After five days I could tell they were salt and vinegar but it was n't normal at all , '' he says .
His sense of smell is taking longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooking and putting garlic in a pan and everyone says , 'Ooh , that garlic smells nice , ' it takes me a little bit longer to get that smell , '' he says .
He 's very glad his boss acted decisively to get him tested .
`` It was credit to them , to be fair , because they spotted the signs early , '' he says .
`` And I know that other places might not have arranged testing , and I would still have been treating patients . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell says he is unable to smell or taste very much due to a brain injury .
What is life like without these senses ?
Taste and smell : What is it like to live without them ?
( 2013 )

First results from the King's College coronavirus tracker app, published on 1 April, found that 59% of users testing positive for Covid-19 reported loss of smell or taste. The latest research from the same team, produced in collaboration with partners in Massachusetts and Nottingham and published in Nature Medicine, found that 65% of the more than 7,000 users of the app who had tested positive for Covid-19 reported loss of smell and taste, compared with just over a fifth of those who tested negative. This, the authors say, suggests that loss of smell - anosmia - is a stronger predictor of Covid-19 than fever.


bbcuk--2020-05-13--What's the risk on public transport?

What's the risk on public transport?

Since the UK went into lockdown , there have been reduced services on trains , buses and planes , and the government has advised against all but essential travel .
Now , with restrictions being eased in England , more people are being encouraged back to work .
The government says they should avoid public transport and walk , cycle or drive instead .
But if they ca n't , what are the risks of taking the bus or train ?
How safe are train and bus travel ?
A lot of the potential risk of infection on trains and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so how far away you can keep from other people .
This applies both on the vehicles and at stops and stations , and will vary in different parts of the country and on different routes .
Ventilation also plays an important role as fresh air can help droplets containing the virus dissipate faster , so being able to open a window can be an advantage .
Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs , sneezes or exhales small droplets packed with the virus into the air .
These droplets can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nose and mouth , either directly or after touching a contaminated object .
The government 's consistent message has been to stay 2m ( more than 6ft ) apart from people outside your household .
Previous research has suggested a link between commuting on the London Underground and the likelihood of catching respiratory illnesses .
Dr Lara Gosce , at the Institute of Global Health , says her research ( published in 2018 ) showed people who used the Underground regularly were more likely to suffer flu-like symptoms .
`` Particularly , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - where inhabitants are forced to change line one or more times when travelling on the Underground - have higher rates of influenza-like diseases , compared to well-served boroughs where passengers reach their destination by one direct trip , '' she said .
If you 're travelling on a relatively empty train or bus , though , your risks would be different .
How long you spend on transport will also play a role - spending more time in contact , and coming into contact with more people will increase your risk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contacts with potentially infected individuals and objects is important , '' according to Dr Gosce .
`` In terms of travel , avoid peak hours if possible , '' she says , suggesting , where viable , passengers should choose routes involving only one means of transport .
What is the advice for passengers ?
The government says people should `` consider all other forms of transport before using public transport '' .
If they ca n't walk , cycle or drive to their destination , they are advised to : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of changes • Wait for other passengers to get off before boarding • Keep 2m away from people `` where possible '' • Wash their hands for at least 20 seconds after completing their journey The government acknowledges that there may be situations where people ca n't keep 2m away from each other , such as at busy times or getting on or off public transport .
In these cases , the advice is to avoid physical contact and face away from others .
Governments in England , Scotland and Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverings on public transport .
The Welsh government has said people can choose to wear them , but adds the evidence is `` not strong enough '' to make them mandatory .
Face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances .
In particular , they are to stop the wearer passing on coronavirus , rather than protecting them from others .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How many cases in your area ?
Transport networks around the country are enhancing their safety measures to protect staff and passengers .
Arriva Buses is only accepting contactless payment and will no longer give change for cash payments .
Transport for London is installing hand sanitisers at all tube , rail and bus stations and has introduced a rigorous cleaning schedule .
It says it will only be able to carry 13-15 % of its normal number of passengers on the Underground and buses .
On Wednesday morning , national rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared with the same time last week .
London 's Tube saw a 7.3 % rise , with 83,293 journeys by 10am .
But this was a fraction of normal passenger volume , which saw 1.2m journeys by 10am on the same day last year .
What is the situation around the UK ?
People in England who are allowed to return to work have been asked not to use public transport if possible .
People in Wales have been told to avoid it .
where possible .
Limited public transport services are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to get to work and the situation is similar in Northern Ireland .

This is a significant number of people who are less likely to become seriously ill if they catch coronavirus. There's also increasing evidence vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus on.


bbcuk--2020-05-13--Billy Connolly: 'I never set out to shock'

Scotland 's best-known comedian says he has always wanted to make people laugh but he never set out to deliberately shock anyone .
Billy Connolly tells the new BBC Scotland documentary Billy and Us : `` I just did what I thought was funny .
But looking back I can see that by sending up what was around me at the time , I might well have ended up breaking down barriers and taking down the odd taboo . ''
The 77-year-old funnyman 's new six-part series sees him reflecting on his life and career with the help of archive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first episode , Connolly discusses his childhood and talks about how , in post-war Glasgow , beating your children was seen as normal .
`` People were beaten for the slightest things , '' he says .
But Connolly says that amid the darkness he always found humour in the strange and inconsistent things adults would do and say .
`` I seemed to spend my time standing apart from it , looking at it .
It 's easier to deal with that way , '' he says .
In the programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his early primary school for a TV show after he had become famous in the 1970s .
He found his name had been `` removed from the books '' at the Catholic infants school he had attended because his comedy material joked about religious subjects such as the Last Supper and the Crucifixion .
The documentary shows Connolly being quizzed by school children in the late 1970s about why he presented Scotland and Glasgow in such a bad light .
`` I 'm a comedian , I 'm one guy , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , '' he says .
`` When I speak to school kids , I always try to get them to think for themselves and be proud of where you come from but do n't let it be a leash around your neck . ''
He says his comedy about psychopathic teachers was just his experience of school .
`` It was traumatic , '' he says .
`` It lent itself to comedy .
The big boss and the wee man . ''
Connolly adds : `` Good comedians tend to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dark past it does not mean you have to have something sinful or weird or criminal about your past .
My background was the inability to be educated .
It made me think differently to everyone else and I 'm grateful for it . ''
He tells the programme that his comedy material about childhood has often had a profound effect on people , who recognised their own struggles .
`` That 's not why I did it , '' he says .
`` I just thought it was funny . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotland on Thursday at 22:00 and on the iPlayer .

Connolly adds: "Good comedians tend to have a dark past. When I say a dark past it does not mean you have to have something sinful or weird or criminal about your past. My background was the inability to be educated. It made me think differently to everyone else and I'm grateful for it."


bbcuk--2020-05-13--Coronavirus: 'Heartbreak' of driving an empty bus in a ghost town

Robina Bonar has been `` crying inside and singing outside '' while driving her empty bus down the eerie streets of Edinburgh and the Lothians .
The First Bus driver is `` heartbroken '' by the lack of passengers and said she was finding it hard to remain upbeat .
Robina , 41 , said she rarely saw anyone in the empty streets .
`` Some days there is nobody on my bus all day , and other times there are just one or two .
It is very demoralising , '' she said .
`` Edinburgh is like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no stopping , and no getting annoyed as people suddenly cross the road in front of you .
It 's the wee things you miss .
`` The longer this is going on the harder it is mentally to keep going .
I want it to end and to go back to normal . ''
Robina , from Rosyth in Fife , covers 12 routes in West Lothian and Edinburgh .
Robina said : `` I 'm an upbeat , cheery person , but any passengers I have had during the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are stressed and worried and so the atmosphere is not the same .
`` We are not allowed to socialise either back at the depot , which changes the whole dynamic of the job , so it 's really difficult just now . ''
She does not have to wear PPE to do her job because she is seated behind a screen .
The holes in the screen have now been covered up , which makes it `` a real struggle '' to hear what people are saying when they get on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been taped off .
We are not telling people where to sit but we 've not had enough coming on board for it to be a problem , '' she added .
Normally Robina would carry more than 100 passengers every day .
She said : `` I think I have been a lifeline to those who do get on my bus , though , as I drop them off at a supermarket . ''
Sometimes those passengers would get back on the bus without any bags of shopping .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere for them to go out , '' said Robina .
`` I did also have an older lady clapping from the other side of the road with her thumbs up to tell me that they really appreciate the bus service still being on .
`` The little things like that have been keeping me going . ''
Robina said it had been `` eerie '' driving on the deserted streets .
`` I 'm not scared , it 's just very lonely .
I 've been singing to myself and trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't run early , so I 've been stopping the bus at every second stop and driving very slowly .
`` I am heartbroken as my job is to take people to places but at the moment they have no place to go . ''

Robina said: "I'm an upbeat, cheery person, but any passengers I have had during the lockdown have not been in the mood. They are stressed and worried and so the atmosphere is not the same.


bbcuk--2020-05-13--Dogs go through 'teenage' phase when they hit puberty

You want to stay up all night gaming , then sleep in until lunch .
You do n't want to listen to your parents or do what you 're told .
Adults keep nagging you but no-one understands you .
It turns out your dog might .
It could be going through the same thing .
A study from a team of UK universities suggests dogs act in a similar way to humans when they hit puberty .
None were caught smoking or swearing at their owners but they found they were more likely to ignore commands and were harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The team , from Nottingham , Newcastle and Edinburgh universities , looked at 69 dogs before adolescence ( five months ) and then again during it ( eight months ) .
Dogs in adolescence took longer to respond to the `` sit '' command even if they knew how to do it .
A questionnaire with 285 dog owners showed similar results .
The animals going through puberty were harder to train .
But they only acted this way for their owners .
When it came to strangers they were much better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking it out on your mum , '' says Zoologist Dr Naomi Harvey who worked on the research and spoke to Newsbeat .
`` What we found is evidence that dogs do show a period of reduced obedience towards their owners and this is specific to their owners not to other people , '' she explains .
`` It is associated with all of the issues going on inside the dog during puberty .
The hormonal fluctuations and the remodelling of the brain to become an adult brain cause a lot of issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs and their parents / owners , is it does n't last forever .
The research found they became more obedient once they 'd got past puberty .
`` This is a very important time in a dog 's life , '' says Dr Lucy Asher , the animal behaviour scientist who led the study .
`` This is when dogs are often rehomed because they are no longer a cute little puppy and suddenly , their owners find they are more challenging and they can no longer control them or train them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owners need to be aware that their dog is going through a phase and it will pass . ''
So what should you do if you find yourself with a moody teenage dog ?
Dr Asher has this guidance : `` We would suggest people remain consistent and use rewards rather than punishing their dog .
It 's important to remember it 's not the dog deliberately behaving badly it 's just their biology .
In general we 'd ask owners to be kind to their dog during this time and understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Helpful advice for owners of dogs and humans alike .

"This is when dogs are often rehomed because they are no longer a cute little puppy and suddenly, their owners find they are more challenging and they can no longer control them or train them. But as with human teenage children, owners need to be aware that their dog is going through a phase and it will pass."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--'We're clinging on' - theatre leaders discuss lockdown turmoil

Theatres will be among the last places to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown is lifted , meaning venues , actors and crews are fearing for their futures .
The appeal of the theatre - cramming into an enclosed space with hundreds of strangers to share a communal experience - has suddenly become its greatest risk .
Box office takings have dried up virtually overnight .
Reopening with social distancing will not make financial sense .
One venue , the Nuffield in Southampton , has already gone into administration .
Below , four artistic directors discuss how and when they might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if income and funding dry up .
'It 's almost impossible to socially distance a theatre' The theatre industry is badly wounded , according to Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah 's analogy .
`` Right now we 're at the tourniquet stage , '' he says .
`` We 're trying to stem the bleeding .
`` Then we 're going to have to stand up , and then we 're going to have to run .
And we 're going to need help at each stage in order to get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , but to get back to something that is sustainable and safe . ''
He believes the south London venue and others like it have enough money to keep going until the autumn .
Arts Council England has made £90m of emergency funding available to keep organisations afloat until the end of September .
After that , they will need a government bailout .
Without one `` many of us will fall off a cliff '' in the subsequent months , Kwei-Armah explains .
The key to reopening will be an end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost impossible economically to socially distance a theatre , '' he says .
`` In order to social distance at 2m , we would lose three quarters of our audience .
And then we have to work out how you create safe space for the rest of the staff - backstage and in a rehearsal room .
`` And then we have to work out what the public appetite might be towards coming back into a theatre . ''
It will then take three months to get back up and running , taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
The Young Vic is planning different reopening scenarios up to next April - more than a year after going dark .
The venue has furloughed most staff but has continued some work - reaching 100 members of its young directors scheme online every day , and running a local playwriting programme .
Staff are also making food deliveries for a local charity .
When theatres do turn the lights back on , Kwei-Armah says those who have often been excluded in the past must be present .
`` From class to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great progress over the last few years in our sector in trying to equalise it , '' he says .
`` I 'm determined absolutely that all of that progress that we 've made can not go for naught .
We have to rebuild with that as a fundamental . ''
The Young Vic 's production of A Streetcar Named Desire will be streamed by the National Theatre from 21 May .
'We 're clinging on for dear life' Coronavirus has n't stopped the youth and elders groups at Manchester 's Royal Exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have just done it online .
The five episodes of Connect Fest , about an ageing band reforming for a festival , are being released daily this week .
`` We 're still trying to do what we are here to do , which is to give people moments of connection through art , '' says joint artistic director Roy Alexander Weise .
`` It 's hard , though , because the team who are producing that piece of work has been cut down because we 've had to furlough close to 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves afloat financially , because we are n't making the money that we would do . ''
When the venue does eventually reopen , Weise and co-artistic director Bryony Shanahan are also thinking about socially-distanced shows .
`` It does n't necessarily make financial sense for us to do that , '' he says .
`` But we understand that our purpose is greater than financial gain .
It is far greater - it 's connection , wellbeing , equal opportunities .
`` So I guess , just like everyone else , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see what will happen next , and all we can do is prepare ourselves as best we can to brace for whatever the landscape looks like .
`` Producing shows is going to feel incredibly difficult to do in the coming months . ''
How will the pandemic change theatre ?
Weise says many people are afraid of `` a huge regression '' in the types of plays and voices heard , seeking refuge in `` plays that they know will sell '' .
He goes so far as to say some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing for some institutions to go '' - venues that `` for a very long time have been led by lots of people who all look the same , who invite the same audiences in . ''
He 's focusing on his theatre 's purpose and why it stages the shows it does .
`` We 've all got more than enough time now to think about our why as artistic leaders . ''
The current hiatus is a chance to prepare for allowing a wider range of people to tell their stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything .
It really does rule the world .
`` We have a real opportunity to allow people to understand the power of story , allow people to step into some of that power , who maybe have n't been able to step into that power before , and see the exciting ways in which our world can progress . ''
'We have led the world - we need to continue' When the Royal Court shut in March , it put the words `` Back Soon '' up in big letters on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But how soon ?
`` We keep coming up with different scenarios for when we could open and how we could open , and we alight on one thing , and then that slips , '' artistic director Vicky Featherstone says .
`` The closest I can imagine being able to invite a full capacity audience is around January . ''
It 's too risky to commit the money for a big production before that .
`` If there was another spike [ in infections ] , or actors get ill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would be really damaging . ''
That does n't necessarily mean the building will be totally shut until 2021 .
Featherstone is trying to think of `` creative , socially distanced ways '' to host events , perhaps for young people , in the autumn .
`` Something more playful and hopeful , a bit more radical , reckless , for much , much smaller groups of people , '' she explains .
As well as thinking about how to make members of the public feel safe , she is preoccupied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their shows .
All plays that had been announced will go ahead - at some point .
`` We have a massive freelance and self-employed workforce that I think we have taken for granted .
And now we need to think about how they are supported . ''
Most of the theatre 's education and outreach work has continued digitally , and it has put David Ireland 's play Cyprus Avenue online .
The Royal Court website is now showing a live feed of the empty theatre .
Theatres play a crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ( in normal times ) more people go to theatres than to football matches .
They are also where many people in film and TV learn their craft .
Featherstone points to Alice Birch , who came through the Royal Court 's ranks before co-writing BBC Three 's hit drama Normal People .
`` We all need stories and we all need our imaginations to be fired up , '' Featherstone says .
`` From Shakespeare onwards , we have absolutely led the world .
We want to be able to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Scottish Highlands has postponed its summer season , which had been due to start next week .
But artistic director Elizabeth Newman has been busy organising activities , like a phone line for actors to have chats with lonely locals ; three daily rays of `` Light Hope Joy '' on social media ; and 50 works of art dedicated to the River Tay .
One of the summer shows , David Greig 's new play Adventures with the Painted People , is being made for BBC Radio 3 instead .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisation that is making art , '' Newman says .
`` On the one hand we 're doing that and on the other , myself and Kris [ Bryce ] , the executive director , are working around the clock to work out how we can survive this crisis . ''
That means working out how to stage socially-distanced shows .
`` We need to be looking at how we can make work that adheres to government guidelines , but also we need to make sure that we 're solvent , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance the 538-capacity auditorium , they would only be able to admit 70 people , which `` is not financially viable '' .
So Newman and Bryce are looking beyond the building to its 11-acre grounds .
`` We 're going to have to conceive programmes of work that are not necessarily in the auditorium and are outside , and are quality and rich for our audience , but not necessarily about them being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers .
`` Those are the ideas I 'm coming up with - work outdoors , different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , different kinds of social happenings that can occur , but that do n't place peoples ' lives at risk . ''
The theatre is the biggest employer in the area , but there are likely to be redundancies .
`` I feel that weight very heavily on my shoulders , '' Newman says .
`` Some tough decisions are going to have to be made .
And it 's not going to be small changes , it 's going to be big changes for a time .
And that feels incredibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newman says Creative Scotland has n't been in a position to offer extra financial support , so she is hoping for an extra package from the UK government .
`` It 's going to be the last industry that 's going to be able to get up to full function , and we 're just praying that they 're going to come back with some sort of relief and support . ''
Adventures with the Painted People is on Radio 3 on 7 June .
Government 'very concerned for the future' In response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Downing Street briefing , communities secretary Robert Jenrick said : `` All of us who care about the arts are very concerned for the future of theatres , museums and galleries , performing arts , all of those who work in the sector . ''
The arts are `` incredibly important to the UK '' and `` one of our great international strengths '' as well as being `` important for our wellbeing '' , he said .
Many arts organisations have had government support through the furlough scheme , while self-employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The culture secretary is also working very closely with our main cultural institutions to see how we can guide them through undoubtedly a very difficult time , and to put in place the social distancing guidelines so they are ready to reopen when the science and medical opinion allows , '' he continued .
`` We hope that that will be later this summer , '' he added , citing the plan for easing the lockdown , which was published earlier this week .
`` But it is very conditional on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , and continuing to control the virus . ''
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"Then we're going to have to stand up, and then we're going to have to run. And we're going to need help at each stage in order to get back to - not even the way it was, but to get back to something that is sustainable and safe."