bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Crisis a chance to 'end rough sleeping'

The coronavirus crisis has given the government an `` extraordinary opportunity '' to offer rough sleepers long-term help to get off the streets , the head of its homeless Covid taskforce has said .
Dame Louise Casey told the BBC £53m will be spent on support services .
Almost 15,000 rough sleepers have been housed in emergency accommodation since the start of the coronavirus lockdown .
She says a `` national effort '' is needed to keep people off the streets .
• Five times more sleep rough than official figures Dame Louise was appointed by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rough sleeping group support for rough sleepers during the pandemic .
In addition to the £53m , she says she has secured £160m from the £381m announced in the Budget for permanent homes for the homeless , which she says can be spent now on building and buying accommodation for them , with a plan for 3,300 beds in the next year .
She said the help being given to very vulnerable people may be a `` tiny silver lining '' to the `` horrific period '' the country is going through , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those people go back to the streets .
In an exclusive interview with the BBC 's Victoria Derbyshire , she said the government is not promising to find permanent homes for all rough sleepers in England , but that it is trying to `` provide the right solutions '' for people who have come in off the streets .
She says although the government has made a `` good start '' on allocating money for 6,000 new homes , it needs to `` do more '' in partnership with others .
She has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including businesses , faith groups and local communities , to join efforts to house rough sleepers and help them turn their lives around .
The Prince 's Trust , as well as Prince Charles ' charity Business in the Community , are already on board , and a deal is under way for the Youth Hostel Association ( YHA ) to provide 400 beds for six months .
Meanwhile , charity St Martin-in-the-Fields is putting £1m into a support package for people moving to longer term accommodation .
Comic Relief is prioritising funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Link .
Highlighting the crucial role churches will play , the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said : `` Rough sleeping is a tragedy that ought to belong in the past .
Everyone deserves access to safe and stable housing ; it is vital for human dignity , equality and justice .
`` I am enormously proud of and grateful for the amazing contribution churches across the country make in supporting those who experience rough sleeping and homelessness . ''
In March , the government instructed councils in England to find emergency accommodation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the streets .
It said such accommodation was offered to `` 90 % of known rough sleepers '' .
Mr Jenrick said the government 's work will not end once the pandemic is over , pledging it will do `` everything possible '' to ensure as few rough sleepers as possible return to the streets `` in order to reach our ultimate ambition of ending rough sleeping for good . ''
On Sunday , he announced funding for 6,000 new long-term housing units along with increased government funding for support services for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,000 housing units would be enough , Dame Louise said it was a `` fantastic start '' , adding it was not `` the end '' but the `` beginning '' of work to support rough sleepers .
Since the Conservatives came to power in 2010 , the numbers of people sleeping rough has more than doubled .
Latest figures suggested about 4,200 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a `` typical '' night last year , although BBC research suggested that the true figure was five times higher - finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England at some point in 2019 .

In addition to the £53m, she says she has secured £160m from the £381m announced in the Budget for permanent homes for the homeless, which she says can be spent now on building and buying accommodation for them, with a plan for 3,300 beds in the next year.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Turner Prize 2020 axed and replaced by £100k fund for struggling artists

The Turner Prize , the most high-profile award in British art , will not be given out this year because of the upheaval caused by coronavirus pandemic .
Tate Britain , which has organised the prize since 1984 , said it would be impossible to organise the annual nominees ' exhibition .
Instead , Tate will give bursaries each worth £10,000 to help 10 artists at this `` exceptionally difficult time '' .
The last time it was not awarded was in 1990 , after the award 's sponsor went bankrupt .
Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vitally important , but they are also causing huge disruption to the lives and livelihoods of artists .
`` The practicalities of organising a Turner Prize exhibition are impossible in the current circumstances , so we have decided to help support even more artists during this exceptionally difficult time .
`` I think JMW Turner , who once planned to leave his fortune to support artists in their hour of need , would approve of our decision . ''
The prize is named after the great painter , who hoped to leave part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape painters '' and `` poor and decayed male artists '' after his death in 1851 .
Farquharson added : `` I appreciate visitors will be disappointed that there is no Turner Prize this year , but we can all look forward to it returning in 2021 . ''
The move to give equal amounts of money to 10 artists follows last year 's decision to split the usual £40,000 prize between the four shortlisted artists .
The nominated quartet successfully argued that their work was `` incompatible with the competition format , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individualise '' .
• How artists are depicting the coronavirus lockdown The prize has been controversial in the past , gaining infamy in the 1990s with nominees and winners including Hirst 's cows in formaldehyde , Tracey Emin 's unmade bed and Martin Creed 's empty room with lights going on and off .
According to the Tate 's announcement on Tuesday , this year 's judging had been at an advanced stage .
`` This year 's jury has spent the past 12 months visiting hundreds of exhibitions in preparation for selecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the gallery said the decision to replace this year 's prize with grants `` was made to help support a larger selection of artists through this period of profound disruption and uncertainty '' .
The usual prize money has been supplemented by extra sponsorship to allow Tate to provide Turner Bursaries worth £100,000 .
The recipients will be announced in June .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

Farquharson added: "I appreciate visitors will be disappointed that there is no Turner Prize this year, but we can all look forward to it returning in 2021."


bbcuk--2020-05-25--Coronavirus lockdown: Scots' concerns over UK response

As Scotland prepares to ease its coronavirus lockdown from Friday , Scots have voiced concerns about the UK government 's handling of the crisis and the risk of lifting restrictions `` too quickly '' .
A survey for BBC Scotland suggested that a majority of people thought Boris Johnson and UK ministers had handled the pandemic `` fairly '' or `` very '' badly .
Meanwhile 82 % of respondents said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had handled the crisis well overall , with only 8 % saying she had done badly .
A total of 70 % said the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 23 March - and 77 % said that easing restrictions `` too quickly '' would be `` a bigger risk for Scotland '' than easing them too slowly .
Who is handling the crisis better ?
The survey - a poll of 1,006 adults conducted by Ipsos Mori between 14 and 20 May - suggested Scots think Ms Sturgeon and the Scottish government have done a better job of handling the pandemic than Mr Johnson and the UK government .
A total of 82 % of respondents said Ms Sturgeon had handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very '' well , to 8 % `` fairly '' or `` very '' badly , giving her a net approval rating of +74 .
The Scottish government 's score was +67 .
Meanwhile 30 % of those who took part said the prime minister was handling the outbreak `` fairly '' or `` very '' well , compared to 55 % `` fairly '' or `` very '' badly - a net approval rating of -25 .
The UK government 's overall rating was -17 .
The NHS in Scotland was given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crisis , while care homes were given a net score of +8 , with 40 % saying they were responding `` well '' overall , to 32 % `` badly '' .
The UK went into lockdown on 23 March , with people urged to stay at home other than for essential work , shopping and exercise .
The survey suggested that 70 % of Scots thought this move came `` too late '' , while 26 % said it happened `` at the right time '' .
Ms Sturgeon has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's restrictions from Friday , more than two weeks after Mr Johnson lifted some curbs in England in a bid to re-start the economy .
In the survey , 77 % of respondents said `` moving too quickly '' to ease restrictions was `` a bigger risk to Scotland '' than moving too slowly , compared to 19 % who said the opposite .
A total of 81 % said Scotland 's restrictions should be lifted at a different time to those in the rest of the UK `` if the Scottish government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 % saying the lockdown should be lifted north of the border `` at the same time as in the rest of the UK '' .
by Sir John Curtice , professor of politics at Strathclyde University The difference in how well the UK and Scottish governments are thought to have handled the coronavirus crisis is remarkable .
After all , they have both faced very similar criticisms , including too little PPE , too little testing and too little care and attention to the needs of care homes .
In part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in attitudes towards the two governments .
Ever since the advent of devolution , voters in Scotland have been inclined to evaluate the Scottish government more highly than its counterpart in London , whatever the issue at stake .
The Scottish government benefits from a halo effect whereby credit for what is done well in Scotland is attributed to Holyrood and blame for poor performance is laid at the door of Westminster .
Meanwhile many voters will be viewing the two governments through a partisan lens .
And it also looks as though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public mood as to how the lockdown should now be handled .
Read more from Prof Curtice here .
What should happen next ?
At the time the survey was conducted , those taking part were not calling for widespread changes to lockdown .
Only 30 % of people surveyed said non-essential shops should be permitted to re-open , while 46 % said people should not be allowed to return to workplaces even if they are unable to work from home .
However 77 % said people should be permitted to meet a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household - as long as they are outdoors and stay two metres apart .
Among respondents with children of school age , 76 % said they would be either fairly or very uncomfortable sending their child back to school in June .
The Scottish government aims to reopen schools in August .
And 39 % of those taking part said people over the age of 70 should be required to stay home after restrictions had been lifted for other age groups , compared to 52 % who said they should not .
Younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move , with 56 % of 16 to 34-year-olds in favour of it compared to 26 % of those aged 55 and older .

A total of 81% said Scotland's restrictions should be lifted at a different time to those in the rest of the UK "if the Scottish government believes that is necessary", with 19% saying the lockdown should be lifted north of the border "at the same time as in the rest of the UK".


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Sports events in March 'caused increased suffering and death'

Two major sporting events held in March `` caused increased suffering and death '' , the scientist leading the UK 's largest Covid-19 tracking project has said .
Data gathered from millions of volunteers found coronavirus `` hotspots '' shortly after the Cheltenham Festival and Liverpool 's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid .
The government said many factors could influence cases in a particular area .
Less than three months ago sport across the UK was continuing as normal , despite the impending threat of coronavirus - which had already prompted some European countries to stage such events without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sports governing bodies in the UK were taking their cue from Prime Minister Boris Johnson who declared in early March that people should `` as far as possible , go about business as usual '' .
On the first weekend in March , there was a full programme of football in both England and Scotland , five horse racing meetings , and Six Nations rugby at Twickenham between England and Wales - which the prime minister himself attended .
It was a different matter elsewhere .
A forthcoming Six Nations match in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Chinese Grand Prix and football matches in virus-stricken northern Italy .
The UK government 's stance remained consistent .
Just 24 hours before Cheltenham opened its gates to 250,000 spectators on 10 March , Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden rebuffed growing calls for a ban on mass outdoor gatherings .
He told the BBC : `` There 's no reason for people not to attend such events or to cancel them at this stage . ''
But Prof Spector from King 's College London said `` people will have probably died prematurely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did these events contribute to a surge in coronavirus cases ?
It 's impossible to say for certain , but figures seen by the BBC Radio 4 's File on 4 programme show in the last week of March , Liverpool and Cheltenham were among the areas with the highest number of suspected cases .
The figures come from the Covid-19 Symptom Study , and show an estimated 5-6 % of the population , aged 20 to 69 , having symptoms in those two regions .
Not to be confused with the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on information uploaded by more than three million volunteers around the UK , who submit daily reports identifying whether they have any of the 15 symptoms associated with Covid-19 .
Five things the coronavirus tracking app tells us Irish journalist Melanie Finn recalls the stark difference in approach on either side of the Irish Sea , as she flew in to the Cheltenham Festival from Dublin .
`` We had already cancelled the St Patrick 's Day celebrations , and that in itself was huge for us , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that was happening .
That was an indicator of how serious the Irish government was .
When we flew out of Dublin Airport it was literally like a ghost town . ''
Melanie said that racegoers at Cheltenham , on the other hand , believed the UK government would have cancelled the event if they had thought it was unsafe .
She said people ignored basic safety rules : `` It was like the last days of the Roman Empire , and I think there was a little bit of a sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God they were going to party . ''
She was so concerned by what she saw that she asked her employer to fly her home midway through the festival .
A week later she developed the symptoms of Covid-19 and had to take two weeks off work .
The Jockey Club had previously defended the decision to go ahead with the festival , telling the Guardian on 2 April that it had followed `` clear and ongoing guidance '' from the government and science experts .
It added : `` We promoted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of additional hygiene measures at the event , including hundreds of hand sanitiser dispensers and extra wash basins . ''
On 11 March - the second day of the festival - the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic .
'Jumping all over each other' Later that evening , Liverpool hosted Atletico Madrid in a Champions League football match at Anfield .
Around 3,000 visiting fans were allowed to travel to Merseyside and mingle in bars and restaurants , despite the fact Madrid was the epicentre of the outbreak in Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the country 's confirmed cases .
Liverpool supporter Joel Rookwood , who has been ill for eight weeks , believes he contracted Covid-19 that evening , and recalled how when goals were scored , spectators were oblivious to the risk of transmitting the virus .
`` The celebrations were some of the most physical that I 've experienced , '' he said .
`` People were jumping all over each other . ''
The Spirit Of Shankly , a Liverpool supporters group , said it raised concerns about the arrival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting two days before the match but were told it would go ahead in accordance with government advice .
But Liverpool FC would not have been able to unilaterally call off the match - to decide which of the two clubs progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals .
That decision would have had to come from one of football 's governing bodies , such as the competition 's organiser Uefa .
Prof Spector said : `` I think sporting events should have been shut down at least a week earlier because they 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would n't otherwise have occurred . ''
In a statement , the government said : `` There are many factors that could influence the number of cases in a particular area , including population density , age , general health , and the position of an area on the pandemic curve . ''
To hear more on this story listen to File on 4 - Game Changer : How the UK played on during coronavirus on Tuesday 26 May at 20:00 BST on BBC Radio 4 .
Did you attend the Cheltenham Festival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

But Liverpool FC would not have been able to unilaterally call off the match - to decide which of the two clubs progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals. That decision would have had to come from one of football's governing bodies, such as the competition's organiser Uefa.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Avoid rush hour and cover face on public transport

People using public transport will be advised to use face coverings and follow distancing guidelines ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions .
They will be urged to avoid busier times on trains and buses , walk or cycle where they can , and to work from home where possible .
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson will set out the fresh guidance for bus and train passengers in Holyrood later .
It is expected to lead to the beginning of phase one of the Scottish government 's route map out of lockdown .
The main focus will be an acceleration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support strategy..
The first minister will set out more details of the strategy in her daily briefing later .
• Leaving lockdown : What can we do - and when ?
Mr Matheson is expected to say the government is looking at options for increasing the frequency of public transport .
But only a limited service will operate during the first phase of lockdown easing - with a limited capacity to allow for physical distancing .
He will urge employers to be `` as flexible as possible '' with their employees .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home is likely to remain in place for some time .
He will say : `` Although the new NHS Scotland Test and Protect strategy will offer comfort to the public , we can not afford to be complacent .
`` The virus is still with us , and the transport system has a vital role to play in the next stage of recovery . ''
Mr Matheson will add that physical distancing means that operators estimate that public transport capacity will be at 10-25 % of normal availability .
`` So I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public to embrace these changes and help us all adapt to a new environment which has flexible and remote working at its core , for the immediate future at least , and moves away from peak travel with a stronger focus on active travel options .
`` The appropriate use of face coverings will be essential as we move to restart the economy , and I would like to reinforce that message in relation to public transport .
`` We 're also looking at the options for increasing the frequency of public transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers to show leadership and be as flexible as possible to allow earlier or later starting and finishing times for those that have to travel . ''
His guidance will be published alongside a new Transport Transition Plan - a `` dynamic and evolving '' web-based publication which will share current guidance with stakeholders and members of the public .
• 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 ?

"I am urging employers, operators and the public to embrace these changes and help us all adapt to a new environment which has flexible and remote working at its core, for the immediate future at least, flattens peak travel demand and has a strong focus on active travel," he said.


bbcuk--2020-05-25--Drone to deliver masks to Isle of Mull hospital

Drone technology is to be used to deliver protective equipment to a hospital on a Scottish island .
Over the next two weeks , masks and a dummy cargo will be flown between Oban in mainland Argyll and the Isle of Mull .
The 10-mile journey , normally involving a road trip and a 45-minute ferry sailing , should take only 15 minutes .
The trial could pave the way for drones to be used in the transport of medical test samples and other supplies .
The project , involving Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership , drone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority .
Normally drones are only allowed to fly within line of sight of the pilot .
The drone will fly between Lorn and Islands District General Hospital in Oban and Mull and Iona Community Hospital in Craignure .
Joanna Macdonald , chief officer for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership , said : `` The use of drones provides real opportunities to improve services and will help enable quicker diagnosis for our patients . ''
The project , which is heavily regulated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the onset of coronavirus .
Duncan Walker , Skyports chief executive officer , said : `` Delivery drones are a fast and reliable solution for vital medical supplies . ''
He added : `` Skyports is proud to assist the NHS in Scotland with their Covid-19 response , helping to provide the essential healthcare that people need in harder-to-reach areas .
`` Our trial in Argyll and Bute provides an important short-term response to the current pandemic and lays the foundations from which to grow a permanent drone delivery operation across a network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The trial is due to run until 5 June .

"Our trial in Argyll and Bute provides an important short-term response to the current pandemic and lays the foundations from which to grow a permanent drone delivery operation across a network of healthcare facilities around the country."


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Ardrossan shooting: Police name dead man as Paul Cairns

A man shot dead in a house in North Ayrshire at the weekend has been named by police .
Paul @ @ @ @ @ fatally wounded by a gunman who entered a house in Nithsdale Road , Ardrossan , @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Cairns died at the scene .
A 46-year-old woman was also in the @ @ @ @ @ injured .
A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting @ @ @ @ @ , said : `` It would appear to have been a targeted attack and I @ @ @ @ @ community that we do not believe that there is an ongoing to risk to the @ @ @ @ @ have been deployed to the area and high visibility patrols will continue to provide further @ @ @ @ @ `` Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this death are ongoing and we are keen to @ @ @ @ @ have information that would help our investigation or who may have seen anything before or @ @ @ @ @

"Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this death are ongoing and we are keen to talk to anyone who may have information that would help our investigation or who may have seen anything before or after the incident."


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Can we stay safe as lockdown eases?

As lockdowns are eased all over the world , what are the risks of getting infected as people come into closer contact with each other ?
It 's a question that scientists have been exploring in a variety of settings including restaurants and offices .
Frustratingly , the evidence for how the virus can be transmitted is often slim and if the answers seem vague it 's because the science is uncertain .
It comes amid pressure from businesses , such as pubs , to be allowed to reopen .
But the influence is also coming from people wondering if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the key factors ?
The most obvious is distance .
Research that began in the 1930s showed that when someone coughs , most of the droplets they release either evaporate or fall to the ground within about one metre .
That 's why the World Health Organization ( WHO ) settled on its `` one metre '' rule for social distancing .
Some governments have opted for a safer limit of 1.5m with the UK and others preferring an even more cautious 2m .
The guidance essentially means that the further you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be but it 's not distance alone that matters .
The second key factor is timing - how long you 're close to someone .
The UK government 's advice is that spending six seconds with an infected person 1m away carries the same risk as spending one minute with them if they 're 2m away .
And where it 's not possible to keep your distance from a colleague , the aim is to limit the time together to 15 minutes .
But as well as timing , there 's another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carries the least risk because any virus released by someone infected will be diluted in the breeze .
That does n't mean the possibility of transmission is zero .
Even out of doors , the UK 's official advice is to stay 2m apart and , if you 're closer , try not to talk face-to-face .
But inside , where there is n't much fresh air and where people might be close together for longer , the chances of becoming infected are obviously greater .
What are the risks indoors in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study in the Chinese city of Guangzhou which tracked how a cluster of infections occurred .
Sitting at tables that were one metre apart , people were having a meal last January .
One of the diners was infected with coronavirus but had n't realised because they had no symptoms .
But in the following days , another nine people who 'd been in the restaurant at the time came down with Covid-19 - including five who 'd been sitting at other tables several metres away .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Scientists investigating the infections reached a conclusion about the most likely route of transmission : that droplets containing the virus - released by the infected person - were circulated by air conditioning .
`` The key factor for infection was the direction of the airflow , '' their study says , blaming two air conditioning units mounted high on a wall .
This is not proof that the virus can be spread this way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a plausible route .
And , if confirmed , it would mean that in any room with a similar system of ventilation , even moving tables more than one metre apart would still not guarantee to keep people safe .
What do we know about the effect of ventilation ?
To try to understand the risks , a team from the University of Oregon , specialising in the study of microbes in buildings , simulated different types of ventilation in a restaurant .
In one scenario , someone at a corner table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ droplets and particles that are projected through the air .
The largest droplets land on their own table - that 's what you 'd expect with the WHO 's 'one metre rule ' .
But smaller ones reach beyond the immediate area and are caught in a current of air coming from an air conditioning unit at the other end of the room .
The result is similar to what 's thought to have happened in the restaurant in Guangzhou : tiny droplets and particles are spread to people at other tables .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't prove that the coronavirus can be transmitted this way or , if it did , that it would make anyone ill. That depends on whether the virus is still active after being blown across the room and on whether the person receiving it gets a large enough `` dose '' - but the possibility of infection ca n't be ruled out .
According Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg , professor of architecture at the University of Oregon , who led the study , the virus `` can be spread further than people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to make restaurants safer ?
The Oregon team simulated another scenario in the same restaurant in which there 's an open window beside the person who coughs and an extractor vent on the opposite wall .
This time the cloud of droplets and particles is not pushed around the room but instead travels in a fairly direct line from window to vent with the result that fewer people are caught in it .
A flow of fresh air to dilute the virus is one of several techniques highlighted by the team as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's really impossible to completely eliminate risk , '' says Prof Van Den Wymelenberg , `` but what we showed was a concept for how you could reduce transmission . ''
`` The good news is that there are things you can do to make safer spaces . ''
In addition to bringing in fresh air through windows or mechanical ventilation , other options include improving the standard of filtration and also humidifying the air - moist conditions might encourage droplets to sink to the floor .
What does this mean on planes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be possible - unless the aircraft is half empty - and by definition you 'll be in close contact with others for more than 15 minutes .
So on the basis of those two key factors , the risks may well be higher .
The question of ventilation is more debatable .
On the one hand , the air in the cabin is constantly circulated so if someone coughs , even a few rows away , there is a chance the infection will be spread .
On the other hand , modern aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to a high standard .
What about the risks at work ?
In factories and offices , social distancing may be harder to follow .
Dr Julian Tang of the University of Leicester has come up an easy `` breath test '' to check if you 're too close to colleagues .
A consultant virologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary , he 's studied how the air is moved when people speak and concludes that something as simple as a conversation could pass the virus .
`` If you can smell your friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or alcohol - you 're inhaling what they 're breathing out .
`` And if you 're inhaling enough of that air to smell it , then you 're close enough to inhale any virus that 's also carried in the air with it . ''
So how can transmission take place ?
So far the public advice has focused on what 's called the `` droplet '' route , someone coughing or sneezing into the eyes , nose or mouth of a person nearby , which has led to the social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second route - surfaces - in which a person who 's infected passes on the virus through contact either directly by shaking hands or by exhaling over surfaces like kitchen worktops .
Others then get the contamination on their hands , directly or by using the same space at work or at home - which is why handwashing is so important .
But there 's a third possibility as well - tiny droplets or particles being carried in the air by speech , for example and that route might be the most important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you 're talking to a colleague you do n't touch them , you do n't spit on them , most of the interaction is by voice and breathing . ''
All of which reinforces the idea that there is n't one way to stay safe : it involves social distancing and keeping any close contacts brief and checking for healthy ventilation .

Coronavirus: Can we stay safe as lockdown eases? Published 26 May 2020
comments Comments
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The new research suggests coughs and sneezes might project liquid further than previously thought
As lockdowns are eased all over the world, what are the risks of getting infected as people come into closer contact with each other?
It's a question that scientists have been exploring in a variety of settings including restaurants and offices.
Frustratingly, the evidence for how the virus can be transmitted is often slim and if the answers seem vague it's because the science is uncertain.
It comes amid pressure from businesses, such as pubs, to be allowed to reopen.
But the influence is also coming from people wondering if the rules are too strict.
What are the key factors?
The most obvious is distance.
Research that began in the 1930s showed that when someone coughs, most of the droplets they release either evaporate or fall to the ground within about one metre.
That's why the World Health Organization (WHO) settled on its "one metre" rule for social distancing.
Some governments have opted for a safer limit of 1.5m with the UK and others preferring an even more cautious 2m.
The guidance essentially means that the further you're apart, the safer you ought to be but it's not distance alone that matters.
The second key factor is timing - how long you're close to someone.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The UK government has adopted a 2m rule for social distancing
The UK government's advice is that spending six seconds with an infected person 1m away carries the same risk as spending one minute with them if they're 2m away.
And where it's not possible to keep your distance from a colleague, the aim is to limit the time together to 15 minutes.
But as well as timing, there's another important issue: ventilation.
Being outside carries the least risk because any virus released by someone infected will be diluted in the breeze.
That doesn't mean the possibility of transmission is zero.
Even out of doors, the UK's official advice is to stay 2m apart and, if you're closer, try not to talk face-to-face.
But inside, where there isn't much fresh air and where people might be close together for longer, the chances of becoming infected are obviously greater.
What are the risks indoors in a restaurant?
A fascinating insight comes from a study in the Chinese city of Guangzhou which tracked how a cluster of infections occurred.
Sitting at tables that were one metre apart, people were having a meal last January.
One of the diners was infected with coronavirus but hadn't realised because they had no symptoms.
But in the following days, another nine people who'd been in the restaurant at the time came down with Covid-19 - including five who'd been sitting at other tables several metres away.
Scientists investigating the infections reached a conclusion about the most likely route of transmission: that droplets containing the virus - released by the infected person - were circulated by air conditioning.
"The key factor for infection was the direction of the airflow," their study says, blaming two air conditioning units mounted high on a wall.
This is not proof that the virus can be spread this way but the research certainly suggests that it is a plausible route.
And, if confirmed, it would mean that in any room with a similar system of ventilation, even moving tables more than one metre apart would still not guarantee to keep people safe.
What do we know about the effect of ventilation?
To try to understand the risks, a team from the University of Oregon, specialising in the study of microbes in buildings, simulated different types of ventilation in a restaurant.
In one scenario, someone at a corner table coughs without covering their mouth and releases droplets and particles that are projected through the air.
The largest droplets land on their own table - that's what you'd expect with the WHO's 'one metre rule'.
Image source, University of Oregon Image caption, Computer modelling by the University of Oregon showing the potential spread of coronavirus in a restaurant with an air conditioning unit
But smaller ones reach beyond the immediate area and are caught in a current of air coming from an air conditioning unit at the other end of the room.
The result is similar to what's thought to have happened in the restaurant in Guangzhou: tiny droplets and particles are spread to people at other tables.
As with that study, this simulation doesn't prove that the coronavirus can be transmitted this way or, if it did, that it would make anyone ill.
That depends on whether the virus is still active after being blown across the room and on whether the person receiving it gets a large enough "dose" - but the possibility of infection can't be ruled out.
According Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, professor of architecture at the University of Oregon, who led the study, the virus "can be spread further than people might realise".
What can be done to make restaurants safer?
The Oregon team simulated another scenario in the same restaurant in which there's an open window beside the person who coughs and an extractor vent on the opposite wall.
This time the cloud of droplets and particles is not pushed around the room but instead travels in a fairly direct line from window to vent with the result that fewer people are caught in it.
A flow of fresh air to dilute the virus is one of several techniques highlighted by the team as options for managing Covid-19.
Image source, University of Oregon Image caption, The simulations showed how fresh air from an open window could carry the virus to a vent
"It's really impossible to completely eliminate risk," says Prof Van Den Wymelenberg, "but what we showed was a concept for how you could reduce transmission."
"The good news is that there are things you can do to make safer spaces."
In addition to bringing in fresh air through windows or mechanical ventilation, other options include improving the standard of filtration and also humidifying the air - moist conditions might encourage droplets to sink to the floor.
What does this mean on planes?
Social distancing isn't likely to be possible - unless the aircraft is half empty - and by definition you'll be in close contact with others for more than 15 minutes.
So on the basis of those two key factors, the risks may well be higher. The question of ventilation is more debatable.
On the one hand, the air in the cabin is constantly circulated so if someone coughs, even a few rows away, there is a chance the infection will be spread.
On the other hand, modern aircraft filter the cabin air every few minutes and to a high standard.
What about the risks at work?
In factories and offices, social distancing may be harder to follow.
Dr Julian Tang of the University of Leicester has come up an easy "breath test" to check if you're too close to colleagues.
A consultant virologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary, he's studied how the air is moved when people speak and concludes that something as simple as a conversation could pass the virus.
"If you can smell your friend's breath - the garlic or curry or alcohol - you're inhaling what they're breathing out.
"And if you're inhaling enough of that air to smell it, then you're close enough to inhale any virus that's also carried in the air with it."
So how can transmission take place?
So far the public advice has focused on what's called the "droplet" route, someone coughing or sneezing into the eyes, nose or mouth of a person nearby, which has led to the social distancing rules.
It's also highlighted a second route - surfaces - in which a person who's infected passes on the virus through contact either directly by shaking hands or by exhaling over surfaces like kitchen worktops.
Image source, Hexagon/MSC Image caption, Modelling by Hexagon/MSC Software showing how an infected person could pass the virus to a fellow passenger on a train.
Others then get the contamination on their hands, directly or by using the same space at work or at home - which is why handwashing is so important.
But there's a third possibility as well - tiny droplets or particles being carried in the air by speech, for example and that route might be the most important, according to Dr Tang.
"When you're talking to a colleague you don't touch them, you don't spit on them, most of the interaction is by voice and breathing."
All of which reinforces the idea that there isn't one way to stay safe: it involves social distancing and keeping any close contacts brief and checking for healthy ventilation.


bbcuk--2020-05-25--Find out which masks off the most protection and why

While paper and cloth masks may help controlling the spread of Covid-19 amongst the general public , they 're certainly not up to the mark for use in intensive care .
Here , where the risk of infection is at its greatest , medical staff need personal protective equipment of a far higher standard , capable of shielding them completely from the virus .
The simplest form of face covering is the surgical mask , generally made of three layers of paper or cloth .
They 're resistant to droplets such as those caused by coughing or sneezing , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which are only around 100 nanometres in size ( a nanometre being a billionth of a metre ) .
`` A mask , which goes over your nose and mouth , but does n't fit tightly to your face , is really there to be a barrier for any particles that you might expel , '' explains Dr Nikki McCullough , head of safety for 3M , one of the world 's biggest suppliers of respiratory protection .
`` The mask is n't going to prevent you from breathing in very small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hand , are designed to fit tightly to the face , so that no air can leak in or out , and require a rigorous fitting process .
`` When you breathe in , all the air goes through the filter media , and that filter media has been tested to a performance standard , '' says Dr McCullough .
`` So you can be sure that if you get a good seal to your face , the respirator is reducing the number of particles that you 're going to breathe into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various different forms , the simplest being mask-like filtering facepiece ( FFP ) respirators ; some are designed to be disposable , whereas others can be disinfected and reused .
• Get ready for the 'Holy Grail ' of computer graphics • The robot assistant that can guess what you want In the US , FFP respirators are classified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH ) in terms of the percentage of particles they filter out .
Thus , N95 and N99 masks filter out 95 % and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N100 devices eliminate 99.97 % .
In Europe , respirators are classified slightly differently .
Respirators rated FFP1 filter out at least 80 % of particles ; FFP2s remove at least 94 % , and FFP3 devices correspond to N100 by filtering out at least 99.97 % .
Meanwhile , similar to an FFP3 mask in effectiveness , but certainly not in appearance , are diving helmet-style powered air purifying respirators ( PAPRs ) .
`` There you have a more comprehensive solution .
There 's a hood face shield and a tube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the belt , '' says Brian Hovey , chief marketing officer for major respirator manufacturer Honeywell .
`` That has an engine or a motor that pumps air through a filter : it 's part of a white suit , so it 's a more comprehensive protective solution . ''
At the University of Southampton , engineers have developed a PAPR that they 're supplying to University Hospital Southampton - 1,000 are already in use .
It 's currently undergoing the official rating and approval process , so it 's not yet in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where FFP3 respirators are required .
However , two firms are making them and 5,000 have been ordered for staff in other settings .
The testing process involved both a smell test to see whether the wearer could detect outside smells , as well as a physical test of whether tiny particles are indeed filtered out .
`` We put a petri dish inside the hood and another one outside , and delivered 1,000 litres of air through the filter , '' explains Alex Dickinson , an associate professor in the university 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incubated them for 24 hours at 37C and then counted how many of these colony-forming units had been transmitted through the filter and hood .
On our first experiment , we saw no units of bacterial growth inside the hood , but ten formed on the control plate outside . ''
The British Standards Institute is currently evaluating the device against European standards , after which , hopes the team , it can be used more widely at Southampton and elsewhere .
`` Your vision is much better , and your communication is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your whole face ; your efficiency is much better as you can move from patient to patient without putting on and taking off your PPE , '' says hospital consultant and professor in respiratory medicine Paul Elkington .
`` Once we started rolling it out , one of the healthcare assistants said to me ' I 've been feeling sick with nerves about coming in , but now I feel secure ' . ''
Until recently , the market for respirators was mainly industrial - manufacturing , construction and the like .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with full-face respirators - FFP2s and FFP3s - demand from healthcare was very low , '' says Dr McCullough .
`` They really only used them for tuberculosis , maybe a measles case .
But now we see that healthcare everywhere in the world is using respirators at a much , much higher rate . ''
As a result , manufacturers have been working flat out to increase capacity to meet the new demand .
`` We 've made significant investment in both ramping up capacity at our existing facilities as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US , we 've just had our first products coming off the line in our Smithfield , Rhode Island facility , and we hit 500,000 units earlier this past week , '' says Honeywell 's Brian Hovey .
`` Similarly , we 've ramped up our build capacity and we 're starting to get product out in Phoenix .
These new facilities are adding about 20 million units per month , and we 're evaluating potential new facilities around the globe . ''
Dr McCullough says that 3M is also increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficiency .
`` We can make the same products but more quickly ; we are adding new lines and we are looking at some small changes to certain products , looking at new headbands , for example , '' she says .
So will the global supply hold up ?
`` In the immediate term , probably not , unfortunately - the uptick we 've seen has been unprecedented and depending on how people are thinking of them as a consumer product , demand far outstrips global supply , '' says Mr Hovey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're having a good dialogue with governments around preparing for the future , and we make sure that strategic stockpiles are adequately supplied .
`` If - god forbid - another situation like this occurs , collectively we 'll be able to respond quickly and effectively . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• VACCINE : How close are we to finding one ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?

"When you breathe in, all the air goes through the filter media, and that filter media has been tested to a performance standard," says Dr McCullough. "So you can be sure that if you get a good seal to your face, the respirator is reducing the number of particles that you're going to breathe into your lungs."


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Dominic Cummings: Did he break lockdown rules?

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's most senior adviser , Dominic Cummings , has said he acted reasonably and legally after driving 260 miles from his home to Durham during lockdown .
What did he do and what do the relevant guidelines and law say ?
23 March : The prime minister tells the UK public they `` must stay at home '' .
People are warned not to meet friends or family members they do not live with .
Those with symptoms had already been told to self-isolate .
27 March : Mr Cummings is seen leaving 10 Downing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call from my wife who was looking after our four-year-old child .
She told me she suddenly felt badly ill. '' He went home , but after a couple of hours his wife felt better and he returned to work .
Guidance : If Mr Cummings believed his wife had coronavirus , the guidance was that she should remain at home for seven days and `` all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days '' .
• What are social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to explain - `` That evening I returned home and discussed the situation with my wife .
She was ill. She might have Covid although she did not have a cough or a fever . ''
Mr Cummings said many people he worked closely with , including the PM , had had symptoms or were absent with symptoms .
He said : `` I thought there was a distinct probability that I had already caught the disease . ''
Later : Mr Cummings drove up to Durham with his family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was worried that if my wife and I were both seriously ill , possibly hospitalised there was nobody in London we could reasonably ask to look after our child and expose themselves to Covid .
`` My wife had felt on the edge of being able to look after him safely a few hours earlier . ''
Mr Cummings did not say that at the point the family drove north his wife was unable to look after their child .
Guidance : Stay at home is the simple government advice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus symptoms .
However , the main advice page says it is not always straightforward when children are involved .
It says : `` If you have children , keep following this advice to the best of your ability , however , we are aware that not all these measures will be possible . ''
• What are the lockdown rules for caring for children ?
28 March : Mr Cummings says he woke up `` in pain and clearly had Covid symptoms , including a bad headache and a serious fever '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed Mr Cummings had developed symptoms of the virus and was self-isolating `` at home '' .
1 April : Durham Constabulary speak to the father of Dominic Cummings who confirms that his son and family were present at the property .
2 April : During the night , Mr Cummings ' four-year-old son `` threw up and had a bad fever '' .
Following medical advice , an ambulance took the child to hospital .
He was accompanied by Mr Cummings ' wife 3 April : Mr Cummings ' son spent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next day having `` recovered '' .
He was tested for coronavirus and his mother , who was with him at the hospital , was told `` they should return home '' .
According to Mr Cummings , there were no taxis so he `` drove to the hospital , picked him up and returned home '' .
He said he `` did not leave the car or have any contact with anybody on this short trip '' .
6 April : At some point in the week leading up to this date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel to Durham with the prime minister .
`` When we were both sick and in bed , '' he said , `` I mentioned to him what I had done .
Unsurprisingly given the condition we were in , neither of us remember the conversation in any detail . ''
4-11 April : Mr Cummings said `` after I started to recover , one day in the second week , I tried to walk outside the house '' .
He confirmed he , his wife and his son went for a walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was at this point he was seen by passers-by but his family `` had no interaction with them '' .
The exact date is not clear but his second week isolating in Durham would have between these two dates .
9 April : Government guidelines on self-isolation change to say `` any exercise should be taken within your home '' .
They had previously allowed exercise outdoors .
11 April : Believing he had recovered by this date , albeit `` feeling weak and exhausted '' , Mr Cummings said he `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I explained our family 's symptoms and all the timings and asked if it was safe to return to work on Monday or Tuesday , seek childcare and so on .
I was told that it was safe and I could return to work '' 12 April : Mr Cummings drives to Barnard Castle , 30 miles from his parents ' home in Durham , with his wife and child .
He explained this episode as needing to test his driving was fine before making the long drive back to London .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his vision 14 April : Mr Cummings is seen in Downing Street for the first time since 27 March 19 April : Five days after being in London , The Observer and Mirror report that Mr Cummings is seen again in Durham by an unnamed witness .
Mr Cummings says he did not return to Durham and that evidence on his phone proves this What else did Mr Cummings say ?
Mr Cummings insisted he did not break the law , saying : `` I believe that in all the circumstances I behaved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my family and the extreme situation in Number 10 . ''
He said `` I do n't regret what I did '' and added that `` the rules make clear that if you are dealing with small children that can be exceptional circumstances and the situation I was in was exceptional circumstances '' .
• What are the social distancing and self-isolation rules ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How many cases in your area ?

3 April: After being taken to hospital, Mr Cummings' son woke up the next day having recovered. He was tested for coronavirus and his mother, who was with him at the hospital, was told "they should return home" (the test result arrived days later and was negative). According to Mr Cummings, there were no taxis so he "drove to the hospital, picked him up and returned home". He said he "did not leave the car or have any contact with anybody on this short trip". But according to his wife's later article in the Spectator Mr Cummings had a high fever and muscle spasms in his legs throughout this period.


bbcuk--2020-05-25--How do you ease your dog out of lockdown?

The end of lockdown is just about visible on the horizon .
But as we plan for life outside the work-from-home bubble , dog owners are being urged to consider how their pets might cope with our `` new normal '' .
After more than two months of staying at home , working from home and staying close to home on walks , the easing of restrictions could have an adverse effect on animals .
He says easing dogs out of lockdown is much more complex than being able to go for a longer walk or leaving them in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upsetting physical symptoms .
Dr Chris Muldoon , operations manager at the charity Dogs for Good , has many years experience of training dogs .
He says separation anxiety could be a real threat when owners go back to work .
He believes owners will have to gradually prepare their dogs for the change and reintroduce them to old routines so they do n't struggle to cope once coronavirus social distancing measures are lifted .
Dr Muldoon said : `` Separation anxiety is triggered by the removal of something in the dog 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its life at the moment and generally that is people .
`` So if you leave the home at 07:30 in the morning , you grab your keys and head out of the door these can be triggers for the dog to realise that the rest of the day is going to be spent without the person they would rather be with . ''
Chris says the dog 's reaction can manifest in physical behaviour - like becoming hyperactive for the period of time before its owner leaves home .
He said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you may get complaints from the neighbour that your dog has been continually barking or you may get a destructive dog that potentially is tearing up bits of the house '' And you may get reactions that are just anxiety-based whining , elevated heart rate , respirations , signs the dog is struggling . ''
'Our puppy only knows this lockdown situation' Corgis Samson and Ellie are the pride and joy of Rebecca Hall and Andrew McLaughlan who live in Glasgow .
They have no worries about Samson , who takes everything in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young puppy when lockdown started and she missed socialising and separation training carried out with the older dog .
The dogs ' routine changed when their owners became confined to home .
Rebecca said : `` Now we are in all the time , Samson gets sick of us and needs his space so we have given him a safe space in a quiet corner of the room .
He was used to two walks a day and naps after his walks but with the allowance of one outdoor trip a day he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the peace and quiet for his naps . ''
`` Ellie is a puppy who now knows nothing other than having humans around 24/7 and now does n't know what it 's like to be left alone . ''
She has tried to prepare the dogs by leaving them alone for short periods .
`` I think Samson will adjust back to normal life quite well , but with Ellie it 's going to cause some separation anxiety and I also think she has missed out on a lot of socialisation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people other than ourselves and neighbours , and she is beyond the puppy weeks that are essential for exposing them to things , so we are already seeing she has some fear of new humans and especially other dogs . ''
How can you take your dog out of lockdown ?
Dr Muldoon has some tips for getting dogs used to their owners leaving the home again .
Pretending to go to work Wearing office clothes in the house and picking up your keys and going outside for a few minutes can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mix up the times you try this and extend the amount of time you spend away .
When you come back in , do n't make a fuss of the dog .
Wait until dog settles and then reward the dog for settling down .
Be patient and do n't get negative If the dog barks , do n't react .
The worst thing for anxiety is to create more anxiety .
Coming out of lockdown people will be allowed to take longer walks and that will mean interacting with other dogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were a responsible dog owner before lockdown , be an even more responsible dog walker now because your dog might not have interacted with another dog for months or longer so expecting it to behave as it did before is a bit unrealistic , '' Put some boundaries on that keep your dog on a lead interactive with other dogs in a controlled environment and note any changes in your dog 's behaviour .
`` Be astute about your dog 's behaviour.
``

Rebecca said: "Now we are in all the time, Samson gets sick of us and needs his space so we have given him a safe space in a quiet corner of the room. He was used to two walks a day and naps after his walks but with the allowance of one outdoor trip a day he has only had one walk and not had the peace and quiet for his naps."


bbcuk--2020-05-25--Huawei: What would happen if the UK ditched the Chinese firm?

Huawei 's future in the UK is in doubt - again .
The consequences could affect how quickly improved internet access is rolled out and how much it will cost .
This a time when the country 's economy is already in a precarious state because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The catalyst for a potential rethink is the US 's move to restrict the firm 's ability to buy chips , which was justified on `` national security grounds '' .
On Sunday , the UK 's National Security Centre ( NCSC ) confirmed it was examining what impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that use Huawei 's tech .
That sounds quite vague .
But it potentially paves the way for a government U-turn .
In January , the prime minister gave the green light to continued use of the firm 's tech in mobile and broadband networks , but said its its market share must be reduced .
Now he might appreciate the chance for change of mind .
It would help Boris Johnson prevent backbenchers who favour a ban from derailing his forthcoming Telecoms Infrastructure Bill .
Moreover , it offers him a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has said continued use of Huawei will have a `` dramatic impact on our ability to share [ security ] information '' .
Mr Johnson and President Trump may meet next month at a mooted G7 summit .
Blocking Huawei could help secure a post-Brexit trade deal , even if it made relations with China trickier .
But the company warns there would be consequences .
`` More suppliers means greater competition , innovation and network reliability , and crucially ensures consumers have access to the best possible technology , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the BBC .
`` Removing Huawei would seriously delay 5G , costing the British economy up to £7bn , '' he added , citing a study published last year by Mobile UK , a trade group that represents UK network operators .
Part of the reason mobile providers are concerned is that the current version of 5G relies on new equipment being plugged into existing 4G kit from the same vendor .
`` A lot of the 4G expansion was software-upgradeable to do 5G when an extra mast antenna was fitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the news site ThinkBroadband .
So , he added , even if a Huawei ban was limited to the newer technology , networks would still have to rip out and replace some of their older infrastructure as well .
`` It 's not only a very expensive process for the operators , but it 's going to be a time-consuming one as well because they need to get access to all those sites to make the changes , '' added Matthew Howett from Assembly , the consultancy that wrote Mobile UK 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very innovative at coming up with the smallest and lightest 5G equipment , meaning the operators can sometimes just use a cherry picker to hook it onto existing mast infrastructure .
Some of the others ' is heavier and bulkier , which can require more in terms of getting planning consent and road closures . ''
Huawei 's major 5G rivals are Nokia and Ericsson - two European firms .
The networks claim that having three providers to choose from helps them negotiate lower prices .
In many cases , they want a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical problems arise with one they can fall back on the other to provide a reduced service .
That does n't always involve Huawei - O2 for instance picked Nokia and Ericsson to be its primary 5G vendors despite having trialled the Chinese firm 's kit .
A study commissioned by Huawei last year claimed locking it out would increase a country 's 5G investment costs by between 8 % and 29 % due to reduced competition .
And if mobile providers have to spend more , consumers can expect their bills to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Huawei 's rollout says there are more important considerations .
`` There 's a free and fair competition element here , there 's a security element , there 's a data-privacy element , and there 's a sort of geopolitics of Chinese influence as well - the influence of the Chinese Communist Party , '' Bob Seely , a member of the foreign affairs committee , told the BBC .
`` There should n't on principle be high-risk vendors in the communications network . ''
Huawei denies it uses state subsidies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would never spy on China 's behalf or otherwise deliberately compromise its clients .
• Huawei urges UK not to make 5G U-turn after pandemic Huawei is also a big player in fixed-line broadband .
It currently accounts for about 44 % of the equipment used in providing super-fast full-fibre connections directly to homes , office and other buildings , according to UK regulator Ofcom .
BT 's Openreach division aims to bring that in line with a 35 % government target by using more kit from Nokia and the US firm Adtran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more properties rely on an alternative set-up in which fibre only reaches roadside cabinets , and the last leg is supplied by a copper-based connection .
The reason this is relevant is that tens of thousands of the cabinets involved are Huawei 's .
`` They connect directly to the core of the network , '' commented Mr Ferguson .
`` But replacing those is a complete non-starter unless someone 's going to throw many billions of pounds at it and also all the people to do the work . ''
While Huawei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone altogether , they acknowledge this is impractical in the short term .
But Mr Seely suggested that cabinets and other such products should be swapped out for alternatives when they are `` up for replacement '' .
One thing practically everyone agrees on is that the matter needs to be settled once and for at a time when so much else about the economy is uncertain .
`` These procurement decisions can take 18 months to two years to finalise and it takes time to ramp up supply to meet the demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So this is n't just a question of overnight deciding not to use Huawei - it would take many years to do it properly . ''

"And Huawei has been very innovative at coming up with the smallest and lightest 5G equipment, meaning the operators can sometimes just use a cherry picker to hook it onto existing mast infrastructure. Some of the others' is heavier and bulkier, which can require more in terms of getting planning consent and road closures."


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Dominic Cummings: 'He didn't break the guidelines' says Gove

People will make up their own minds after listening to Dominic Cummings ' `` exhaustive '' account of his travels @ @ @ @ @ Office Minister Michael Gove has said .
The prime minister 's chief aide has defended @ @ @ @ @ from his home to his parents ' farm in County Durham .
Michael Gove was @ @ @ @ @ Dan Walker on why Dominic Cummings did n't apologise .
Read more : What did @ @ @ @ @ ?

People will make up their own minds after listening to Dominic Cummings' "exhaustive" account of his travels during the lockdown, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said.
The prime minister's chief aide has defended driving 260 miles in March from his home to his parents' farm in County Durham.
Michael Gove was challenged by BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker on why Dominic Cummings didn't apologise.
Read more: What did Dominic Cummings do during lockdown?


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: A day of lockdown for young people in the UK

It ’ s week ten of lockdown in the UK , after restrictions were introduced on 23 March to slow @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of these measures have started to be lifted but others remain in place @ @ @ @ @ been felt by everyone , young people are one of the demographics hit hardest - @ @ @ @ @ living spaces .
So how are they coping ?
We asked young people across the @ @ @ @ @ in their life .

It’s week ten of lockdown in the UK, after restrictions were introduced on 23 March to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Some of these measures have started to be lifted but others remain in place.
Though the impact has been felt by everyone, young people are one of the demographics hit hardest - with traditionally smaller incomes and living spaces.
So how are they coping? We asked young people across the UK to document a day in their life.
Produced and edited by Samantha Everett
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: Your Coronavirus Stories


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: How to keep safe while shopping

Coronavirus : What is a vaccine and how is one made ?
We look at the work needed to create @ @ @ @ @ might be ready for the coronavirus .

There is "significant evidence" of coronavirus transmission in supermarkets, Wales' first minister has said.
Across most of the UK, only essential shops are open with others only allowed to offered click and collect services.
But in Scotland from Saturday, only shops selling essential items can offer this service.
What are the small things you can do to help make sure you're safe when you go shopping?
BBC health correspondent, Laura Foster, explains.
Video by: Laura Foster, Tobias Chapple, Terry Saunders, Mattea Bubalo


bbcuk--2020-05-26--The Papers: Shops 'to open for business', and 'no regrets' for Cummings

A picture of Dominic Cummings stares out from many of the front pages .
`` I do n't regret what I did '' is the headline on the story in the Daily Telegraph .
Noting that there was no apology during the hour-long live broadcast , it says the prime minister ordered Mr Cummings to go on the record after three days of damaging headlines and in the face of growing party unease .
The PM 's announcement that many high street shops will be allowed to re-open next month is the paper 's main story , however , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affair has been an unwelcome distraction from the business of dealing with the grave economic crisis facing the country . ''
`` For now '' , it concludes `` he stays in his position and we need to move on '' .
The Daily Express sets out its stall , jubilantly declaring : `` Hurrah shops to open doors soon '' on its front page .
It reports how Boris Johnson announced the news at the government briefing and urged people to go shopping to boost their local economy .
Mr Cummings is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to be his notes from his press conference .
The headline : `` Cummings faces down his critics '' .
Inside , the paper suggests detailed explanations from the PM 's advisor had `` taken the heat out of the row . ''
Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox '' Shameless '' is the rather different verdict of The Daily Mirror .
It declares he `` broke the stay at home rule , then enjoyed a birthday trip to a beauty spot to test his eyesight - all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' .
The paper 's columnist Kevin Maguire suggests the PM and his chief advisor are cut from the same cloth : `` On Planet Boris - rules are for the little people - he wo n't lose a wink of sleep over his rule-breaking chief adviser . ''
A 'Rose Garden Roasting '' is the Daily Mail 's view of how Mr Cummings fared in his Q & A with journalists .
The paper asks how the prime minister 's defiant svengali - in its words - can survive ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carry a double-page spread of pictures showing crowded beaches and beauty spots as people in England enjoyed the bank holiday sunshine .
The Mail 's headline is : `` If it 's good enough for him ! ''
And writing in the Spectator , Katy Balls reflects that the very fact that an adviser was allowed to hold such a press conference is revealing .
She suggests that , despite earlier attempts by Downing Street to claim the affair was a non-story , the unprecedented event shows the real level of concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The PM's announcement that many high street shops will be allowed to re-open next month is the paper's main story, however, with its editorial declaring: "The Cummings affair has been an unwelcome distraction from the business of dealing with the grave economic crisis facing the country." "For now", it concludes "he stays in his position and we need to move on".


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Conor Murphy says NI facing very severe recession

Northern Ireland faces a `` very severe '' recession following the coronavirus crisis , Finance Minister Conor Murphy has warned .
Mr Murphy said the post-pandemic landscape would feature `` major challenges '' .
Northern Ireland has taken its initial steps out of lockdown , with the reopening of garden centres , churches for private prayer , and golf courses .
However , many businesses will not be able to reopen until later in the year .
`` We recognise inevitably businesses will suffer and jobs may go , but we 're obviously trying to mitigate against that as best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Good Morning Ulster .
`` I think it is going to be very severe [ a post-pandemic recession ] , and what we have to take into account is the impact of Brexit - that was something that was always going to be very economically challenging for us .
`` We recognise there are a number of very serious challenges ahead , challenges that will last for some time , and what we want to do is try to support business to meet those challenges . ''
The executive has published a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not give indicative dates of when each stage might come into effect .
• NI economy 'to shrink by 7.5 % this year' • How will NI companies adapt to the 'new normal ' ?
• How businesses are adapting to life in lockdown '' There are very real challenges ahead , '' Mr Murphy said .
`` The executive , when it reformed in January , was going to face a very challenging time politically , economically , in terms of support for public services because of the years of austerity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatly increased because of the situation we are facing at the moment . ''
The UK government role is going to be more activist in the coming years to try to restore the economy .
Potentially one of the things you do when it is very cheap to borrow money is that you borrow that money and invest it in capital projects .
So you go for those big infrastructure projects , the government primes the pump of the economy , it creates work , it creates economic activity , whereas we saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition was to do the opposite , to cut back on capital spending to say that their priority was to reduce the debt .
But what we 've heard from the chancellor thus far is that that is not the path that he is going to take this time , he is comfortable with running higher debts and deficits for a considerable period of time .
The reason I think they 'd be comfortable to do that is because it is so incredibly cheap for governments to borrow money .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to borrow money at negative rates of interest .
Mr Murphy said he is `` bringing a process '' to the assembly on Tuesday to approve additional funding for some departments .
He added : `` We have also asked departments to undertake a reprioritisation exercise to let us know monies that they are n't spending so that we can collectively , as an executive , have a look at that and make sure the recovery plan we intend to put in place , that we will be discussing this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"I think it is going to be very severe [a post-pandemic recession], and what we have to take into account is the impact of Brexit - that was something that was always going to be very economically challenging for us.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Councils will take 'generation' to pay for response

It will take a generation for Welsh councils to pay for the coronavirus pandemic , according to the body representing them .
Councils have built up a deficit of about £173m during lockdown , due to a loss of income and increased costs .
Anthony Hunt , from the Welsh Local Government Association ( WLGA ) , warned they were facing a `` recovery period of years '' .
The Welsh Government said it had made £110m available for councils .
One of the concerns raised by local authorities is the spike in applications for council tax reduction , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trace and Protect '' initiative .
Mr Hunt , the WLGA 's finance spokesman , and also leader of Torfaen council , said : `` There 's a risk that the legacy of the coronavirus wo n't just be a medical one but will be a financial one that damages our communities as well . ''
He added : `` I think it 's far too early to talk about council tax going up , and I think that 's a very undesirable outcome given the strain on people 's finances thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leader at Neath Port Talbot council , warned increases were inevitable `` to keep pace with what is going on in the world '' .
He added the potential cost of test and trace would be a `` heavy burden for financial and human resources '' .
All 22 Welsh local authorities have been asked how the pandemic has impacted them , and 19 responded .
Some said increased costs included PPE , community hubs for childcare , free school meals , extra costs in social services , contact tracing , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expenditure on hospitals .
The Welsh Government has so far funded additional expenditure incurred as a result of the crisis , with local authorities submitting claims on a monthly basis , as well as receiving two months ' worth of its core funding in advance .
Although some pointed to savings where services have been scaled back or stopped , four said loss of income - not currently covered by the Welsh Government - had been significant .
This is from things including leisure centres , sports and performance venues , parking fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industrial units , licenses and trade waste .
Gwynedd council said , depending on the duration of the crisis , its lost income could total between £5m and £16m .
Cardiff council said there had been more than 5,000 new applications for the council tax reduction scheme since April - up 1,807 on the same period to the end of June last year , with the increase costing them about £33.86m .
Guto Ifan , a research associate at Cardiff University think-tank Wales Governance Centre ( WGC ) , said even before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 14 % below what it had been in 2010 , meaning there was `` very little resilience in the system already '' .
He said increased demands on local authorities as a result of the crisis will be around for a `` number of years '' , and that `` sustained increased investment '' would be required by both the UK and Welsh governments for a prolonged period of time .
`` Relying on local governments increasing council tax might not be the answer , '' he added .
`` We might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive income tax powers , for instance , that the Welsh Government now has , but those are debates to be had over the next few years . ''
If councils generate a deficit , they can sometimes use their reserves , provided they are not earmarked for other projects .
The Welsh Government said it recognised the funding pressures placed on local authorities .
A spokesman added : `` We have made £110m available immediately to help local authorities with additional costs and brought forward £526m of revenue support grant payments from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We will publish a supplementary budget next week , which will include up to £78m of further funding for local authorities . ''
A HM Treasury spokesman said the UK government announced £3.2bn of additional funding for all local authorities to `` respond to pressures across all their services as a result of Covid-19 '' .
Reserves : It may have to use reserves if expenditure exceeds the level it budgeted for .
Spending : In March it received £52,000 to cover costs related to Covid-19 .
Its claim for April will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have applied for the council tax reduction scheme since the outbreak , and the council expects to have to write off more council tax debt than normal because of the pandemic .
It is too early to judge the full economic impact of the pandemic as the lockdown measures remain largely in place .
The council is in discussions with the Welsh Government about the financial challenges presented by the pandemic .
Additional spending : £5m as a direct result of the pandemic .
Reserves : May need to draw on reserves if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications for council tax support and current efforts to establish 'Test , Trace and Protect ' services .
Background : No staff furloughed .
Medium-term effects could place more pressure on the council and these may not be funded by Welsh Government .
Additional spending : £4.5m since April on social care , the provision of PPE , community hubs for childcare and free school meals .
Reserves : The use of them is under review in light of the pandemic .
Background : The majority of the council 's services are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
No staff furloughed yet .
Additional spending : More than £18m by end of June as a direct result of Covid-19 .
Background : Further costs will come from work to establish 'Contact Track and Trace ' .
It has seen a significant increase in the number of applications for the council tax reduction scheme and is concerned about the ongoing recovery of costs as current funding arrangements are confirmed only until the end of June .
Lost income : £1.1m by the end of June Reserves : `` Sufficient reserves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate future .
Background : No impact on debt so far .
It said it was difficult to say what the financial consequences will be as it is uncertain how long the situation will last .
The council was waiting to hear what support it would get from the Welsh Government .
The council said it was inappropriate to provide information until it knows the level of support the Welsh Government intends to provide .
It added the position will become clearer in the coming weeks .
Additional spending : It has spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Background : The council has seen a `` sharp increase '' in applications for the council tax reduction scheme and this , as well as income loss , are two main areas of cost exposure .
Background : Depending on the duration of the crisis , the council said it could see losses of up to £16m .
It said there is `` an obvious need '' for compensation for lost income from the Welsh Government , and that expected income is `` unlikely to recover for many years possibly '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated the total income loss of all Welsh councils to be £95m and total additional spending to be £101m .
Lost income : £3.5m by the end of June .
Additional spending : £521,000 on costs relating to the pandemic .
Background : It has reduced expenditure by £634,000 where services are not operating or are reduced , and the council has furloughed 240 staff .
Funding announced by the Welsh Government falls significantly short of budgetary projections and it wants the Welsh Government to ensure councils will be able to borrow money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has £18m of general reserves which would be exhausted by next April if there was no further support .
Background : `` Modest '' savings have been made through suspending services but future costs , such as the cost of keeping care homes running and contact tracing , needed to be considered .
The council estimates it would lose £7.5m through reduced council tax payments and has already borrowed £20m from Public Works Loan Board to make sure it could deliver Business Grants as quickly as possible .
The crisis is placing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The council said it was adjusting its financial forecasts because of the pandemic .
Lost income : £3.5m by the end of June .
Spending : £3.8m by the end of June .
Background : Recovery will be lengthy and complex .
The main concern is loss of income , as current Welsh Government funding only covers additional expenditure .
Reserves : Without further support its `` limited '' reserves could cover the deficit for four months .
Background : The pandemic has had an `` unprecedented impact '' and Powys could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of June , leaving the council with a `` bleak '' financial future .
There is a risk the council `` may not be able to financially sustain itself '' for current financial year , while council tax receipts are down £600,000 from the start of the new financial year .
Background : It also had additional costs due to Storm Dennis at the start of the year .
Additional spending : £2.4m of extra costs by the end of June including providing PPE , temporary homeless accommodation and free school meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending has been stopped but no permanent decisions have been made to reduce services .
It has had additional funding but it 's `` too soon to say '' whether this will be enough to cover all losses .
The council said it was working with the Welsh Government and other councils .
• TRANSLATOR : What do all the terms mean ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental @

Background: Depending on the duration of the crisis, the council said it could see losses of up to £16m. It said there is "an obvious need" for compensation for lost income from the Welsh Government, and that expected income is "unlikely to recover for many years possibly".


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Calls for lifeguard service to resume after deaths

The RNLI has been criticised for not having lifeguards on beaches after two people died in separate incidents in Cornwall .
A teenage girl trapped beneath a capsized boat and a man pulled from the sea died on Monday .
A councillor has urged lifeguards to `` get back to the beaches as quickly as possible '' to help save lives .
The RNLI said it was doing what it could to get its service up and running amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The deaths came after warnings about dangerous conditions over the bank holiday weekend .
The RNLI suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced plans to patrol 70 beaches this summer rather than its usual 240 .
The girl who died was with three others who survived after their rigid inflatable boat capsized on the Doom Bar near Padstow , which is not an area that usually has lifeguard cover , at about 12:45 BST .
A man was pronounced dead after being pulled from the sea near Constantine by an off-duty RNLI lifeguard at 12:27 .
In a separate rescue , a man was pulled from the sea at Porthtowan by an off-duty RNLI lifeguard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious condition .
Oliver Huntsman , from Bude Surf Lifesaving Club , said lifeguards were `` a front-line service '' and called for RNLI management to `` pull their socks up '' .
`` Paramedics did not stop for eight weeks to figure out how they can keep their paramedics safe , '' he said .
`` [ The RNLI ] have had eight weeks of beaches being effectively closed to sort out a plan . ''
Steve England , from surf magazine Carve , was surfing when he became involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobody understands why the RNLI wo n't act , '' he said .
`` The ex-lifeguards are here , they dare n't leave the beach , they dare n't stop watching the water . ''
Chris Lowry , from Porthtowan Surf Lifesaving Club , was also involved in that rescue and said lifeguards had been ready to intervene .
He said : `` It is a testament to our lifeguards how keen they are to get involved ... they ca n't just sit idly by . ''
Cornwall councillor Pete Mitchell said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RNLI for the lifeguard service .
`` I ca n't really get to grips about why they are standing off , '' he said .
`` I think they have really got to look at things very carefully and get back to the beaches as quickly as possible . ''
The RNLI said it was `` incredibly sorry '' to hear about the incidents over the weekend and its volunteer lifeboat crews had been involved in an increased number of call-outs .
The charity said : `` We continue to do what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and running as soon as possible .
`` But it must be safe for our lifeguards and the public when the risk posed by coronavirus is still a very real threat . ''

"This is a major operation with 240 beaches normally and 1,600 people, it isn't as simple as putting one or two people on a beach and we are working as fast as we possibly can and that is all we can do," he said.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus deaths fall to six-week low

Coronavirus deaths fall to six-week low

Coronavirus death registrations in the UK in the week to 15 May reached their lowest point since the beginning of April .
Between 11 and 15 May , there were 4,210 death registrations mentioning Covid-19 , across the UK .
Down from 4,426 the previous week , it is the lowest weekly figure since the 3,801 for the week ending 10 April .
Coronavirus accounted for just over 25 % of all deaths in the UK in the week to 15 May .
In the week to 17 April , when deaths from the virus reached their peak , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lockdown measures were introduced across the UK on 23 March .
Death registrations mentioning Covid-19 fell in every setting in the week to 15 May .
But the total number of death registrations rose by 10 % .
The bank holiday on Friday , 8 May , had meant deaths towards the end of that week had not been registered until at least 11 May , the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) said .
Do n't read too much into the increase in the total number of deaths registered .
Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Friday bank holiday like the one on 8 May pushes deaths into the following week , leading to the artificial extra dip and spike we see in this week 's figures .
The number of Covid-19 registered deaths continues to fall , despite this extra lot of registrations from the previous week , and are falling in every setting .
So the trends are moving in the right direction - but any week with an extra 5,000 deaths can hardly be described as normal .
We are still seeing far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this time of year - all of which are concentrated in the over 45s .
Also in the week to 15 May , 44 % of coronavirus deaths in England and Wales were in care homes , compared with 23 % at the peak , when the virus was far more active in the general population .
As in the general population , the total number of deaths in care homes rose slightly while the number of Covid-19 registered deaths fell .
The ONS 's publication also looked at `` excess deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many more were registered in the first 20 weeks of 2020 compared with the five-year average for the same time of year .
And an analysis of this data , by Prof Carl Heneghan , at the University of Oxford , found there was no additional risk of dying during that period for people under the age of 45 .
Prof Heneghan said it was n't until the 45-50 age band that excess deaths , over and above the five-year average , could be seen in the data .
And for some age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death rates had been slightly below average as lockdown had reduced other risks , including road-traffic accidents , violence and other respiratory infections .
After the age of 45 , however , the risk of dying had increased with age and had been significantly higher among the over-75s .
The ONS figures show in England and Wales there have been 53,960 excess deaths since the beginning of the pandemic .
The National Records of Scotland , meanwhile , said there had been 4,434 excess deaths between March 23 and May 17 .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there had been 834 between March 21 and May 15 .
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• 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 ?

We are still seeing far more deaths each week than would be expected at this time of year - all of which are concentrated in the over 45s.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: John Lewis plans phased reopening of stores

John Lewis is planning a phased reopening of its stores , using lessons it has learned on social distancing from the partnership 's Waitrose shops .
Changes will include having a customer service host to monitor numbers inside and answer queries , and fewer entrances .
John Lewis and other non-essential shops in England can reopen on 15 June , with open air markets and car showrooms allowed to open from next week .
However , there are questions over whether shoppers will return .
Shops must install new safety measures , but there are fears too few customers will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep businesses alive .
The British Association of Independent Retailers trade group said many small shops had been preparing to open from next week with safety measures .
It called the 15 June reopening date `` a little disappointing for the smaller retailers '' .
Different rules apply in the devolved governments .
The Welsh and Scottish governments are still advising lockdown , but are announcing updates on Thursday .
Northern Ireland has started easing some lockdown rules , and is also due to give an update on the same day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back ? '
Barista Kit Cockram and sweet shop owner Jeanette Walsh are both concerned that customers will not come flooding back immediately .
`` Just because the businesses are open , does n't mean that people will come , or that businesses will recover , '' Kit told the BBC .
`` I feel like I could lose my job if we do n't recover fast and efficiently enough .
Or will I even be safe health-wise ?
`` Some customers can be a threat to cafe workers and can become hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs the sweet shop , Truly Scrumptious , told BBC Breakfast : `` The big issue , I think , for a lot of business will be whether they get enough business coming in in those first few days to enable them to pay their staff . ''
And analyst Catherine Shuttleworth , from the Savvy retail marketing agency , told the Today programme : `` It is fine saying the stores can open , but are we going to have the appetite to go back ?
`` What we 've seen during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally a bit more often .
I think people will be concerned about going into big centres , places where they 've got to get transport .
`` We 've been really quite pleased with the way that we 've been able to get our non-food items online - and online sales have gone through the roof .
`` Shopping is a social , fun experience a lot of the time and social distancing takes that away .
It 's going to be a very different way of shopping from what we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busy preparing her shop for reopening safely .
`` I have installed a new glass screen to protect my staff and customers , '' she said .
`` I have reduced floor space so customers can only come in one at a time .
And on the floor , both shop side and customer side , there will be signage to remind them of the two-metre distance ruling . ''
Meanwhile , the head of a car dealership has said that customers will be trusted to take test drives alone as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robert Forrester , chief executive of Vertu Motors , said his company had set up a number of measures inside their showrooms to become Covid-secure .
And he told BBC Breakfast : `` When you actually go for a test drive , you will be the only person in the car .
`` We trust the vast majority of our customers to do the right thing . ''
He added : `` It changes how we sell cars , but there are a lot of changes in how we sell cars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internet .
Our online sales have gone up quite considerably over the period .
`` We sold 650 cars last week as a group without a single test drive and not one person coming into a showroom . ''
• All non-essential shops to reopen from 15 June - PM • The shops refusing to pay their rent Mr Forrester added that showrooms would look very different when customers are able to visit again from next Monday .
`` They will have one-way systems , hand sanitisers , there will be people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screens to protect the customers and the colleagues . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
The managing director of Westfield 's UK shopping centres said they were well-placed to cope with the new regulations .
`` Compared to a narrow pavement on a High Street , the sheer scale of our centres puts us in a great position to safely manage the customer journey through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Today programme .
`` We 've got digital footfall trackers so we can safely manage crowds as they enter and exit we can impose one way systems and markings on the pavements . ''
Other measures imposed at the centres include car park controls and sanitisation stations .
Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said : `` We know already from the way supermarkets and food stores have opened that it is possible to sell goods - and for people to get the goods that they need - and to do so while respecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that the shopping habits of people might have grown used to in the pre-Covid days , are habits that we all exercise a degree of restraint on . ''
Mr Gove said this included things like touching and testing goods , trying on clothes and trying make-up .

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said: "We know already from the way supermarkets and food stores have opened that it is possible to sell goods - and for people to get the goods that they need - and to do so while respecting social distancing.


bbcuk--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Weston hospital staff 'worried and confused'

The temporary closure of Weston General Hospital has left staff `` worried and confused '' , a trade union has said .
On Monday , the hospital in Weston-super-Mare , Somerset , stopped accepting new patients due to a high number of coronavirus cases .
Unison representative Liz French said the staff are `` confused , they 're worried '' but are `` pulling together to do their best '' .
The hospital said new patients would be accepted `` as soon as possible '' .
`` It 's not just the patients that have been diagnosed with Covid-19 but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've done lots of testing over the past week or so , '' Ms French added .
`` They were unhappy but they were getting on with their jobs . ''
She said staff felt there was a lack of communication from bosses .
`` Although the senior management team were meeting every couple of days to discuss the way forward but that was n't getting down to the staff .
`` That was the biggest problem and that 's why they were so worried , '' she said .
Dr William Oldfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there was a `` high number '' of patients with coronavirus in the hospital , adding that there was also `` an emerging picture of asymptomatic staff '' testing positive for the virus .
`` Any members of staff who have tested positive have self-isolated in line with national guidance , '' he said .
`` We are also in the process of testing all staff in clinical areas at the hospital who may have had some patient contact . ''
The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the union 's concerns about the communication of information with staff .
Dr Oldfield said arrangements were in place for emergency referrals to go to other healthcare providers and that new patients would `` continue to have access to treatment and care in other appropriate healthcare settings '' .
`` We are continuing to take the necessary steps with the aim of reopening the A & E department and accepting new patients as soon as possible , '' he added .

"It's not just the patients that have been diagnosed with Covid-19 but also lots of the staff because they've done lots of testing over the past week or so," Ms French added.