Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned of 'tough times' ahead after government forecasters said the economy could shrink by 35 per cent - the largest quarterly decline in economic activity in at least 100 years - and unemployment could rise to 3.4 million due to strict lockdown measures which have been used to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Polling for The Independent has found ethnic minorities and young people in society are the hardest hit by the economic effects of the pandemic, with almost a third of all households seeing their finances cut and more than one in 20 saying they have lost half their income.
Meanwhile, more than 2,000 additional Covid-19 deaths have been recorded outside hospitals, according to official statistics, amid growing concern about the vulnerability of care homes during the UK's epidemic, while the hospital death toll has risen to more than 12,000.
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UN pledge to 'flood internet with facts and science'
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the world is facing "a dangerous epidemic of misinformation" about COVID-19, with harmful health advice, wild conspiracy theories and hatred going viral.
He announced a UN initiative "to flood the internet with facts and science while countering the growing scourge of misinformation, a poison that is putting even more lives at risk."
Mr Guterres urged social media organizations to do more to counter the spreading global "misinfo-demic" and to "root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19."
The UN chief said people around the world "are scared" and want to know what to do and where to turn for advice, and they need science, not "snake-oil solutions."
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the world is facing "a dangerous epidemic of misinformation" about COVID-19, with harmful health advice, wild conspiracy theories and hatred going viral.
He announced a UN initiative "to flood the internet with facts and science while countering the growing scourge of misinformation, a poison that is putting even more lives at risk."
Mr Guterres urged social media organizations to do more to counter the spreading global "misinfo-demic" and to "root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19."
The UN chief said people around the world "are scared" and want to know what to do and where to turn for advice, and they need science, not "snake-oil solutions."
Family pay tribute to NHS healthcare assistant and grandmother
A family has paid tribute to a hospital healthcare assistant who died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Grandmother Maureen Ellington, who worked at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, passed away on Easter Sunday.
Mrs Ellington, who was in her early 60s, had worked for the NHS for over 25 years at both Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.
Her family said in a statement: "We are heartbroken to lose the pillar of our family at this time. She was simply amazing.
"She loved her husband, five children, six grandchildren, wider family, friends and colleagues.
"She was kind-hearted, bubbly, caring and always joyous.
"She would light up any room she entered. She will always be in our hearts."
A family has paid tribute to a hospital healthcare assistant who died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Grandmother Maureen Ellington, who worked at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, passed away on Easter Sunday.
Mrs Ellington, who was in her early 60s, had worked for the NHS for over 25 years at both Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.
Her family said in a statement: "We are heartbroken to lose the pillar of our family at this time. She was simply amazing.
"She loved her husband, five children, six grandchildren, wider family, friends and colleagues.
"She was kind-hearted, bubbly, caring and always joyous.
"She would light up any room she entered. She will always be in our hearts."
People with autism or learning disabilities allowed to go out more than once a day, says government
People with specific health conditions will be allowed out more than once a day during the coronavirus lockdown, according to updated advice from the UK government.
The new rules state that those who need to leave the house to maintain their health, such as individuals with learning disabilities or autism who “require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day”, are permitted to do so.
The new advice also states that it is still permissible even if it “involves travel beyond your local area”.
More below:
People with specific health conditions will be allowed out more than once a day during the coronavirus lockdown, according to updated advice from the UK government.
The new rules state that those who need to leave the house to maintain their health, such as individuals with learning disabilities or autism who “require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day”, are permitted to do so.
The new advice also states that it is still permissible even if it “involves travel beyond your local area”.
More below:
People with autism or learning disabilities allowed to go out more than once a day, says government
New advice states those with specific health conditions can also travel beyond their local area
Airlines are preparing for a future with fewer passengers and higher fares
As the aviation industry looks ahead, beyond the current near-total grounding of passenger aircraft, airlines are expecting to face higher costs that will inevitably be passed on to the passenger.
It comes as airline operators are forced to consider how a person can remain socially distanced on a plane.
As the aviation industry looks ahead, beyond the current near-total grounding of passenger aircraft, airlines are expecting to face higher costs that will inevitably be passed on to the passenger.
It comes as airline operators are forced to consider how a person can remain socially distanced on a plane.
More from our own Simon Calder below:
Airlines are preparing for a future with fewer passengers and higher fares
Tickets could cost 50% more because of ‘de-densification’
Trump parades recovered Covid-19 patients while attacking Biden and praising controversial coronavirus drug
Donald Trump, in a much more jovial mood than during a confrontational Monday evening press conference, used a meeting with recovered coronavirus patients to take a jab at Joe Biden and again advocate for a malaria medication in which his family reportedly has a financial stake.
The president joked with and questioned a handful of individuals who contracted the sometimes-deadly virus in a midday Cabinet Room meeting in which everyone was social distancing.
But, as usual, Mr Trump used the event to suggest hydroxychloroquine can help most who get the virus recover faster -- and he suggested the former vice president, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, would, if elected, block its mass production during a pandemic.
Donald Trump, in a much more jovial mood than during a confrontational Monday evening press conference, used a meeting with recovered coronavirus patients to take a jab at Joe Biden and again advocate for a malaria medication in which his family reportedly has a financial stake.
The president joked with and questioned a handful of individuals who contracted the sometimes-deadly virus in a midday Cabinet Room meeting in which everyone was social distancing.
But, as usual, Mr Trump used the event to suggest hydroxychloroquine can help most who get the virus recover faster -- and he suggested the former vice president, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, would, if elected, block its mass production during a pandemic.
More below:
Trump parades recovered Covid-19 patients while attacking Biden and praising controversial coronavirus drug
After first downplaying severity of Covid-19, president tells recovered victims it's a 'plague' and a 'scourge'
France registers more than 15,000 deaths
France has officially registered more than 15,000 deaths from coronavirus infections, becoming the fourth country to go beyond that threshold after Italy, Spain and the United States, while the rate of increase of fatalities is slightly up again after steadying the days before.
But the number of people in intensive care units fell to 6,730 from 6,821 over 24 hours, with this total declining for a sixth consecutive day, suggesting the national lockdown, extended to Monday, is having positive effects in containing the disease.
During a news conference Jerome Salomon, head of the public health authority, said the number of people who died from the disease in French hospitals and nursing homes had risen by 5 per cent in a day to a cumulative total of 15,729, versus 4 per cent on Monday and Sunday.
France has officially registered more than 15,000 deaths from coronavirus infections, becoming the fourth country to go beyond that threshold after Italy, Spain and the United States, while the rate of increase of fatalities is slightly up again after steadying the days before.
But the number of people in intensive care units fell to 6,730 from 6,821 over 24 hours, with this total declining for a sixth consecutive day, suggesting the national lockdown, extended to Monday, is having positive effects in containing the disease.
During a news conference Jerome Salomon, head of the public health authority, said the number of people who died from the disease in French hospitals and nursing homes had risen by 5 per cent in a day to a cumulative total of 15,729, versus 4 per cent on Monday and Sunday.
Empty streets in Austria as country reopens shops and eases lockdown
Shops began reopening across Austria on Tuesday after the country started to loosen restrictions after a month of lockdown, but most people seemed to decide to stay at home.
A sign outside the Vienna Candy Store signalled to passerbys that the small business was open, but inside, owner Adnan Sulejmani remained by himself.
“People are still afraid, just look outside,” Sulejmani tells the Independent.
More below:
Empty streets in Austria as country reopens shops and eases lockdown
Coronavirus has crippled country's economy and shop owners are afraid that people will continue to stay away despite lifting of restriction. Denise Hruby reports from Vienna.
Irish death toll rises to 406
Forty-one people diagnosed with coronavirus in Ireland have died bringing the state's total to 406, the Irish authorities have said.
With an additional 548 new confirmed cases reported by Irish laboratories and 284 confirmed cases reported by a laboratory in Germany, there are now a total of 11,479 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Forty-one people diagnosed with coronavirus in Ireland have died bringing the state's total to 406, the Irish authorities have said.
With an additional 548 new confirmed cases reported by Irish laboratories and 284 confirmed cases reported by a laboratory in Germany, there are now a total of 11,479 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
May target date for reopening US economy ‘overly optimistic’, Dr Fauci warns
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, has said a 1 May target date for reopening the US economy is “a bit overly optimistic” due to a lack of testing and tracing procedures.
“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we're not there yet,” Dr Fauci said on Tuesday.
Public health officials need to be able to test for the virus quickly, isolate new cases and track down new infections, before social distancing and other restrictions can be eased, he added.
Donald Trump has previously floated 1 May as a possible date to start reopening some parts of the country.
Cannes Film Festival will not take place in ‘original form’
The Cannes Film Festival will not be held this year in “its original form” due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event’s organisers have said.
The festival, which was originally due to take place in May, will nevertheless be made “real” in 2020, “in a way or another”, a statement from the organisers said.
Last year, the top prize at Cannes was won by the South Korean film Parasite, which later went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars.
The Cannes Film Festival will not be held this year in “its original form” due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event’s organisers have said.
The festival, which was originally due to take place in May, will nevertheless be made “real” in 2020, “in a way or another”, a statement from the organisers said.
Last year, the top prize at Cannes was won by the South Korean film Parasite, which later went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars.
Sunak says economic measures can help UK economy recover quickly from crisis
The chancellor was also asked whether the UK would be feeling the economic costs of the coronavirus crisis for a generation.
He replied: “This is going to be hard, our economy's going to take a significant hit and as I've said before that's not an abstract thing, people are going to feel that in their jobs and in their household incomes.”
However, he said economic measures, such as jobs retention and furloughing schemes, put in place could “significantly mitigate that impact” and ensure fewer people are unemployed at the end of the crisis.
“Yes, it will be difficult in the short term. I'm happy to be honest about that with people,” Mr Sunak added.
“I think the measures we've put in place will help and then as we get through this it will mean that we can recover quickly and strongly and get our lives and economy back to normal.”
NHS England director warns against complacency over outbreak
Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, has urged the public not to become complacent about Covid-19 as “increasing evidence” shows the number of hospital admissions for the coronavirus are beginning to stabilise and plateau.
He told the Downing Street press conference that lockdown compliance levels among the public were “very high” and needed to stay that way.
“We absolutely need to make sure that we keep the benefits of this going forward and we don't take a foot off the pedal, we don't become complacent,” Professor Powis said.
On hospital admissions, he said: “We are beginning to see the benefits of the undoubted hardship that we have all been asked to go through in terms of social distancing, in terms of not meeting with friends and family.
“It's really important that those benefits are maintained, that we continue to follow the instructions that we have all been given and we will then get on top of this virus.”
Chancellor warns of ‘tough times’ ahead due to economic impact of Covid-19
Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has warned of “tough times” ahead due to the economic impact of coronavirus and the lockdown which has been imposed to slow its spread.
Following a report by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) which suggested the UK economy could shrink by 35 per cent from April to June, Mr Sunak said: “These are tough times and there will be more to come.
“As I have said before, we cannot protect every business and every household.”
The chancellor also rejected the case for reducing lockdown restrictions to help the economy and argued there was not a choice to be made between the economy and public health at this time.
“Right now, the single most important thing we can do for the health of our economy is to protect the health of our people,” Mr Sunak said.
“At a time when we are seeing hundreds of people dying every day from this terrible disease, the absolute priority must be to focus all of our resources - not just of the state but of businesses and all of you at home as well - in a collective national effort to beat this virus.”
Italy death toll rises to more than 21,000
Italy’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 602, bringing its total fatalities to 21,067, the country's Civil Protection Agency (CPA) has said.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to 162,488, meaning Italy has the third highest global tally behind the US and Spain.
The CPA added that there were 3,185 people in intensive care on Tuesday, down from 3,260 on Monday.
Exclusive: NHS hospitals to get upgraded oxygen systems after high demand caused supplies to fail
Hospitals are to have their oxygen systems upgraded so they can cope with the influx of coronavirus patients who need help with breathing.
NHS England carried out an audit last week to understand which hospitals were most at risk from extra demand on their existing systems. Those most in need will be prioritised for upgrades including extra oxygen tanks and supply lines.
Our health correspondent, Shaun Lintern, has the full story below:
Jordan to ban mosque prayers during holy month of Ramadan, minister says
Jordan will not allow public worship in mosques during the holy month of Ramadan that begins next week as part of measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, the religious affairs minister has said.
Mohammad Khalaylah said evening prayers known as Taraweeh, a main part of the religious observance of the month-long fasting, would be banned.
As in other Muslim countries, Jordan’s authorities have closed mosques and public places of worship as part of a tight lockdown and ban on gatherings due to Covid-19.
Trump to make announcements on reopening US economy 'within days'
Donald Trump will make a number of announcements about reopening the US economy in the next day or two, his top economic adviser has said.
“In the next few days, he will be making some very important announcements regarding those [social-distancing] guidelines,” Larry Kudlow, the national economic council director, told Fox Business Network.
He added: “We want to get folks back to work. We want to do it as quickly as possible. It has to be safe. It has to be driven by the data from our health specialists.”
CIA employees ‘warned against Trump’s favoured coronavirus drug’
CIA employees have been warned an anti-malaria drug promoted by Donald Trump for coronavirus treatment could potentially have life-threatening side effects, including sudden death, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Mr Trump has frequently recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug which is used in the treatment of malaria, for treating Covid-19 during his press briefings.
Our reporter, Louise Hall, has the full story below:
CIA employees warned against potentially fatal side effects of Trump's favoured coronavirus drug
‘Please do not obtain this medication on your own,’ workforce website response warnsDenmark to reopen society more quickly than expected after early shutdown
Denmark is planning to reopen society more quickly than anticipated as the number of coronavirus-related hospitalisations continues to fall, the Danish prime minister has said.
Mette Frederiksen said Denmark would reopen day care centres and schools for children in first to fifth grade on Wednesday, as the first step of a gradual relaxation of its month-long lockdown.
The government has faced some criticism for keeping many small businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and hair dressers, closed.
“Our job as government is not to look after the interests of certain groups, but to find a balanced solution that is good both in terms of health and also provides significantly better conditions in terms of jobs,” Ms Frederiksen told a news briefing.
“This will be our approach for the extension of the first phase of reopening.”
The proposal will be discussed with other parties in parliament later on Tuesday, Ms Frederiksen added.
The Nordic country, which was one of the first in Europe to shut down, had 299 coronavirus-related deaths as of Tuesday, while the number of hospitalisations has fallen over the last two weeks.
Exclusive: Woman ordered to leave UK within days or face deportation despite pandemic
A woman who has lived in the UK for seven years has been ordered to leave the country within days or face deportation, despite government advice warning against all travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
Katie Collins, who was born in the US, has told The Independent that she felt “broken” and afraid after being told by the Home Office she must return to the US by Saturday or be deported to Thailand - the last nation from which she entered the UK.
Our social affairs correspondent, May Bulman, has the full story below:
Woman told to leave UK within days or face deportation despite coronavirus pandemic
'It’s mind-boggling,' says Katie Collins, who has lived in UK with British husband since 2013Please allow a moment for the blog to load
