Boris Johnson is believed to be mulling a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals to the UK, which aviation chiefs warned could “devastate” the travel industry and the wider economy – despite almost every other country having implemented border restrictions in some form.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of sickness and disability benefit claimants are facing delays in receiving support, as government staff are diverted from processing claims to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is also expected to set out a phased end to the government’s furlough scheme this weekend, with the prime minister having indicated he will also announce a slight easing of some lockdown restrictions.
Another 346 deaths have been reported in the UK, bringing the total to 31,587 in hospitals, care homes and the community. Nearly 3,900 tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, amid concerns that increasing numbers of people were ignoring the lockdown during the sunny bank holiday weekend.
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Holidays at risk as Boris Johnson set to announce 14-day quarantine for travellers arriving in UK
New quarantine rules are set to crush the UK travel industry for many more weeks, wrecking overseas holiday plans for millions, Simon Calder reports.
The Independent understands the prime minister will announce on Sunday that travellers arriving in the UK by air, sea or rail will be obliged to self-isolate in stringent conditions for 14 days.
The aim is to reduce the rate of coronavirus infection. Covid-19 has been spread worldwide by international air travel.
The Independent understands the prime minister will announce on Sunday that travellers arriving in the UK by air, sea or rail will be obliged to self-isolate in stringent conditions for 14 days.
The aim is to reduce the rate of coronavirus infection. Covid-19 has been spread worldwide by international air travel.
The transport secretary hinted about the policy when interviewed by the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on 3 May. Grant Shapps said: “I think it is important that [the sacrifices] we are asking the British people to make are matched by anybody who comes to this country.
“I am actively looking at these issues right now so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we are not importing.”
“I am actively looking at these issues right now so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we are not importing.”
Mandatory quarantine to have 'devastating' effect
The pilots’ union has already demanded that the government pays compensation for the financial damage the potential move will cause, while British Airways says it may ground all flights.
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators’ Association, said: “Quarantine would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry, but also on the wider economy.
“Airports cannot survive a further protracted period without passengers that would be the result of quarantine measures.”
She called for a weekly review of the policy, saying: “If the government believe quarantine is medically necessary, then it should be applied on a selective basis following the science. There should be a clear exit strategy.”
The pilots’ union has already demanded that the government pays compensation for the financial damage the potential move will cause, while British Airways says it may ground all flights.
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators’ Association, said: “Quarantine would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry, but also on the wider economy.
“Airports cannot survive a further protracted period without passengers that would be the result of quarantine measures.”
She called for a weekly review of the policy, saying: “If the government believe quarantine is medically necessary, then it should be applied on a selective basis following the science. There should be a clear exit strategy.”
Government expected to lay out an end to furlough scheme
A final decision on how and when the government's furlough scheme will be phased out is anticpated this weekend.
A final decision on how and when the government's furlough scheme will be phased out is anticpated this weekend.
Talks on the future of the costly support programme will be held in advance of Boris Johnson's "roadmap" announcement on Sunday, the Financial Times reports.
At least 6.3 million people are currently having up to 80 per cent of their salaries paid under the furlough system at a cost of some £8bn.
Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak said he was preparing to "wean" workers and business off the programme. But the newspaper said there are worries that a shutdown of the scheme in June could put millions of jobs at risk "if companies were forced to open during weakened economic conditions after the lockdown ends".
The FT added that ministers have flagged the possibility of the scheme instead being phased out over the coming months "while also bringing in greater flexibility to allow some workers to return part-time initially".
At least 6.3 million people are currently having up to 80 per cent of their salaries paid under the furlough system at a cost of some £8bn.
Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak said he was preparing to "wean" workers and business off the programme. But the newspaper said there are worries that a shutdown of the scheme in June could put millions of jobs at risk "if companies were forced to open during weakened economic conditions after the lockdown ends".
The FT added that ministers have flagged the possibility of the scheme instead being phased out over the coming months "while also bringing in greater flexibility to allow some workers to return part-time initially".
Hundreds of thousands wait for benefits payments amid delays
Hundreds of thousands of sickness and disability benefit claimants are facing delays in receiving support as government staff are diverted from processing claims to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, our social affairs correspondent May Bulman reports.
Unwell and vulnerable people who have submitted claims for support or are trying to appeal a decision to cut their entitlement told The Independent they were struggling financially as they wait months for a response from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Campaigners said the government’s decision to redeploy a large proportion of its frontline staff away from disability benefits in order to ramp up the efforts to handle the surge in universal credit claims was “no doubt” having a knock-on effect in delaying people’s applications.
Unwell and vulnerable people who have submitted claims for support or are trying to appeal a decision to cut their entitlement told The Independent they were struggling financially as they wait months for a response from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Campaigners said the government’s decision to redeploy a large proportion of its frontline staff away from disability benefits in order to ramp up the efforts to handle the surge in universal credit claims was “no doubt” having a knock-on effect in delaying people’s applications.
Modest easing of Wales' lockdown will be 'in line with England'
Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We were clearly convinced that only the very smallest and most modest steps ... were allowable at this time.
"You've heard what the prime minister's spokesman has been saying over the last couple of days, that the prime minister also thinks maximum caution is the way to approach the immediate future.
"We'll hear from the prime minister on Sunday the details of what he proposes for England, my view is we'll be very much in line with one another.
"Our new regime won't come in until Monday, so we'll move in a timely way together across the UK and I still think that is very much a preferable route."
He added that schools would not reopen in Wales in June, saying: "We're not convinced at this point that opening schools in any significant way would be the right thing to do."
"You've heard what the prime minister's spokesman has been saying over the last couple of days, that the prime minister also thinks maximum caution is the way to approach the immediate future.
"We'll hear from the prime minister on Sunday the details of what he proposes for England, my view is we'll be very much in line with one another.
"Our new regime won't come in until Monday, so we'll move in a timely way together across the UK and I still think that is very much a preferable route."
He added that schools would not reopen in Wales in June, saying: "We're not convinced at this point that opening schools in any significant way would be the right thing to do."
Biggest threat to Brazil is Bolsonaro, leading medical journal says
The biggest threat to Brazil's ability to successfully combat the spread of the coronavirus and tackle the unfolding public health crisis is the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, according to The Lancet.
In an editorial, the Lancet said Mr Bolsonaro's disregard for and flouting of lockdown measures is sowing confusion across Brazil, which reported a record number of Covid-19 deaths on Friday, and is fast emerging as one of the world's coronavirus hot spots.
"The challenge is ultimately political, requiring continuous engagement by Brazilian society as a whole. Brazil as a country must come together to give a clear answer to the 'so what?' by its President. He needs to drastically change course or must be the next to go," the editorial said.
On Friday, the president said he planned to have 30 friends over to the presidential palace for a barbecue. Later in the day, he joked that he may extend the invitation to thousands more, including political supporters and members of the press.
The editorial noted that "he not only continues to sow confusion by openly flouting and discouraging the sensible measures of physical distancing and lockdown brought in by state governors and city mayors but has also lost two important and influential ministers in the past 3 weeks" - notably his sacked health minister.
The biggest threat to Brazil's ability to successfully combat the spread of the coronavirus and tackle the unfolding public health crisis is the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, according to The Lancet.
In an editorial, the Lancet said Mr Bolsonaro's disregard for and flouting of lockdown measures is sowing confusion across Brazil, which reported a record number of Covid-19 deaths on Friday, and is fast emerging as one of the world's coronavirus hot spots.
"The challenge is ultimately political, requiring continuous engagement by Brazilian society as a whole. Brazil as a country must come together to give a clear answer to the 'so what?' by its President. He needs to drastically change course or must be the next to go," the editorial said.
On Friday, the president said he planned to have 30 friends over to the presidential palace for a barbecue. Later in the day, he joked that he may extend the invitation to thousands more, including political supporters and members of the press.
The editorial noted that "he not only continues to sow confusion by openly flouting and discouraging the sensible measures of physical distancing and lockdown brought in by state governors and city mayors but has also lost two important and influential ministers in the past 3 weeks" - notably his sacked health minister.
Russian cases continue to soar
Russian authorities said on Saturday they had recorded 10,817 new cases of the coronavirus in the last day, pushing the nationwide tally to 198,676.
Russian coronavirus cases overtook French and German infections this week to become the fifth-highest in the world.
The country's official death toll sits at 1,827.
Russian authorities said on Saturday they had recorded 10,817 new cases of the coronavirus in the last day, pushing the nationwide tally to 198,676.
Russian coronavirus cases overtook French and German infections this week to become the fifth-highest in the world.
The country's official death toll sits at 1,827.
How ministers have been sowing confusion over lockdown
Britain’s coronavirus lockdown is set to be eased... or perhaps it isn’t. It depends who you ask. The government is increasingly being criticised for sending out mixed messages about how long the lifting of restrictions will take, our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports.
Throughout the past week we’ve been treated to anonymous “senior government sources” quoted in various newspapers suggesting things might start to reopen.
The lack of clarity could well continue throughout the bank holiday weekend.
Britain’s coronavirus lockdown is set to be eased... or perhaps it isn’t. It depends who you ask. The government is increasingly being criticised for sending out mixed messages about how long the lifting of restrictions will take, our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports.
Throughout the past week we’ve been treated to anonymous “senior government sources” quoted in various newspapers suggesting things might start to reopen.
The lack of clarity could well continue throughout the bank holiday weekend.
Jimmy Kimmel 'apologises' for Mike Pence joke
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has apologised to Mike Pence for a segment on his show that implied he delivered empty boxes of protective medical equipment to a nursing home, but criticised the vice president for a "staged publicity stunt."
Richard Hall has the full story here:
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has apologised to Mike Pence for a segment on his show that implied he delivered empty boxes of protective medical equipment to a nursing home, but criticised the vice president for a "staged publicity stunt."
Richard Hall has the full story here:
‘Summer is not going to make this go away’: Temperature has little or no impact on spread of coronavirus, new study suggests
Scientists say warm weather is unlikely to greatly hamper the spread of coronavirus, dashing the hopes of many — including Donald Trump — who had suggested summer could provide relief from the global pandemic, Jon Sharman reports.
Researchers in Canada examined the spread of Covid-19 around the world in late March in places with different humidities, latitudes and public health measures, such as social distancing.
Dr Peter Juni, of the University of Toronto, said in a press release that the team found little or no link between infection spread and temperature or latitude, and only a weak association with humidity.
Scientists say warm weather is unlikely to greatly hamper the spread of coronavirus, dashing the hopes of many — including Donald Trump — who had suggested summer could provide relief from the global pandemic, Jon Sharman reports.
Researchers in Canada examined the spread of Covid-19 around the world in late March in places with different humidities, latitudes and public health measures, such as social distancing.
Dr Peter Juni, of the University of Toronto, said in a press release that the team found little or no link between infection spread and temperature or latitude, and only a weak association with humidity.
Saudi Arabia 'holding prince incommunicado after detaining him as he self-isolated
Saudi Arabian authorities recently detained and are holding incommunicado Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, who had previously been ensnared in an anti-corruption drive and released in late 2017, Human Rights Watch has said.
Citing a source with ties to the royal family, the rights group said Prince Faisal bin Abdulla - a son of late monarch King Abdullah - was detained by security forces in late March while self-isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic at a family compound northeast of Riyadh.
The detention could not be independently verified and the Saudi government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Earlier in March, authorities had detained King Salman's brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, and former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was replaced in a 2017 palace coup and placed under house arrest, sources had told the news agency.
The move was a preemptive effort to ensure compliance within the ruling Al Saud family ahead of an eventual succession to the throne by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon the king's death or abdication, sources with royal connections said at the time.
Saudi Arabian authorities recently detained and are holding incommunicado Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, who had previously been ensnared in an anti-corruption drive and released in late 2017, Human Rights Watch has said.
Citing a source with ties to the royal family, the rights group said Prince Faisal bin Abdulla - a son of late monarch King Abdullah - was detained by security forces in late March while self-isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic at a family compound northeast of Riyadh.
The detention could not be independently verified and the Saudi government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Earlier in March, authorities had detained King Salman's brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, and former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was replaced in a 2017 palace coup and placed under house arrest, sources had told the news agency.
The move was a preemptive effort to ensure compliance within the ruling Al Saud family ahead of an eventual succession to the throne by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon the king's death or abdication, sources with royal connections said at the time.
Wales announcement of plan to ease lockdown 'not intended to be form of pressure' on PM
Wales' first minister Mark Drakeford has said it was "definitely not" his intention for his announcement on Friday to pressurise Boris Johnson into coming into step with Wales ahead of the PM's address on Sunday, in which he is expected to slightly ease some lockdown restrictions.
"My responsibility is to tell people in Wales the regime that they will be facing over the next three weeks," he said.
"Our three-week review ended on Friday and I was keen to make sure that people in Wales know the decisions that their government are making on their behalf.
"It's not intended to be a form of pressure or anything else on anybody else, it's simply in a devolved United Kingdom - 20 years of devolution - to discharge the responsibilities that we have in Wales in a way that demonstrates to people in Wales the decisions that we are making for them."
He added that he believes there will be a "common approach" to easing lockdown across the UK, saying: "It's inevitable that we have to fine-tune that approach to meet the different circumstances of different parts of the United Kingdom but I think that we will move forward in the same basic way."
"My responsibility is to tell people in Wales the regime that they will be facing over the next three weeks," he said.
"Our three-week review ended on Friday and I was keen to make sure that people in Wales know the decisions that their government are making on their behalf.
"It's not intended to be a form of pressure or anything else on anybody else, it's simply in a devolved United Kingdom - 20 years of devolution - to discharge the responsibilities that we have in Wales in a way that demonstrates to people in Wales the decisions that we are making for them."
He added that he believes there will be a "common approach" to easing lockdown across the UK, saying: "It's inevitable that we have to fine-tune that approach to meet the different circumstances of different parts of the United Kingdom but I think that we will move forward in the same basic way."
Tourism reopening plans would be 'on the scrapheap' under new quarantine plans, airport boss says
As the government briefs airlines and airports on its plan to make arrivals to the UK self-isolate for two weeks, the travel industry has deplored the timing of quarantine, Simon Calder reports.
The aim of the 14-day quarantine is to reduce “transmission of the virus as we move into the next phase of our response,” according to a government source. But a spokesperson for the Airport Operators’ Association said it will "halt virtually all passenger traffic for a prolonged period of time and discourage airlines from restarting operations".
Tim Jeans, chairman of Cornwall Airport Newquay and former managing director of Monarch told the BBC Today programme: ”To say that it’s come too late would be something of an understatement.
“Here we are seven weeks after the lockdown and this has been announced potentially to come at the end of the month – with an indeterminate cut off.
“Even though we are now potentially past the peak, we’re now going to close our borders. All the plans that airports and airlines had for restarting operations are now on the scrapheap and will have to go back to square one.”
The aim of the 14-day quarantine is to reduce “transmission of the virus as we move into the next phase of our response,” according to a government source. But a spokesperson for the Airport Operators’ Association said it will "halt virtually all passenger traffic for a prolonged period of time and discourage airlines from restarting operations".
Tim Jeans, chairman of Cornwall Airport Newquay and former managing director of Monarch told the BBC Today programme: ”To say that it’s come too late would be something of an understatement.
“Here we are seven weeks after the lockdown and this has been announced potentially to come at the end of the month – with an indeterminate cut off.
“Even though we are now potentially past the peak, we’re now going to close our borders. All the plans that airports and airlines had for restarting operations are now on the scrapheap and will have to go back to square one.”
Exclusive: Chancellor urged to fill £5bn funding gap for local councils as coronavirus crisis hits town halls
A cross-party group of MPs is putting pressure on chancellor Rishi Sunak to fill a £5bn gap in funding for local councils, as town hall chiefs warn that the additional burden from coronavirus has left their finances “stretched to the maximum”, Andrew Woodcock reports.
A second £1.6bn tranche of funding promised by communities secretary Robert Jenrick to help councils deal with Covid-19 has yet to reach them, and a survey of local authorities is understood to show that additional costs and lost income due to the virus amount to four times the sums provided by government.
While local government bosses have welcomed the injection of £3.2bn in central government funds to cover extra costs from coronavirus, there is growing anger in town halls at a Whitehall narrative that their financial worries have been dealt with.
The 26 MPs who signed the letter to Mr Sunak and Mr Jenrick highlighted the extra burden on councils in supporting care homes, sourcing and distributing PPE, supplying emergency food packages and distributing business grants at a time when revenues from car parking, leisure centres, planning applications and other sources has plummeted.
The signatories, led by former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and including the party’s current acting leader Ed Davey, senior Labour backbenchers including Hilary Benn and Sarah Champion, Green MP Caroline Lucas and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, warned: “On the ground, we are hearing the fear and anxiety of our councillors as they battle to keep our communities safe, healthy and housed.
Read the full report here:
A cross-party group of MPs is putting pressure on chancellor Rishi Sunak to fill a £5bn gap in funding for local councils, as town hall chiefs warn that the additional burden from coronavirus has left their finances “stretched to the maximum”, Andrew Woodcock reports.
A second £1.6bn tranche of funding promised by communities secretary Robert Jenrick to help councils deal with Covid-19 has yet to reach them, and a survey of local authorities is understood to show that additional costs and lost income due to the virus amount to four times the sums provided by government.
While local government bosses have welcomed the injection of £3.2bn in central government funds to cover extra costs from coronavirus, there is growing anger in town halls at a Whitehall narrative that their financial worries have been dealt with.
The 26 MPs who signed the letter to Mr Sunak and Mr Jenrick highlighted the extra burden on councils in supporting care homes, sourcing and distributing PPE, supplying emergency food packages and distributing business grants at a time when revenues from car parking, leisure centres, planning applications and other sources has plummeted.
The signatories, led by former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and including the party’s current acting leader Ed Davey, senior Labour backbenchers including Hilary Benn and Sarah Champion, Green MP Caroline Lucas and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, warned: “On the ground, we are hearing the fear and anxiety of our councillors as they battle to keep our communities safe, healthy and housed.
Read the full report here:
German minister admits 'Europe was not prepared for this crisis'
In a statement marking Europe Day, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said: "If we look back to the beginning of the crisis, we must admit that Europe was not sufficiently prepared for this pandemic.
"In its initial stages, many countries were very preoccupied with themselves – including Germany. But this was necessary in order to secure our own capacity to act and also to be able to help others.
"Since then, the European Union has grown stronger with each passing day of this crisis."
In a statement marking Europe Day, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said: "If we look back to the beginning of the crisis, we must admit that Europe was not sufficiently prepared for this pandemic.
"In its initial stages, many countries were very preoccupied with themselves – including Germany. But this was necessary in order to secure our own capacity to act and also to be able to help others.
"Since then, the European Union has grown stronger with each passing day of this crisis."
Policing will become ‘more challenging if England and Scotland take different approaches to lockdown restrictions’
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether an easing of rules in England be “problematic”, Scotland's chief constable Iain Livingstone replied: “I think it would make consistency of the public messaging harder, people would be hearing different things when they listen to different forms of media.”
While he said people are used to distinctions between Scotland and England, on issues such as the judiciary and drink driving, the chief constable went on: “It would be harder than it’s been, but I’m confident that police would be able to respond to any differentials that the politicians decide upon.”
Read the full report by Ashley Cowburn here:
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether an easing of rules in England be “problematic”, Scotland's chief constable Iain Livingstone replied: “I think it would make consistency of the public messaging harder, people would be hearing different things when they listen to different forms of media.”
While he said people are used to distinctions between Scotland and England, on issues such as the judiciary and drink driving, the chief constable went on: “It would be harder than it’s been, but I’m confident that police would be able to respond to any differentials that the politicians decide upon.”
Read the full report by Ashley Cowburn here:
White House press secretary praises Trump for putting lives before 'hottest economy in modern history'
Mike Pence's spokesperson tests positive for coronavirus
A day after Donald Trump's valet tested positive for Covid-19, the US vice president's press secretary, Katie Miller, has tested positive for Covid-19 - a day after Donald Trump's valet.
"She tested very good for a long period of time and then all of a sudden today she tested positive," Mr Trump said at yesterday's press briefing, appearing to indicate her doing so reflected a problem with testing in general - amid criticism of US testing capacity.
Katie Miller is married to Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who is reportedly behind much of the White House's controversial immigration policy, and is allegedly behind a plot to proliferate white nationalist ideology.
A day after Donald Trump's valet tested positive for Covid-19, the US vice president's press secretary, Katie Miller, has tested positive for Covid-19 - a day after Donald Trump's valet.
"She tested very good for a long period of time and then all of a sudden today she tested positive," Mr Trump said at yesterday's press briefing, appearing to indicate her doing so reflected a problem with testing in general - amid criticism of US testing capacity.
Katie Miller is married to Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who is reportedly behind much of the White House's controversial immigration policy, and is allegedly behind a plot to proliferate white nationalist ideology.
Laboratories chief 'frustrated' by PM's new 200,000 daily test target
Allan Wilson, the president of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences has spoken of his "frustration" at the government's "arbitrary" target, insisting there should be a "more targeted" strategy to ensure labs across the country are not put under pressure.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Wilson said: "Given the fact that there was so much turmoil around the initial target of 100,000, to double that target, all it does is put pressure on the laboratories when it's really not required.
"What we need is a much more targeted approach to how we're going to reduce the transmission of this disease and reduce deaths, rather than another arbitrary, politically set target."
Mr Wilson said the Government should set out where people will be tested, who will be tested and how often the tests will take place, adding that approach would "link to an overall strategy" that would allow the spread of the virus to be tracked.
He added that some labs are working "hand to mouth" to provide testing across the UK, saying: "We get deliveries of reagents and chemicals to do testing for a period of time, but there's no guarantee that there's another delivery coming behind that so we can maintain that capacity."
Allan Wilson, the president of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences has spoken of his "frustration" at the government's "arbitrary" target, insisting there should be a "more targeted" strategy to ensure labs across the country are not put under pressure.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Wilson said: "Given the fact that there was so much turmoil around the initial target of 100,000, to double that target, all it does is put pressure on the laboratories when it's really not required.
"What we need is a much more targeted approach to how we're going to reduce the transmission of this disease and reduce deaths, rather than another arbitrary, politically set target."
Mr Wilson said the Government should set out where people will be tested, who will be tested and how often the tests will take place, adding that approach would "link to an overall strategy" that would allow the spread of the virus to be tracked.
He added that some labs are working "hand to mouth" to provide testing across the UK, saying: "We get deliveries of reagents and chemicals to do testing for a period of time, but there's no guarantee that there's another delivery coming behind that so we can maintain that capacity."
