Top story: Testing still falling short of target
Hello, Warren Murray leading you on a quick ramble through the news.
Picnics, sunbathing and unlimited rambling are thought to be among the first activities set to be allowed when the lockdown loosens starting on Monday. Stringent restrictions are due to be reviewed today with details to be announced on Sunday. Boris Johnson is expected to change the rules so that people would be able to leave the house repeatedly in a single day while still having to keep a safe distance from anyone not of their household.
The health secretary Matt Hancock’s claim to have triumphed in meeting his goal of 100,000 tests a day appears in serious doubt after the government failed for the fourth time in a row to hit the target. The prime minister has set out a new target of capacity for 200,000 tests a day by the end of May. But on Wednesday just 69,463 tests were carried out or posted, and because some were done twice only 57,006 people were actually tested. The results of hundreds of thousands of tests done at drive-through centres in England have not yet been shared with GPs or local authorities, who complain they have “no idea” where local disease clusters are. The government has said it is still “working on a technical solution” to get Covid-19 test results into individual GP records.
Half of parents with young children are struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic and almost as many say they have nearly run out of money, according to a survey involving the London School of Economics, Queen Mary University and major women’s policy groups. Sam Smethers from the Fawcett Society said: “A significant increase in child benefit of £50 per week per child and setting pay for all key workers at real living wage levels would make a real difference. Government could do this now.”
Hairdressers, bars and competitive sport could be back on the agenda for New Zealanders from next week as the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said the country was “half-way down Everest” in its fight against Covid-19. In the US, Donald Trump has reversed course to say his coronavirus taskforce will “continue on indefinitely” – while causing revulsion with his suggestion the country will just have to accept more people dying as the cost of reopening the economy. At least 90,000 healthcare workers globally are believed to have been infected, the International Council of Nurses says, noting that the true figure could be twice that. The EU is to propose a mechanism to learn from the coronavirus pandemic at the next meeting of the WHO – but will stop short of calls from the US and Australia for a full international inquiry.
More developments at our live blog and here is a summary of the main points.
There’s more in our Coronavirus Extra section further down … and here’s where you can find all our coverage of the outbreak – from breaking news to factchecks and advice.
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Deadly gas leak in India – In breaking news this morning a gas leak at chemical factory in southern India has killed at least six people and led to more than 120 people being admitted to hospital and the evacuation of three nearby villages. Styrene leaked from the Korean-owned LG Polymers plant during the early hours while people slept, said a local official in Andra Pradesh state. “Hundreds of people have inhaled it and either fell unconscious or having breathing issues,” said Srijana Gummalla. More than 120 villagers were taken to hospitals and at least three surrounding villages were being evacuated, an official said. South Korean battery maker LG Chemical Ltd, the owner of the facility and part of the LG conglomerate, was not immediately available for comment.
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Maduro fiasco soldier speaks – An American mercenary captured in Venezuela has said in a stage-managed TV appearance that he was on a Trump-sanctioned mission to abduct its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Luke Denman is one of two US citizens seized by Venezuelan security forces this week. He said he worked for Silvercorp, a Florida private security firm run by Jordan Goudreau, a former US soldier who has claimed the raid was intended to “liberate Venezuela”. Maduro, brandishing a contract allegedly showing the mission was commissioned by his opposition rival, Juan Guaidó, said: “Donald Trump is behind all of this.” The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said the US would “use every tool” to get the captured Americans back, while stoking intrigue by saying there was no “direct” US government involvement in the raid.
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Bibi and Benny team up – Israel’s supreme court has approved a coalition agreement between the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Benny Gantz, paving the way for the formation next week of a unity government in which they will alternate as prime minister. The supreme court said it “was not seeking to diminish the severity” of charges against Netanyahu whose corruption trial is due to start on 24 May. But it concluded those could be handled without blocking the new government. It will be Israel’s first government since December 2018 when the Knesset was dissolved. No one gained a majority in successive elections. Meanwhile in Iraq a new prime minister has taken charge after months of protests and political jockeying.
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Barclay rift blown open – Sir Frederick Barclay’s nephews sold the Ritz for “half the market price” after bugging conversations with a Saudi investor who offered £1.3bn for the London hotel, the high court has heard. Barclay, 85, and his daughter, Amanda, are suing three of his twin brother Sir David Barclay’s sons – Alistair, Aidan and Howard – and Aidan’s son, Andrew, over 1,000 conversations allegedly tapped using an “elaborate system of covert recording”. The claimants state discussions were eavesdropped about an offer for the Ritz from Saudi-based Sidra Capital. The 114-year-old hotel was sold by David’s side of the family in March for significantly less to Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri, a Qatari businessman. Hefin Rees QC, representing Frederick and Amanda, said in a written submission that the defendants “derived significant financial and commercial advantage from the unlawful use of the recordings”. The case continues.
Coronavirus Extra
“It must be painful to be racist right now. Knowing that if you become sick, a black or brown person is highly likely to be involved in the hard, dangerous service of trying to save you. If you need transport to work, a black or brown person is disproportionately likely to be involved in getting you there … I don’t believe Britain is a country of racists. But we have been conditioned to erase the contribution of ethnic minorities to our national identity.” Afua Hirsch on why, after coronavirus, BAME people must be kept at the heart of Britain’s story.
Memories of beaches – in the UK or further afield – as well as village bars, sunrise views and days out with tea and cake are sustaining readers during lockdown. Read their best tips.
“I miss math the most …” Photographer Matt Eich talked to his youngest daughter, Meira, about being quarantined in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is what she told him.
Today in Focus podcast: Lifting lockdown in poorest US state
Despite rising coronavirus case numbers, the US state of Mississippi is moving out of lockdown and reopening parks, restaurants and other non-essential shops. Oliver Laughland went to the resort of Biloxi to see how residents were responding.
Lunchtime read: Patterns of pain
We can expect psychological difficulties to follow as we come out of lockdown. But we have an opportunity to remake our relationship with our bodies, and the social body we belong to, writes Susie Orbach.
Sport
England’s Test cricketers have been told to expect daily temperature checks, regular Covid-19 swabs and possibly nine weeks away from their families under ambitious plans to get the series against West Indies and Pakistan played. The England women’s team could in effect be sacrificed this summer as the England and Wales Cricket Board seeks to mitigate a potential £380m loss caused by the pandemic. England expect Joe Marler to be available for selection when international rugby resumes amid suggestions the loosehead prop was considering walking away from the sport. Organised sport will resume in the Netherlands from 1 September, but recreational golf and tennis will be allowed from Monday. NBA teams are expected to get the go-ahead to reopen practice facilities for limited use as early as Friday, less than two months after the coronavirus outbreak forced the suspension of the season. And in Australia the rugby league player Bryce Cartwright says he will not be bullied into getting a flu shot after the prime minister, Scott Morrison, called for the league to adopt a “no jab, no play” approach.
Business
Share markets in Asia have been subdued after warnings that the eurozone could see its worst ever recession. The FTSE100 is expected to open flat in London later in the day while Wall Street is set for bigger gains. The pound is buying $1.232 and €1.141.
The papers
The Guardian leads with “Landmark test target that keeps being missed” – the Metro focuses on that too – with our paper giving downpage billing for “Picnics and rambles set to be allowed next week”. There’s a lot of excitement about the latter prospect: “Hurrah! Lockdown freedom beckons” enthuses the Mail. The Express joins the chorus: “First steps to freedom from Monday” and the Sun calls it “Happy Monday”.
There are “Five steps to end of lockdown” says the Mirror, setting out a calendar for easing restrictions that stretches into October. “Stay home advice to be scrapped” says the Telegraph, whereas the FT goes a bit deeper in its headline: “Johnson looks to border checks as price of lockdown relaxation” – it reports on the possibility of 14 days’ quarantine for all arrivals into the UK, including locals.
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