- Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for Boris Johnson while Johnson remains in intensive care in hospital, told a press conference this afternoon that his boss was “a fighter” who would be back at work “in short order”. Raab said:
[Johnson] is not just the prime minister. For all of us in cabinet, he is not just our boss. He is also a colleague and he is also our friend. So all our thoughts and prayers are with the prime minister at this time, with Carrie [Symonds] and his whole family. And I’m confident he will pull through because if there is one thing that I know about this prime minister is he is a fighter and he will be back leading us through this crisis in short order.
Raab expressed his support for Johnson as the PM received well-wishes from fellow leaders around the world, from members of the public, and even from the Queen and other members of the royal family. In an update on the PM’s health, Raab confirmed that Johnson was not on a ventilator - but did not go beyond the relatively scant progress report issued by No 10 at lunchtime. (See 12.51pm.) Raab said:
[Johnson] remained stable overnight. He’s receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any assistance, he’s not required any mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support. He remains in good spirits and in keeping with usual clinical practice his progress continues to be monitored closely in critical care.
- Raab played down the prospect of the lockdown restrictions being relaxed next week, when they are due to be reviewed for the first time. (See 5.53pm.)
- Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said the number of coronavirus cases “could be moving in the right direction” but that it would not be clear “for a week or so”. Speaking at the press conference, Vallance presented a chart showing the latest data for new cases and said:
It’s possible that we’re beginning to see the beginning of change in terms of the curve flattening a little bit. We won’t know that for sure for a week or so
There hasn’t been the accelerated take-off and again it’s possible that we’re beginning to see the start of a change where we might see numbers flattening off.
It does begin to suggest that things might be moving in the right direction in terms of numbers and it’s important that we carry on with the measures that we have got in place in order to make sure that this does go in the right direction.
Here is the chart that Vallance was referring to. It was one of five (pdf) he presented at the press conference.
- Raab implied that Matt Hancock, the health secretary, should be held accountable if the government failed to meet the target Hancock set for 100,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out a day by the end of this month. Asked who would “carry the can” if the target were missed, Raab stressed that it was Hancock’s target. He said the latest data showed 14,000 tests a day being carried out.
- Whitty implied that the UK could learn from Germany’s success with testing. Asked why the number of deaths from coronavirus in Germany was rising at a slower rate than in the UK, Whitty said:
We all know that Germany got ahead in terms of its ability to do testing for the virus and there’s a lot to learn from that and we’ve been trying to learn the lessons from that.
For more coronavirus coverage, do read our global coronavirus blog:
Updated
There are now confirmed cases of Covid-19 in more than a third of prisons in England and Wales, according to a daily update from the Ministry of Justice.
As of 5pm on Monday, 116 prisoners had tested positive for Covid-19 across 43 prisons, up from 107 prisoners across 38 prisons at the same time on Sunday. There are 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales in 117 prisons.
The number of prison staff who have tested positive remained at 19 across 12 prisons in the period, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff remained at four.
With the negotiations over the UK’s future relationship with the EU in flux due to the coronavirus pandemic, David Frost, the British chief negotiator has said he will hold talks by video-conference call with his counterpart, Michel Barnier, next week. Frost tweeted:
I want to reassure everyone that UK-EU contacts have been continuing in these difficult times.
We have remained in touch throughout, both sides have exchanged legal texts, and last week we had a series of conference calls to explore and clarify technicalities.
The UK side will share further legal texts with the European commission shortly. I and Michel Barnier will speak next week and we aim to reach agreement on a timetable for the discussions needed in April and May. Further details will follow then.
There was only one round of face-to-face talks ahead of the lockdowns on either side of the Channel. The other scheduled rounds in Brussels and London were abandoned soon after.
The EU has published a draft treaty on the future relationship. The UK has provided some legal text to the commission on its vision of the trade relationship but is yet to publish any papers.
Updated
Raab plays down prospect of early relaxation of lockdown measures
Dominic Raab did not have anything much to announce in that press conference, and it seemed as if the message he was most keen to deliver was his personal message of support for Boris Johnson. (See 5.05pm.) It is always advisable to show strong support for the boss, even if you don’t particularly mean it, but in this case it seemed very obvious that Raab did. Johnson’s illness has clearly shocked his colleagues, and their concern for him is genuine.
Beyond that, what was probably most interesting was what Raab had to say about the prospect of the lockdown measures being relaxed. When Johnson announced the lockdown 15 days ago, he said:
I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.
The three-week deadline comes up on Monday. But when Raab was asked about the prospect of the restrictions being lifted in any way next week, he very much played down the idea. He said:
In terms of the review, we are not at that stage yet. We will take any decision when the time is right, based on the facts and the scientific and medical advice.
Our number one and overriding focus right now is on conveying the key message, which is that everyone needs to keep adhering to this guidance.
There is a long Easter bank holiday weekend coming up, warm weather and we understand people are making big sacrifices to follow this guidance. It is helping, it is contributing to our ability to tackle the coronavirus.
The worst thing now would be to take our foot off the pedal, to ease up on that and risk losing the gains that have been made.
And in another answer, Raab said:
The critical thing is to take evidence-based decisions and so we’ve said that we will take any review once we’ve got the evidence that the measures are working and having the kind of impact taking us past the peak which means that they can be responsibly done. We’re not at that stage yet.
Prof Chris Whitty was a bit more explicit. Talking about when some of the restrictions might be relaxed, he said:
It’s really important that we get to the point that we’re all confident that we’re beyond the peak and then at that point start making it clear what combination of things, and over what period of time, seems a sensible combination to take us through.
Updated
Q: A letter from GPs to Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, suggests some people who should be shielded are not being shielded. What will you do about that?
Whitty says there are three categories for shielding: what everyone should do; what people who are over 70 and otherwise vulnerable should do; and what a group of 1.5 million people who are especially vulnerable because of health conditions need to do. He says the government will want to protect people in this third group for quite a long period of time.
He says some people in the group of 1.5 million will have decided that they do not wish to be part of this. Some of these people might have a terminal illness and have made a rational decision not be to be shielded.
Q: Are you promising that you will carry out 100,000 daily antigen tests by the end of the month? If you do not meet that, will someone carry the can?
Raab says the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has been very clear what the target is.
Q: So are you promising that 100,000 antigen tests can be carried out by the end of the month?
Raab says he will not go beyond what the health secretary has said. The government is going to strain every sinew to get these tests done, he says. This target still stands, he says.
And that’s it. The press conference is over.
I will post a summary soon.
Updated
Whitty says care homes and nursing homes will present some of the biggest challenges. He says he expects the number of deaths in these places to go up.
Updated
Vallance says the UK is publishing data for hospital deaths because that is how many other countries are presenting their data.
Q: Will there be a three-week review of the lockdown? Or will it wait until the PM is out of hospital? And there was modelling published on Friday suggesting this lockdown could go on for months. Will you level with people and admit that?
Raab says he thinks the government has levelled with people. It needs to look at the data, showing how these measures have worked, before deciding what do to next.
Whitty says it is essential to get beyond the peak first. At that point they can decide what combination of measures might stay in place. He says there are disadvantages to keeping the lockdown in place too long.
Q: Has the PM given you any indication of when the lockdown might be relaxed? Other countries have levelled with the public?
Raab says we are not at that point yet. They remain focused on conveying the key message, which is that everyone should comply with the guidance.
He says the guidance is helping. The worst thing would be to “take our foot off the pedal”. It is critical that people keep up this discipline.
Q: So this lockdown is going to have to stay for a few more weeks at least?
Raab says he does not accept that. He says they have been guided by the data. Once they get reliable data on the impact these measures have had, they will be able to take decisions.
Q: What could we have done differently?
Vallance says this is a pandemic. It is applying everwhere. We are three or four weeks behind Italy. Keeping the numbers below ICU capacity is critical. It is essential to keep this suppressed, he says.
Updated
Q: How could it be that three people in charge of telling the country not to catch this virus caught it?
Because it is very indiscriminate, says Raab.
Q: If you needed to change direction, do you have the authority to do that?
Raab says he has been asked to deputise for the PM for as long as necessary. The normal cabinet collective responsibility will apply.
Q: Would you have the confidence to change course if you could not get the PM’s approval?
Raab says he has total confidence in the arrangements put in place.
Q: The increase in deaths in Germany is much slower than in other EU countries. What can we learn from them?
Vallance says he does not have a clear answer to that. Two factors apply: the virus and the society it hits. He suggests Germany might be different.
Whitty says Germany got ahead in terms of testing. There are lessons to be learned from that.
Updated
They are now taking questions.
Q: Who will take decisions if there is a disagreement in cabinet?
Raab says they try to take decisions collectively.
He says the PM has given them very clear plans.
Q: Will there be enough intensive care beds?
Vallance says there are always times in winter when the number of beds is under pressure. But he says the supply is moving in the right direction.
Updated
Vallance says the capacity of intensive care beds is increasing.
And he says the death figures should start to come down in the next two or three weeks.
Vallance is speaking now.
He presents various slides. The first shows transport use declining dramatically. He says that has led to the number of new cases growing at a much smaller rate than initially.
What we are not seeing is an acceleration.
He shows a graph showing the number of hospital admissions. There has been a steady increase, but not an “accelerated take-off”.
He says it is possible there might be the beginnings of a change. It is too soon to be sure, but he says it might be the start of a shift.
He also says there are 9,100 patients taking part in clinical trials.
Raab delivers the latest figures for coronavirus testing.
Updated
Raab predicts Johnson will pull through because 'he's a fighter'
Raab says the PM’s illness has been a shock to those in cabinet. He is not just their boss; he’s a colleague and friend. Raab goes on:
I’m confident he’ll pull through because if there’s one thing I know about this prime minister, he’s a fighter.
Updated
Raab starts with an update on the PM.
He says the PM remained stable overnight and is getting standard oxygen treatment. He does not require an invasive respiratory support.
His condition is being monitored closely and further updates will be issued, he says.
Raab’s wording is almost exactly the same as the wording used by No 10 in the lobby briefing earlier. (See 12.51pm.)
Updated
Dominic Raab's press conference
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, who is deputising for Boris Johnson while Johnson is in hospital, is starting the government’s daily press conference now. He is appearing with Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.
Police in North Yorkshire have increased patrols in Harrogate amid reports of reports of people having picnics, residents drinking in the streets, groups congregating in the town centre and people meeting to go for walks in the spa town.
Harrogate’s neighbourhood policing inspector, Penny Taylor, of North Yorkshire police, said:
It is really disappointing that we are having to step up our patrols in Harrogate today. Whilst we know the majority of people in the town are doing the right thing and staying at home, despite the beautiful weather, it is unacceptable that some people are showing such a blatant disregard for the government’s guidance.
Updated
The charity, Women in Prison, says the government is taking too long to release pregnant inmates from jails after it emerged fewer than one in five had been released a week after the emergency measure was announced.
The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, told a private session of the justice committee that six pregnant inmates had been released to date. (See 3.37pm.) Kate Paradine, chief executive of Women in Prison, said:
Failure to act with urgency to drastically reduce the number of people in prison will have a devastating impact on all of our communities.
The government is taking too long to release pregnant women and those on mother and baby units from prison. Now is not the time for complacency, the government must act fast to release the remaining pregnant women and many more people from prison with the housing and support they need.
Updated
A woman from West Yorkshire has been sentenced to eight months in jail after spitting at a police officer.
Lianne Mottershead, 30, from Huddersfield, assaulted a police officer by kicking him in the groin in the early hours of 6 April whilst heavily intoxicated. She was taken to Trafalgar House police station, Bradford, where she spat at another police officer. The spittle landed in his mouth and on his cheek, according to the prosecution.
She then informed the custody sergeant that she was infected with coronavirus, going on to tell another officer that she hoped they would “die of corona”, Leeds magistrates court heard on Tuesday. When interviewed she said that the NHS had advised her to self-isolate on the basis of the symptoms she described.
The chief crown prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside, Gerry Wareham, said:
This behaviour is as disgusting as it is dangerous. In the current climate, it is beyond belief that someone should deliberately spit at another person, let alone a police officer performing their duties in the current challenging circumstances. Mottershead has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment. I hope she spends that time reflecting on the absolute stupidity of her actions.
She was sentenced to two months for the initial assault by beating of an emergency worker, and a further six months for the second assault, involving spitting. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively.
Updated
UK hospital coronavirus death toll rises by 786 to 6,159
The Department for Health and Social Care has issued its latest update on hospital coronavirus deaths in the UK. It gives the latest daily for the number of deaths is 786, taking the total number of UK hospital deaths to 6,159.
As of 9am 7 April, 266,694 tests have concluded, with 14,006 tests on 6 April.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 7, 2020
213,181 people have been tested of which 55,242 tested positive.
As of 5pm on 6 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 6,159 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/MB1ckbNjm7
Vicars urged to stop streaming services from empty churches
Vicars have been urged to stop live streaming services from their empty churches over the Easter weekend, with the country remaining in lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak, PA Media reports. The London College of Bishops said it was making the “painful” request to the clergy ahead of the Easter weekend, one of the most significant times in the Christian calendar. In a statement, the bishops said:
It feels extremely hard to ask this of you, this week of all weeks.
But you will know that some people believe that being in our churches to stream, even if it is accessed by a door in your home, is encouraging others to want to travel to their church, and for others to ask for churches to be open to the public.
We would not want to be seen to encourage any laxity in the requirement to stay indoors except for designated reasons, because this will save lives, and protect the NHS.
Updated
A Labour district councillor and town council mayor has apologised for saying that Boris Johnson “completely deserves this” after he was taken to hospital with Covid-19. As the Press Association reports, Sheila Oakes, who is mayor of Heanor in Derbyshire and an Amber Valley district councillor, posted the comment on Facebook on Monday night. Replying to a message calling for people to say a prayer for the prime minister, she wrote: “Sorry, he completely deserves this and he is one of the worst PMs we’ve ever had.”
Chris Emmas-Williams, the Labour leader of Amber Valley council, said that Oakes has now apologised and that she has been suspended from the Labour group pending an investigation. Oakes told BBC Radio Derby: “I made a mistake”.
Twelve NHS trusts in England have already recorded at least 100 coronavirus deaths, PA Media reports. They are:
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust: 263
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust: 183
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 163
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust: 151
Barts Health NHS Trust: 138
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 120
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust: 118
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust: 114
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust: 112
Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: 106
Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust: 102
Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust: 100
Updated
The UK government has issued guidance to councils in England saying that they need to prioritise “black bag” bin collections as services come under pressure because of coronavirus. It says:
It is important that local authorities maintain collections of residual waste and food waste and prevent waste from building up so as to protect local amenity and public health.
It also says councils should consider reallocating “appropriate” staff from elsewhere within the local authority or waste collection company to maintain minimum statutory services, which includes picking up residual rubbish.
Only six out of a potential 35 pregnant inmates have been released from prison since the government announced the emergency measure a week ago, the justice secretary has told MPs.
The Ministry of Justice announced on 31 March it would temporarily release pregnant women in custody who do not pose a high risk of harm “within days” to protect them and their unborn children from coronavirus.
There were 35 pregnant women in prison as of 6pm on 30 March. Robert Buckland told a private session of the justice committee that six pregnant women have been released so far.
6 pregnant women have been released from prison so far; suitable accommodation is being found for them beforehand.
— Justice Committee (@CommonsJustice) April 7, 2020
David Cameron, the former prime minister, has been giving interviews about Boris Johnson’s illness.
Cameron told ITV that he did not think people should worry about no one running the country because, if Johnson could not take a decision, the No 10 team and Johnson’s deputy, Dominic Raab, would be able to take over. “The right decisions, I’m sure, will be taken,” Cameron said.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Prime Minister @BorisJohnson and his family. He is a very tough, very resilient and very fit person, with a tremendous zest for life. Get well soon Boris - we all want you safe, well and back in @10DowningStreet. pic.twitter.com/fmSgGT7jLp
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 7, 2020
Updated
A single dose of antibodies drawn from the blood of Covid-19 survivors appears to have improved the symptoms of 10 patients severely ill with the disease, according to new research. As PA Media reports, the treatment, known as convalescent plasma (CP) therapy, involves using antibody-rich blood plasma of those who have recovered from coronavirus, which can neutralise the bug to fight infection.
Scientists in China who conducted the preliminary study said no serious adverse reactions were observed after CP transfusion. They believe the findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that CP therapy might be a safe and promising treatment for severe Covid-19 patients, and add further investigation is needed in controlled clinical trials.
But Sir Munir Pirmohamed, the president of the British Pharmacological Society, expressed caution about the findings. He said:
This was not a randomised trial and all patients also received other treatments including antivirals such as remdesivir, which are currently in trials for Covid-19.
Updated
The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has told MPs he is not currently considering the release of inmates in open prisons.
The justice committee is currently questioning the secretary of state in private due to technical and staffing restrictions but is publishing live updates on the evidence via Twitter.
Buckland has told the Committee he is not currently considering the release of category D prisoners - that is prisoners held in open prisons.
Release of category D prisoners on licence is not currently being considered.
— Justice Committee (@CommonsJustice) April 7, 2020
This will raise eyebrows among those advocating further release of prisoners, considering open prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes.
Open prisons only house prisoners that have been risk-assessed and deemed suitable for open conditions.
On Saturday Buckland announced that up to 4,000 risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date will be temporarily released from jail.
And the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have also sent their wishes for a speedy recovery to the prime minister this morning.
Queen sends message of support to Boris Johnson's partner and family
This is from the Queen’s Twitter feed.
Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family. Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/Mo1SgAd9wh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 7, 2020
And this is from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. (The W at the end means that it is a personal message from Prince William, not just a message typed by a flunkey.)
Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family, who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus. We wish him a speedy recovery at this difficult time. W
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 7, 2020
854 new coronavirus deaths reported across UK
And there have been three new coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland, according to the latest update (pdf) from Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency.
These three deaths, combined with the 758 from England (see 2.18pm), the 74 from Scotland (see 1.50pm) and the 19 from Wales (see 2.08pm), would take the UK total of new deaths to 854.
We will get an official UK figure from the Department of Health and Social Care later. As Nadine White at HuffPost points out, there is normally a slight difference between the official UK total and the figure produced by the combination of the separate figures for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That is because some of the reporting criteria differ. Yesterday the official DHSC figure for new UK deaths was 439.
Updated
Air traffic in the UK is down 92% on the same day in 2019, while rail travel is down 95%, according to the latest government figures. The transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris - updating the Commons transport select committee on the effects of the coronavirus, in a meeting held remotely – said road volumes were also down 71% for last year overall, and by 83% on the strategic road network, or major roads.
Bus passenger numbers are now down 88%, with services down 54% compared with 2019.
In London, tube journeys are down by 94%, while bus journeys are 80% down on last year. Cross-Channel Eurostar journeys are now just 1% of last year’s numbers.
Updated
758 new coronavirus hospital deaths reported in England
And NHS England has just released its latest figures for coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England. In a statement it said:
A further 758 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 5,655.
Patients were aged between 23 and 102 years old. 29 of the 758 patients (aged between 23 and 99 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
Yesterday the figure for new coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England was 403, but the large difference between that figure and today’s may be partly explained by the delay in the reporting of some deaths that occurred over the weekend.
19 more coronavirus deaths reported in Wales, taking total to 212
There have been 19 further coronavirus deaths in Wales, according to Public Health Wales. In a statement its coronavirus incident director Dr Giri Shankar said:
291 new cases have tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,790, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.
19 further deaths have been reported to us of people who had tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19), taking the number of deaths in Wales to 212.
STATEMENT UPDATE
— Public Health Wales (@PublicHealthW) April 7, 2020
291 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,790, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.
Read more here: https://t.co/Z1N6KvyokQ pic.twitter.com/px7rpjM8BV
The chocolate and confectionery giant Mars has donated 1m Easter eggs to NHS workers, food banks and community groups.
The Easter treats, which include products under the Maltesers, M&Ms, Galaxy and Mars brands, have been handed out directly to hospitals including the new Nightingale hospital in London and the Countess of Chester hospital in the north-west. They will also be available via food banks and other community projects supplied by the national FareShare food distribution charity.
Updated
The artist Jeremy Deller has created a poster celebrating the role of immigrants in combating the coronavirus to raise funds for refugees, asylum seekers and food banks during the pandemic.
Money raised from sales of the poster, which states Thank God For Immigrants, will support Refugee Action and the Trussell Trust, which runs two-thirds of the UK’s food banks. Its muted multi-coloured pastel hues also evoke church posters and Easter, although Deller said the words refer to any god.
The A2-sized posters, which cost £25, are available from the website of graphic designer Fraser Muggeridge, who collaborated with Deller on the project.
Deller said the poster was a comment on how public attitudes towards immigrants in the UK have shifted since the Covid-19 outbreak. “It’s what people must be thinking to themselves, even if they weren’t three months ago. Even Piers Morgan said it today. [The poster] is a reflection of how our value systems are changing. How our view of the world is changing.”
Muggeridge said he hoped people would display the posters as a tribute to NHS staff and other key workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who are on the frontline of dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. He said:
A lot of immigrants are working in our hospitals and we hope people will put the posters in their windows to thank and support them for everything they’re doing.
The first four doctors who died of Covid-19 in the UK – Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, Amged el-Hawrani, 55, and Adil El Tayar, 64 and GP Dr Habib Zaidi, 76– were from a BAME background. Another, senior heart surgeon Jitendra Rathod, died aged 62 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Monday. Nurse Areema Nasreen, 36, died in late March at Walsall Manor hospital in the West Midlands, where she had worked for 16 years.
Updated
'We are all willing you on, Boris,' says Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, began her daily briefing today by sending her best wishes to the prime minister, telling him: “We are all willing you on, Boris.” She announced an increase of 268 positive cases in Scotland, taking the total to 4,229, and a further 74 deaths registered in the last 24 hours, taking the total deaths to 296. She cautioned that this increase reflected fewer registrations over the weekend.
Asked how long she would continue to work should she become ill with the virus herself, she said that she would seek guidance and “work as long as medically appropriate”, adding that continuity plans were in place in terms of the deputy first minister taking over.
Reporters raised concerns of care workers about the availability of PPE (personal protective equipment). Sturgeon said that she didn’t want anyone to feel they needed to whistleblow to the media at this time but that she wanted everyone with concerns about PPE or anything else to feel able to raise them directly with her government. She said that while there were known difficulties in the global supply chain, the safety of frontline workers would always drive decisions on provision of kit.
Announcing a £5.3m funding boost for community pharmacists, Scotland’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, said that she was acutely aware of the impact of lockdown on mental health, especially amongst younger people, and that work was under way with youth organisations.
Finally, responding to a question about the resignation of chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood over the weekend following the flagrant breach of her own lockdown guidance, Sturgeon urged people to acknowledge that “we are all trying to do our best”, adding: “Sometimes it’s most important to show people kindness is when they have made a mistake.”
Updated
Here is the Guardian’s latest Science Weekly podcast. Hannah Devlin speaks to Dr Jenna Macciochi about how our immune systems fight off infections such as coronavirus, and – as per lots of your questions – what happens if we’re immunocompromised
The Wellcome Trust is calling on big businesses to donate $8bn (£6.4bn) for research into developing diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, my colleague Rupert Neate reports. His full story is here.
Police were called to a funeral in the West Midlands after around 60 mourners flouted coronavirus lockdown measures. The group failed to disperse at Streetly crematorium after being encouraged to do so by officers, but no further action was taken. Walsall council have now said that the gates at the site will remain locked, with only controlled access given to mourners. In line with government guidance, the authority are allowing only 10 people to attend funerals.
Ch Supt Andy Parsons of West Midlands police said that the force would only enforce laws as “an absolute last resort”, but stressed that restrictions were in place to prevent more deaths during the pandemic. He said:
Unfortunately we were unable to encourage the mourners to adhere to current restrictions and the funeral continued in breach of the new government guidelines issued last week.
We understand that this is deeply distressing time for bereaved families and friends but there are restrictions on the number of people permitted to attend funerals to protect everyone from the spread of Covid-19.
Updated
There could be as many as 66,000 Covid-19 deaths in the UK during the first wave of the current pandemic, more than a third of the expected death toll across Europe, according to modelling by a US university.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine estimated that approximately 151,680 people were likely to die from the virus across the continent. According to a news release by the institute:
The death toll in many countries is compounded by demand for hospital resources well in excess of what is available. For example, peak demand in the UK is expected to total 102,794 hospital beds needed compared with 17,765 available, 24,544 ICU beds compared to 744 ICU beds available, and 20,862 ventilators needed (with data currently unavailable on ventilators available).
There is more here, on the global coronavirus live blog.
Updated
Downing Street lobby briefing - Summary
Here is a full summary of the Downing Street lobby briefing.
- Boris Johnson does not have pneumonia, Downing Street has said. Until now ministers and No 10 have refused to give a clear answer to this question. But asked if the PM has been diagnosed with pneumonia, the PM’s spokesman said: “That is not the case, no.”
- The spokesman said that Johnson was “stable” overnight and “remains in good spirits”. (See 12.51pm.)
- Downing Street has signalled that it does not want to take up Donald Trump’s offer of experimental coronavirus drugs for Boris Johnson. (See 12.51pm.)
- Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would take over if Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for the PM, got ill, the spokesman said. The spokesman said there was an established order of precedence in the government. After Raab, Sunak, is the next most senior person in the government, the spokesman said. (The spokesman sidestepped a question about who was next in seniority, and “how long it would take before Thérèse Coffey took charge”, but the order of precedence is normally the order in which ministers are listed on the official No 10 website. In theory, after Sunak, Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, are next in seniority - in that order. Coffey is 11th on the list.)
- Raab does not have the authority to “hire and fire” people in government while he is deputising for the PM, the spokesman said.
- The spokesman played down the prospect of the government announcing plans for an exit strategy from the lockdown anytime soon. He said that no was not the time to focus on this.
- The spokesman refused to say when the government would announce whether or not the lockdown measures are being extended. When they were announced by the PM, they were scheduled to run for a three-week period which will be over next Monday. The spokesman said that announcement about whether they would be extended would not necessarily come that day. He did not rule out it happening this week.
- He claimed there was no legal need for the lockdown to be renewed. [This is true in the short term, but the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, which give legal force to the lockdown measures in England, do have to be reviewed every 21 days, with the first review due by 16 April. And the regulations expire after six months.]
- The spokesman refused to speculate on suggestions that schools could be opened before other lockdown measures are reversed (a proposal backed by University College London research published today).
- The spokesman rejected claims that the PM was getting special treatment at the St Thomas’ Hospital. When asked about claims that a ventilator was being set aside for the PM, the spokesman said there was “significant spare capacity” available in hospitals, including ventilators.
- The spokesman rejected claims that No 10 has not been fully frank with the media about the PM’s health. “We have a commitment to be as transparent as we can be throughout this process,” the spokesman said.
We have been fully frank with you throughout.
We have issued you with regular updates on the prime minister’s health.
His condition worsened yesterday afternoon. A decision was taken that he needed to be moved to an intensive care unit at around 7pm.
We informed you all as soon as was practically possible. We have a commitment to be as transparent as we can be throughout this process.
- The spokesman said Raab would be able to authorise military action in the PM’s absence. The spokesman said that, if a national security council was needed, Raab would chair it in the PM’s absence. There was a robust national security architecture in place, the spokesman said. And he said it had the authority and ability to respond to a military threat in the PM’s absence.
- The spokesman said Johnson had not spoken to Raab today.
- Raab will not participate on the PM’s behalf in the weekly audience with the Queen, the spokesman said. The spokesman said that it has been agreed with Buckingham Palace that these weekly audiences will be suspended while the PM is ill.
- The spokesman said Raab was feeling fine.
- Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, is working as usual, the spokesman said. But he said Dominic Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, was still staying away from the office. Asked about the shortage of staff in No 10, the spokesman said it was “fully operational”.
- Dominic Raab will lead the press conference later at 5pm. He will be joined by Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Prof Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.
Updated
Boris Johnson 'stable' in hospital and does not have pneumonia, Downing Street confirms
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. It took place by conference call, as is normal now.
Here are the top lines.
- Boris Johnson does not have pneumonia, Downing Street has said. Until now ministers and No 10 have refused to give a clear answer to this question. But asked if the PM has been diagnosed with pneumonia, the spokesman said: “That is not the case, no.”
- The spokesman said that Johnson was “stable” overnight and “remains in good spirits”. In a statement about his condition in intensive care, the prime minister’s spokesman said:
The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits. He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any other assistance. He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.
- Downing Street has signalled that it does not want to take up Donald Trump’s offer of experimental coronavirus drugs for Boris Johnson. Asked about this, the spokesman said:
We are confident that the prime minister is receiving the best possible care from the health service. Any treatment he receives is a matter for his doctors.
- Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would take over if Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for the PM, got ill, the spokesman said.
- Raab does not have the authority to “hire and fire” people in government while he was deputising for the PM, the spokesman said.
I will post a full summary of the briefing shortly.
Updated
From Derbyshire Police
A man who claimed to have had #COVID19 has been jailed after coughing on some of our police officers: https://t.co/6OM9pAnh1w pic.twitter.com/q50kph1v2g
— Derbyshire Police (@DerbysPolice) April 7, 2020
Another major domestic abuse charity has reported a surge in activity during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Women’s Aid is reporting a 41% increase in users visiting their Live Chat between 26 March and 1 April, compared with the previous week, as well as a marked increase in visitors across all digital support services.
The Women’s Aid Covid-19/Coronavirus advice page for domestic abuse survivors has had 27,000 page views since its launch.
The figures come after the charity Refuge reported a 25% increase to the national domestic abuse helpline, which provides advice and facilitates referrals to refuge accommodation.
Women’s Aid and others have raised concerns that during this period, domestic abusers and their partners are self-isolating together at home and close proximity for extended periods may cause an increase in abusive incidents.
Updated
Updated
Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, has this morning become the latest to lift purchasing restrictions in its stores – on all but a few product areas including toilet rolls, eggs and home baking. A Tesco spokesperson said:
In recent days, as panic buying has eased, we’ve been able to increase stock to normal levels for most products. We’ve removed the purchase limit of three items per customer, apart from on a few specific product areas where we will keep it in place for a little longer and it will be indicated on the shelf.
The three items per customer limit will remain in place on; toilet rolls and paper goods such as tissues; household and personal cleaning products including hand sanitisers; packets and tins of food, including pasta and rice; fresh eggs; home baking including flour.
The government is to make extra funding available for schools in England to cover additional costs during the coronavirus outbreak, including free school meals over the Easter holidays. After an outcry by council leaders, teachers and campaigners, ministers confirmed that free school meals - through vouchers or other local schemes - should continue to be available during the two-week holiday for all eligible children.
Ordinarily schools would be closed over Easter, but many are staying open to look after vulnerable children and those of key workers in the fight against Covid-19. The government is offering £25,000-75,000 per school as additional funding to cover the cost of keeping schools open and additional cleaning costs during the crisis in cases of suspected coronavirus.
The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said:
Schools across the country are going above and beyond to support children during this hugely challenging period.
We must support them every step of the way, which is why we are making extra funding available, on top of existing budgets, to any school facing unavoidable costs incurred due to the coronavirus crisis.
The government has also published a list of recommended online education resources to help children learn at home, which can be found here.
Updated
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has added his name to the list of world leaders (see 7.43am) sending good wishes to Boris Johnson, the Telegraph’s Roland Oliphant reports.
Vladimir Putin's telegram to Boris Johnson:
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) April 7, 2020
"I am sure that your energy, optimism, and sense of humour will help you defeat the illness." https://t.co/PlNfJNNfZA pic.twitter.com/OzjspRfaHl
Doctors’ lives are still being put at risk by a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), with some calling the current provision “useless”, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned. As PA Media reports, more than two-thirds of doctors (69%) questioned by the BMA said they did not feel protected from Covid-19 infection, while some feel forced to work in high-risk areas without the right equipment.
The snapshot survey of almost 2,000 medics showed that large numbers of doctors are still expected to care for Covid-19 patients with little or no PPE, the BMA said. Just 12% of 1,124 hospital doctors questioned said they felt fully protected from the virus at work, while 27% reported their trust was running low on basic supplies such as soap, PA Media reports.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the BMA’s council, said:
In less than three days, nearly 2,000 doctors across the UK have told us how desperate their situation really is.
Despite assurances from the government that personal protective equipment is making its way to the front line, this snapshot survey reveals a very different picture - healthcare workers in the UK simply do not have enough protective equipment to keep them safe.
We are weeks into the most serious health crisis this country has faced in modern times and doctors are telling us they don’t have any, or don’t have enough, protective equipment.
Until now, we have been hearing anecdotal stories about shortages or a lack of PPE. This survey confirms the extent of this failure.
Updated
Updated
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has tweeted about his decision to self-isolate. (See 11.04am.)
Many thanks for kind messages. In accordance with the guidance, I am isolating at home after a member of my family started to display mild symptoms of coronavirus on Sunday. I have not displayed any symptoms and am continuing to work as normal. #StayHomeSaveLives
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) April 7, 2020
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver.
Turning away from Boris Johnson and coronavirus for a moment, Labour has just released a statement about a video meeting that its new leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and his deputy, Angela Rayner, had earlier with representatives of the UK Jewish community from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Community Security Trust and the Jewish Labour Movement.
After it was over Starmer said that he had used the meeting to stress his commitment to setting up an independent complaints process for the party, cooperating fully with the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into Labour and getting reports on all outstanding cases sent to him personally on a weekly basis. He added:
Over the last few years, we have failed the Jewish community on antisemitism. Labour is a proudly anti-racist party and, going forward, it will not be enough to ‘pass the test’ on antisemitism. We need to set new standards for best practice.
In a joint statement after the meeting Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl, JLC chair Jonathan Goldstein, CST chair Gerald Ronson and JLM chair Mike Katz,said:
While we would have fully understood the need to focus entirely on coronavirus at this time, Keir Starmer has already achieved in four days more than his predecessor in four years in addressing antisemitism within the Labour party.
Updated
Gove 'self isolating'
After that round of broadcast interviews, Michael Gove is now reported to be self-isolating because a member of his family has displayed symptoms of coronavirus.
Gove is not currently displaying any symptoms of coronavirus and he has not been tested.
NEW: Have just had it confirmed that Michael Gove is self-isolating.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) April 7, 2020
A member of his family is displaying symptoms, but he remains well himself.
Gove continues to work, as per his round of interviews this morning. But yet another challenge for this government to work around.
Michael Gove is now self isolating - has been at home since yesterday - he has not had a Covid test
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) April 7, 2020
Backdated weekly figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown an increase in the percentage of deaths in England and Wales caused by Covid-19, writes Alexandra Topping and the Guardian’s data team.
In the week ending 27 March, 4.8% of all deaths in England and Wales were related to Covid-19, up from 1% the previous week, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, which are based on death certificates, show there were 539 deaths where Covid-19 was listed in the week to 27 March, compared with 103 (1.0% of all deaths) up to 20 March.
The figure includes deaths outside hospitals, including those in homes and care homes, and includes patients who have not tested positive for the virus but are suspected of having the disease.
The number of new deaths connected to Covid-19 registered in England and Wales is slightly lower than that reported by the Department of Health and Social Care due to delays in reporting and registering news deaths.
The ONS figures are based on mentions of Covid-19 in death certificates, while the government’s daily statistics are taken from NHS Trusts.
According to the ONS figures, up to 27 March 92.9% (501 deaths) involving Covid-19 occurred in hospital with the remainder happening in hospices, care homes and private homes.
We also know the disease is more dangerous for older people. Today’s ONS data provides a demographic breakdown for 647 deaths which were registered before 27 March. This shows that more than two thirds (69%) occurred among those aged 75 and over.
Of deaths involving #COVID19 in the week ending March 27, 92.9% (501 deaths) occurred in hospital with the remainder occurring in hospices, care homes and private homes https://t.co/rt0VqdIkmv
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) April 7, 2020
Updated
The former lawyer and vocal Brexit supporter was born in 1974, and is the son of a Czech refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, and when working for the Foreign Office his job was to lead a team attempting to bring suspected war criminals to justice at The Hague.
A vocal supporter of Britain’s move to leave the European Union, Raab was briefly the Brexit secretary under Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, but resigned after saying he could not agree to the withdrawal deal that had been struck between her government and the EU.
The 46-year-old returned to government in July 2019, when Boris Johnson became prime minister. Even outside a health crisis, Raab holds the title of first secretary of state, as well as foreign secretary – and is in effect the prime minister’s deputy.
Updated
The new Labour leader, Keir Starmer, has spoken to Dominic Raab, offering to work “constructively” with ministers to get through the crisis.
Speaking to the BBC, Starmer said:
People are clearly anxious. I know the business of government will continue.
I was in touch with the foreign secretary last night, and I want to say that the Labour party will act in the national interest.
That’s why I have offered to act constructively with the government and support them where that’s the right thing to do, and push them further where we need to do it.
All of our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family at this difficult time. This is a national crisis and the Labour Party will act in the national interest, working constructively with the government. pic.twitter.com/xkPiNDAgSf
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 7, 2020
Updated
Nine prisoners reported to have died of coronavirus
Nine prisoners have died after contracting coronavirus, according to figures seen by the BBC’s home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw.
The others had been held at Birmingham prison; HMP Manchester; Altcourse, in Merseyside; Belmarsh, in south-east London; and Whatton jail, Nottinghamshire.
— Danny Shaw (@DannyShawBBC) April 7, 2020
Overall, 107 prisoners in England/Wales had tested positive by Sunday evening across 38 prisons - about 1/3 of total. Prisons with most casss: Wandsworth (11), Oakwood & Thameside (7 each), Littlehey, Manchester & Swinfen Hall, six each. Around 1300 prisoners are self-isolating.
— Danny Shaw (@DannyShawBBC) April 7, 2020
Last week an 84-year-old sex offender become the first British prisoner to die after contracting coronavirus.
The deceased was an inmate at HMP Littlehey, a category C prison in Cambridgeshire that only holds male sex offenders.
Updated
The Queen has issued a message to healthcare workers to mark World Health Day.
She said in a statement:
On the occasion of World Health Day, I want to thank all those in the healthcare profession for your selfless commitment and diligence as you undertake vitally important roles to protect and improve the health and well-being of people across the Commonwealth, and across the world.
In testing times, we often observe that the best of the human spirit comes to the fore; the dedication to service of countless nurses, midwives and other health workers, in these most challenging of circumstances, is an example to us all.
My family and I send our enduring appreciation and good wishes.
Read Her Majesty’s message in full. 📝⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FHUTF81GK5
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 7, 2020
Updated
If you’ve tested positive for coronavirus and recovered, we’d like to hear about your experience. You can get in touch by contributing to our form or via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7867825056.
The doctors union, Doctors in Unite, has condemned guidance issued last week that suggested some coronavirus patients could be taken off ventilators in favour of those more likely to survive.
A document issued by the British Medical Association, set out guidelines to ration care if the NHS becomes overwhelmed with new cases as the outbreak moves towards its peak.
Under the proposals, designed to provide doctors with ethical guidance on how to decide who should get life-saving care when resources are overstretched, hospitals would have to impose severe limits on who is put on a ventilator. Large numbers of patients could be denied care, with those facing a poor prognosis losing the potentially life-saving equipment even if their condition is improving.
A strong-worded statement issued by Dr Jackie Applebee, chair of Doctor in Unite, challenged such guidance.
It said:
We believe that all people are of equal value.
Intensive care will not work for some patients. Ventilator support will sometimes not succeed. Doctors must judge who is most likely to improve with these measures, and who is not.
These decisions have previously always been made on a case-by-case basis, where the risks and benefits to an individual patient are carefully considered. The arbitrary condemnation of one group or another is inexcusable. Being old, living in a care home, or having a pre-existing disability should not lead to an automatic exclusion from possible treatment. Blanket categorisation of large groups of people in such a way is prejudice. There is no place for it in the NHS.
There may come a time where our healthcare system is overwhelmed. But we have not yet reached that point.
The statement also said it was “immoral” to request health and social care workers to look after patients without appropriate personal protective equipment.
Updated
WhatsApp is to impose a strict new limit on message forwarding as the Facebook-owned chat app seeks to slow the dissemination of fake news, the company has announced.
If a user receives a frequently forwarded message – one which has been forwarded more than five times – under the new curbs, they will only be able to send it on to a single chat at a time. That is one fifth the previous limit of five chats, imposed in 2019.
An experienced and hugely admired heart surgeon has died in an intensive care unit in Wales after testing positive for Covid-19.
Jitendra Rathod, 58, and a father of two, died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Monday.
Rathod was an associate specialist in cardio-thoracic surgery at the hospital in the Welsh capital. He is thought to be the first health worker in Wales to die following a Covid-19 diagnosis.
Updated
Will Walden, a friend of Boris Johnson and his former director of communications during his time as London mayor, says the prime minister is conscious but the worsening of his condition yesterday shocked Number 10.
Speaking to BBC News after a briefing from Johnson’s aides this morning, Walden said:
Like the rest of the country they’re a bit discombobulated. There’s a sense of shock and [they’re] a little bit stunned at the sort of turn of events in the middle of a national crisis. But I do think they’re being as transparent as possible with his condition.
He is apparently awake and conscious, he’s not on a ventilator.
Walden said Johnson was physically strong but a difficult patient.
He said:
He was my boss, but he’s also a friend – he’s incredibly strong and resilient, both mentally and physically. He’s a pretty fit guy, Boris. He may not look that fit. He’s got a heavy frame. He played a lot of rugby at school. He’s a fairly big guy, but he plays tennis very well. He runs regularly. If anyone’s got a chance of beating this, then Boris Johnson’s got a chance of doing that.
My understanding is that he did have his workload cut back significantly in the last week, he was in constant contact with the doctors.
I would imagine that he took the decision to go to hospital pretty reluctantly. He’s not a good patient, He often battles through colds and flu ... And he’s pretty stoic and can be a bit bloody minded about this sort of thing. But I don’t think he’s been that in this case, the doctors are in constant contact with him. They’ve advised him that he was right to go to hospital ...
I fully expect that the prime minister will make a full recovery and in the interim, difficult decisions, if they have to be made will be made by Dominic [Raab] with the support of the cabinet.
General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, insisted there was a clear chain of command for the armed forces while the prime minister remains in intensive care.
He told Today:
It’s very clear I think. We work straight through to the prime minister but of course there’s the National Security Council (NSC) that’s wrapped around him and formed of many of the cabinet ministers and supported by the national security adviser.
I think on that basis we’re pretty confident it’s business as usual as far as the operations are concerned.
Sir Nick said he believed Raab would chair the NSC and be supported by others.
Updated
Lord Heseltine, who served as deputy prime minister under John Major, has joined calls for great clarity about Raab’s role.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Heseltine said there “isn’t a clarity” about what Raab can do as deputy, noting:
I was deputy prime minister but I was never prime minister, if you know what I mean.
In other words, John Major was always in good health and in touch so the questions never really arose.
There must come a time when a deputy is effectively prime minister, I don’t think we’ve probably quite got to that now but the present urgency of the situation and the potential decisions that may need to be taken quickly does mean that Dominic Raab will have to use his discretion and know when to act.
This is a very difficult thing to do because he will be surrounded by lots of people who know what Boris Johnson said, believe Boris will be quickly back and have their own personal agendas anyway, so it’s a very difficult personal position and the man will be tested by the loneliness of the job.
Updated
Boris Johnson remains in intensive care but without the need for a ventilator as Dominic Raab prepares for his first day in charge of the country, Michael Gove has said.
In a move to reassure the public, Gove said the government was functioning well without the prime minister, who was admitted to St Thomas’ hospital on Sunday night.
The Cabinet Office minister said Johnson has “followed medical advice” at all times, after concerns that the prime minister had still been working and in charge from his hospital bed until 7pm on Monday.
In a round of broadcast interviews, Gove said Johnson was fit, enjoyed tennis and has a “zest and appetite for life”, so it was “naturally concerning” how ill he was with coronavirus.
St Thomas’ hospital sources have told the Times that Johnson was not put on a ventilator but did require 4 litres of oxygen. The following account tallies with what Gove told the Today programme:
Mr Johnson, 55, had not been intubated — where a tube is inserted into the windpipe before ventilation — but needed four litres of oxygen in intensive care, sources at the hospital said. The normal threshold for intensive care is 15 litres, suggesting that he was in better health than such patients generally.
The Guardian has been told that a hospital bed was being prepared for Johnson as early as last Thursday:
The first indication that Boris Johnson was sicker with coronavirus than either he or his aides were letting on came on Thursday morning. The suggestion made by a source was specific: a bed was being prepared at St Thomas’ hospital for the prime minister, whose condition had worsened during his seven-day period of isolation in Downing Street.
Updated
Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP who chairs the defence committee, has called for greater clarity from the government about who now has responsibility for national security decisions.
Wishing PM swift recovery.
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) April 7, 2020
Dominic Raab now deputising.
Listening to Micheal Gove on TODAY - it is important to have 100% clarity as to where responsibility for UK national security decisions now lies.
We must anticipate adversaries attempting to exploit any perceived weakness.
Updated
Gove stressed that any decision to ease the current lockdown arrangements would be made by the cabinet not unilaterally by Raab. He said:
These decisions will be taken collectively and they will be taken following appropriate advice. The original decision to impose the social distancing rules followed the advice that we had from the government’s scientific advisory body. And we are monitoring the data, we’re reviewing everyday the degree of compliance and adherence to these rules. And we’re doing so because nobody wants us to live as a society in lockdown.
We’re very, very conscious that people, particularly families with children, find lockdown challenging. But we do have to follow the lockdown advice at the moment. As the prime minister’s case, reminds us this disease can hit any of us, and when it hits, it can hit very badly. So we’ve just got to make sure that we slow the spread of the disease and strengthen the NHS. And then in good time, we can review the arrangements.
It would be a cabinet agreement to change things.
Updated
Gove refused to answers questions about whether Dominic Raab had been handed responsibilities for defence in case the UK came under attack while Johnson in intensive care.
Gove said: “I simply can’t talk about national security matters. There are well developed protocols which are in place and which have been tested robustly over time.”
Here’s a fuller transcript of what Gove told the Today programme about Johnson’s condition:
The prime minister was taken into hospital on Sunday. He was undergoing a series of tests, his condition deteriorated. And the medical advice was that he should be moved to intensive care at around seven o’clock last night. Just after that, the cabinet were informed but the cabinet secretary convened a telephone call to explain the situation to us.
Do you know whether he’s on a ventilator or not?
The prime minister is not on a ventilator. He has received oxygen support. One of the reasons for being in intensive care is to make sure that whatever support the medical team considered to be appropriate can be provided. The team at St Thomas’ are among some of the some of the finest clinicians in the country. The doctors will be making appropriate medical decisions, and they have our full support in in the amazingly important work that they do it.
Do you know whether their diagnosis at the moment is that he does have pneumonia?
I’m not aware of that. If there’s any change in his condition, Number 10, will ensure that the country is updated. The decisions that are being made by the medical team, are decisions which require medical expertise, so it’s important that people like me don’t second guess them, but instead support them in the work that they do.
Updated
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has paid tribute to a heart surgeon at Wales’ largest hospital, who has died after testing positive for Covid-19.
Jitendra Rathod, an associate specialist in cardio-thoracic surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, died in the general intensive care ward at the Cardiff site. Drakeford said Rathod was a very senior and highly regarded doctor.
In a tribute on its website the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said “Jitu” was “an incredibly dedicated surgeon who cared deeply for his patients”, adding: “He was well-liked and greatly respected by one and all.”
The health board said he had worked in the department of cardio-thoracic surgery since the mid-1990s and had a brief stint abroad before returning in 2006.
The tribute added: “He was very compassionate and a wonderful human being. His commitment to the specialism was exemplary. He is survived by his wife and two sons. We will miss him greatly.”
Updated
Gove: 'PM not on a ventilator'
“The prime minister is not on a ventilator”, Gove told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He added: “He has received oxygen support.”
He said he was “not aware” whether Johnson had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
Updated
Gove also revealed that, like Dominic Raab, he has not spoken to Johnson since he was taken to hospital in Sunday.
He said:
I’ve been talking to members of the prime minister’s team but not to the prime minister himself. The prime minister has a team around him who ensure that the work of government goes on.
Dominic [Raab] takes on the responsibilities of chairing the various meetings that the prime minister would have chaired.
But we’re all working together to implement the plan that the prime minister set out in order to try to marshal all the resources of government in the fight against this invisible enemy.
We meet collectively, every morning at around 9.15am. Normally, it’s the prime minister who chairs but yesterday and today, it will be Dominic Raab who chairs.
Gove also insisted that Johnson has been working less, on doctors’ orders, since being diagnosed with coronavirus. He said:
The prime minister has been following medical advice. He’s also had a stripped back diary. And that’s reflected in the medical advice that the prime minister has had.
We must all follow the appropriate medical advice, and all of us are discovering that this virus has a malevolence that is truly frightening.
The work of government goes on, we have a superb civil service and they have ensured that the machinery is there for decisions to be made by ministers, by medical and scientific experts, and for those decisions to be followed through in a way which enables us to help those on frontline.
Updated
Gove: 'PM receiving the very best care'
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has given no new updates on the prime minister’s condition.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Gove said: “As we speak the prime minister is in intensive care being looked after by his medical team receiving the very, very best care from the team in St Thomas’ and our hopes and prayers are with him and with his family.”
He added: “The prime minister loves this country, he is someone who always wants to be doing his best, driving things forward, making a difference for the better. We all hope he can be restored to health as quickly as possible.”
Updated
Here are some of the best wishes sent to Johnson by his fellow world leaders:
I send all my support to Boris Johnson, to his family and to the British people at this difficult moment. I wish him a speedy recovery at this testing time.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 6, 2020
On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, I wish Prime Minister @BorisJohnson a speedy recovery and return to good health. We stand in solidarity with him and the British people during these challenging times.
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) April 7, 2020
I wish @BorisJohnson a speedy recovery and return to @10Downingstreet. My thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time.
— Erna Solberg (@erna_solberg) April 7, 2020
Hang in there, Prime Minister @BorisJohnson! Hope to see you out of hospital and in perfect health very soon.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2020
Sending my best wishes to Prime Minister @BorisJohnson for a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with you and your family right now. Hope to see you back at Number 10 soon.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 6, 2020
My thoughts are with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson and his family this evening. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 6, 2020
To my dear friend @BorisJohnson , my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, as you fight for a swift recovery. The people of Japan stand with the British people at this difficult time.
— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) April 7, 2020
Updated
'No change' in Johnson's condition
There has been “no change” in Boris Johnson’s condition, according to Reuters citing two sources close to him.
Johnson was given oxygen on Monday and taken to an intensive care unit at St Thomas’ hospital.
The shadow health secretary, Jon Ashworth, has wished the prime minister a speedy recovery.
Speaking to the Today programme, he said:
Our thoughts are with the prime minister. We all rooting for him because he is our nation’s prime minister. We need him back, leading the fight to beat this virus. But he’s not just a politician, he’s a father, he expecting a child. This must be on imaginably awful for his loved ones. We send our best wishes and I know he’ll be receiving exceptional care from our brilliant NHS staff at St Thomas’.
These are the most extraordinary unprecedented times, and it is a is a health crisis, like we haven’t seen in our lifetimes. It’s a global healthcare crisis combined with being an economic crisis …
The government have been very good at keeping us informed … We’ve been offering our suggestions we’ve been asking questions, and we’ve been trying our best to raise issues in order to help the government strengthen its response to the crisis.
Updated
Will Walden, a friend of Boris Johnson and his former director of communications during his time as London mayor, said the prime minister is a “really, really strong guy” and “far fitter than he looks”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Walden said:
He will whip anybody’s backside on a tennis court, he runs regularly, he doesn’t smoke, he drinks moderately.
So I think if anyone is in a good position both physically and mentally to fight off the disease then the prime minister is that person.
I had a brief exchange with him last week in which I was more concerned about him being in isolation and what he said back to me was: ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to beat it’.
What he meant by that, which is typical of Boris, is we as a country will come together and beat this disease, rather than thinking about himself in regard to that - and that’s pretty typical of the man.
Updated
The sharp decline in Boris Johnson’s health makes for a series of grave front pages on Tuesday.
The Times’ headline reads “PM in intensive care” and reports on sources saying that Johnson needed four litres of oxygen. The papers says this is well below the normal threshold of 15 litres and suggests the prime minister’s case is not as serious as some admitted to ICU.
The Mirror says “Sick Boris faces fight for life” across a picture of a pallid-looking Johnson taken from a government video last week. It agrees that the PM’s illness “raises some awkward questions” for the way the country is being run and says cabinet ministers will never be forgiven if they are seen to be scoring points off each other in a fight for a potential succession.
Tomorrow's front page: Sick Boris faces fight for life #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/pONirpx7Pa pic.twitter.com/XExOH0HHVW
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 6, 2020
Summary
Welcome to our UK coronavirus live blog as we wait for news about the condition of Boris Johnson.
The prime minister spent a night being treated in intensive care at St Thomas’ hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. He was moved as a precaution so he could be close to a ventilator, but there has been no indication so far that he has been put on a ventilator – a process that would require hime being sedated.
The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, is currently standing in for Johnson and has vowed to follow set by the prime minister.
Johnson was understood to be conscious when he was moved to intensive care at about 7pm.
Derek Hill, professor of medical imaging at University College London , said the PM could be given a breathing aid known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which bridges the gap between an oxygen mask and full ventilation.
CPAP uses pressure to send a blend of air and oxygen into the mouth at a steady rate, thereby boosting the amount of oxygen that enters the lungs.
But Prof Hill said many Covid-19 patients eventually “progress to invasive ventilation”. This is for people whose illness is so severe they are struggling or unable to breathe for themselves.
A mechanical ventilator either does all the breathing for the patient, or assists the patient’s own breathing. The patient is heavily sedated while a device called an endotracheal tube is guided through the mouth into the windpipe.
The death rate of those admitted to intensive care in the UK with Covid-19 has topped 50%, according to the latest figures.
The figure comes from data compiled by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre based on a sample of 2,249 coronavirus patients.
The data showed of the 690 patients in the sample whose care outcomes were known, 346 - 50.1% - had died, while 344 had been discharged.
The remaining patients, 1,559, were reported still to be in critical care.
The data shows that of 2,248 patients, 73% were men and 27% were women.
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