Babak Belurs

Minggu, 19 April 2020

Government furiously hits back at article claiming they dragged their feet over coronavirus response - Daily Mail

Government furiously hits back at claims Boris 'skipped' Cobra meetings and ministers dragged their feet over coronavirus in lengthy 14-point rebuttal

Number 10 accused the Sunday Times of 'falsehoods' and 'errors' in an article
Newspaper claimed government 'just watched' as death toll mounted in Wuhan
Government confirmed PM missed five Cobra meetings in January and February
Michael Gove went on Sunday morning TV and described article as 'off beam'
Government claimed it was 'guided at all times by the best scientific advice'
Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

Published: 22:41 BST, 19 April 2020 | Updated: 23:24 BST, 19 April 2020

Downing Street has hit back at newspaper reports that Boris Johnson and his administration dragged their feet in the run-up to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Number 10 accused the Sunday Times of 'falsehoods' and 'errors' after the newspaper published a piece in which a Whitehall source claimed the Government 'missed the boat on testing and PPE' (personal protective equipment).

The article also claimed the Johnson administration 'just watched' as the death toll mounted in Wuhan, China.

The government confirmed the prime minister missed five Cobra meetings in January and February as the outbreak began to take hold in other countries.

A senior Downing Street adviser told the bombshell investigation that Mr Johnson's decision to take 'country breaks' at Chequers underscored his lack of urgency in the early stages of coronavirus planning.

The insider also alleged that Whitehall had been fixated on Brexit, and long-term crisis preparations fell by the wayside as key staff were diverted from pandemic contingencies to thrash out no-deal planning.

Scroll down for video.

Boris Johnson speaking during a remote press conference to update the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic at 10 Downing Street last month

Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arrives in Downing Street. He appeared on Sunday morning TV earlier today where he described the Sunday Times article as 'off beam'

But this evening the Government pushed back on the claims, saying in a six-page rebuttal published online that it was 'guided at all times by the best scientific advice'.

A spokesman said: 'This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

'This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

'The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

'Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

'The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation.'

Matt Hancock - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - arriving at Number 10 following a coronavirus briefing on Thursday

The tone of the statement, posted on the official gov.uk website, was much more aggressive than that used by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove on Sunday morning TV appearances when he described the article as 'off beam'.

Mr Gove had confirmed the Sunday Times report that the PM had not attended five meetings of the key Government committee Cobra in the run-up to the crisis, but insisted this was not unusual.

He confirmed the PM did not attend the meetings, but added: 'He didn't. But then he wouldn't. Because most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them.'

Number 10 also insisted Mr Johnson 'has been at the helm' of the government's response to the crisis.

Speaking earlier today, Mr Gove said the accusation the PM purposefully sidestepped these five meetings was 'grotesque'.

That stance was echoed by the Government spokesman who said: 'It is entirely normal and proper for Cobra to be chaired by the relevant secretary of state.

'At this point the World Health Organisation had not declared Covid-19 a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern', and only did so only on January 30.

Mr Gove, who is part of the so-called 'quad' of ministers steering the government's response while the PM recovers from his own battle with coronavirus, this morning rebuffed the claims in the Sunday Times

'Indeed, they chose not to declare a PHEIC the day after the Cobr meeting.'

In reference to the report that the UK sent 279,000 items of protective equipment to China earlier this year, the Government spokesman said: 'The equipment was not from the pandemic stockpile.

'We provided this equipment to China at the height of their need and China has since reciprocated our donation many times over. Between April 2-April 15 we have received over 12 million pieces of PPE in the UK from China.'

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told Sky News: 'There are serious questions as to why the Prime Minister skipped five Cobra meetings throughout February, when the whole world could see how serious this was becoming.

'And we know that serious mistakes have been made, we know that our frontline NHS staff don't have the PPE, that they've been told this weekend that they won't necessarily have the gowns which are vital to keep them safe.

'We know that our testing capacity is not at the level that is needed.

'We know that the ventilators that many hospitals have received are the wrong types of ventilators and there are big questions as to whether we went into this lockdown too slowly, and now we hear the Prime Minister missed five meetings at the start of this outbreak. It suggests that early on he was missing in action.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation from 10 Downing Street as he announces the lockdown on March 23

Former chief government science adviser David King told Sky News today that he could not recall a Cobra meeting during his time in Whitehall that was not chaired by Tony Blair or Gordon Brown.

It also emerged today that the government shipped 260,000 items of personal protective equipment to China amid warning sirens from doctors that the UK was woefully under-prepared to cope with a pandemic.

Medial care staff have expressed alarm as surgeons are being advised 'not to risk their health' by working without adequate PPE amid fears that hospitals could run out of supplies.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) said it was 'deeply disturbed' that medics could be asked to reuse items or wear different kit when treating Covid-19 patients.

Healthcare staff treating positive patients have been given guidance that they should wear long-sleeved disposable fluid-repellent gowns but, because of shortages, they have just been advised they could be asked to reuse PPE or wear aprons.

The fear from medics comes as more than 15,000 patients have now died in hospital after testing positive for the disease in the UK, with thousands more deaths expected in care homes.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiggFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTgyMzUwNTMvR292ZXJubWVudC1mdXJpb3VzbHktaGl0cy1hcnRpY2xlLWNsYWltaW5nLWRyYWdnZWQtZmVldC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1yZXNwb25zZS5odG1s0gGGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODIzNTA1My9hbXAvR292ZXJubWVudC1mdXJpb3VzbHktaGl0cy1hcnRpY2xlLWNsYWltaW5nLWRyYWdnZWQtZmVldC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1yZXNwb25zZS5odG1s?oc=5

2020-04-19 23:12:45Z
52780734829046

Coronavirus: First patients leave London's Nightingale hospital - BBC News

The first Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the NHS Nightingale emergency hospital in London.

Simon Chung and another man were applauded by staff as they left the hospital at the ExCeL centre in Newham on Sunday afternoon, NHS England said.

The temporary facility was built in nine days with capacity for up to 4,000 admissions and received its first patients on 7 April.

Mr Chung, aged in his 50s, will now be treated in a north London hospital.

'Long recovery'

NHS England said the father of one had been transferred to Northwick Park hospital in Harrow to continue his treatment.

Eamonn Sullivan, nursing director at NHS Nightingale London said: "This is wonderful news and testament to all the clinicians and support staff who have been working around the clock to care for our patients.

"Although these two patients being discharged today are now out of danger, their long road to recovery is a reminder of why everyone needs to do what they can to stay safe by following the government's advice."

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: "We have not yet had to make extensive use of the Nightingale London thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, who have freed up more than 30,000 existing hospital beds, and the public, who have played their part by staying at home and saving lives.

"It will count as a huge success for the whole country if we never need to use them but with further waves of coronavirus possible it is important that we have these extra facilities in place and treating patients," he added.

The London Nightingale is one of seven sites across England providing surge capacity.

Captain Tom Moore, the 99-year-old who has raised more than £26 million by completing laps of his back garden, will be the guest of honour at the opening of the Nightingale hospital in Harrogate on Tuesday.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbG9uZG9uLTUyMzQ5MjIx0gE5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbG9uZG9uLTUyMzQ5MjIx?oc=5

2020-04-19 21:36:50Z
52780734178285

Boris Johnson has NOT mishandled coronavirus response - No10 issue extraordinary statement - Express

The Government was also accused of failing to adequately prepare for a pandemic, especially in regards to the amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpiled and failing to organise mass testing quick enough.

But Downing Street has shot down the claims and accused the article of being riddled with "falsehoods" and errors".

A Government spokesman said: "This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government at the earliest stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice.

Please sign up to pledge your support now to our brave NHS Heroes

"The Government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus, delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives.

"Our response has ensured that the NHS has been given all the support it needs to ensure everyone requiring treatment has received it, as well as providing protection to businesses and reassurance to workers.

"The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the response to this, providing leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation."

The spokesman also responded to claims the UK sent 279,000 items of its depleted PPE stockpile to China earlier this year.

JUST IN: Ex-MP pinpoints how Remainers are using coronavirus to stop Brexit

No10 also hit out at an unnamed source in the article who claimed there had been a "failure of leadership" in Downing Street.

The statement said: “This anonymous source is variously described as a ‘senior adviser to Downing Street’ and a ‘senior Downing Street adviser’.

"The two things are not the same.

“One suggests an adviser employed by the government in No10.

"The other someone who provides ad hoc advice. Which is it?”

This morning Michael Gove confirmed the report that the Prime Minister skipped five Corba meetings in the run-up to the crisis, but insisted this was not unusual.

His comments were echoed by the Government spokesman who said: "It is entirely normal and proper for Cobr to be chaired by the relevant secretary of state.

"At this point the World Health Organisation had not declared Covid-19 a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern', and only did so only on January 30.

"Indeed, they chose not to declare a PHEIC the day after the Cobr meeting."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay8xMjcxMTQyL2JvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24tbmV3cy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1taXNzZWQtY29icmEtbWVldGluZ3MtRG93bmluZy1TdHJlZXQtcmVzcG9uc2XSAXpodHRwczovL3d3dy5leHByZXNzLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWsvMTI3MTE0Mi9ib3Jpcy1qb2huc29uLW5ld3MtY29yb25hdmlydXMtbWlzc2VkLWNvYnJhLW1lZXRpbmdzLURvd25pbmctU3RyZWV0LXJlc3BvbnNlL2FtcA?oc=5

2020-04-19 21:32:02Z
52780734829046

Coronavirus: schools to remain closed for foreseeable future - BBC News - BBC News

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9VEpPQ0V0eEs3d2fSAQA?oc=5

2020-04-19 21:28:45Z
52780735822517

Doctors threaten to stop treating patients over PPE as officials call for 'adult conversation' - Daily Mail

Furious doctors threaten to stop treating patients as ministers admit 84 tonnes of crucial coronavirus PPE has FAILED to arrive from Turkey with supplies running out

NHS Confederation, BMA, and Royal Colleges have all agreed to back frontline staff due to PPE failures
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries called for 'a more adult conversation' as Government is criticised
Prof Neil Mortensen said the RCS is 'deeply disturbed by this latest change to personal protective equipment'
BMA chief Dr Chaand Nagpul said there are 'limits to the level of risk staff can expose themselves to'
It comes as Britain recorded 596 coronavirus-related deaths today, bringing the national death toll to 16,060
Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline and Jack Wright For Mailonline

Published: 17:20 BST, 19 April 2020 | Updated: 21:20 BST, 19 April 2020

Furious doctors have warned they might be forced to stop treating patients as ministers admitted tonight that a crucial consignment of personal protective equipment has failed to arrive from Turkey.

Medical associations have warned that their members face difficult choices about exposing themselves and other patients to risk of infection, with fears that supplies of critical items are running low in hospitals.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he 'hoped' the 84 tonnes of kit from Turkey would now be in the UK tomorrow, despite it having been announced with fanfare by Cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick last night.

But appearing alongside Mr Williamson at the daily Downing Street briefing, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries complained that critics are not being 'adult' about the problems with PPE.

She urged people to reflect on what had been 'achieved' in maintaining levels of equipment amid global pressures, and insisted the UK was an 'international exemplar in preparedness'.

Dr Harries also played down concerns about revised guidance that some pieces of protective kit should be re-used, urging health workers to 'implement' the rules as effectively as possible.

The comments could inflame tensions with medical staff with the NHS Confederation joining the groups backing staff who refuse to treat patients unless they have adequate PPE, such as gowns, goggles and masks.

The Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Nurses and Midwives, and the British Medical Association have also raised serious concerns.

The row comes as Britain recorded 596 coronavirus-related deaths today, bringing the national death toll to 16,060. Some 43 NHS workers are official confirmed as having lost their lives so far, although the true toll is believed to be higher.

Mr Williamson confirmed that the expected shipment from Turkey has been held up - although the cause is not clear. 'We hope to see that coming into the country tomorrow,' he said.

As the government scrambles to get a grip on the spiralling PPE situation, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has appointed former Olympics chief Lord Deighton as a 'personal protective tsar' to shore up supplies.

Michael Gove admitted today that some PPE was sent to China during its initial outbreak - although he stressed it was not from core pandemic stockpiles and the UK had received 'far more' back from Beijing since then.

On another frantic day with tensions rising in the coronavirus battle:

Britain recorded 596 more deaths today, taking the official national death toll to 16,060 to date;
The Government was accused by Labour of 'treating the public like children' by refusing to spell out how the exit strategy from lockdown might look, with Keir Starmer demanding a 'road map' out of the crisis;
OECD chief Angel Gurria warned there will have to be 'stop-go' arrangements in place for 'social distancing' for a long time to come, urging governments to 'err on the side of caution';
The Irish health minister has suggested that pubs might not be able to open until there is a coronavirus vaccine, which some believe will take more than a year;
Infectious diseases expert Sir Jeremy Farar, a member of the SAGE advisory group, has cautioned that the lockdown 'cannot go on much longer' as it is 'damaging all our lives';
A consignment of PPE, including desperately-needed gowns, that Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick boasted would arrive today from Turkey is reportedly delayed;
The chairman of the British Medical Association council said it had warned the Government 'weeks ago' about the risk of personal protective equipment shortages but hit a 'brick wall';
Michael Gove said the UK had sent PPE equipment to China early in the outbreak, but insisted it was not part of the UK's pandemic stocks and stressed the Asian superpower had since sent back more;
One of the scientists leading efforts to make the breakthrough warned it is not 'completely certain' that a coronavirus vaccine can be produced, with Mr Gove admitting no-one should see it as a 'dead cert'.

Dr Jenny Harries (pictured) told an ITV reporter that 'we could perhaps have a more adult, and more detailed conversation about PPE supplies' as the Government comes under fire for its disastrous PPE policy (April 5, 2019)

An ambulance crew pictured wearing PPE as they deal with a patient at Royal London Hospital in London (April 19, 2020)

Britain recorded another 596 coronavirus-related deaths today, bringing the national death toll to 16,060

Gavin Williamson dodges calls to spell out coronavirus 'exit strategy' despite claims ministers want schools to reopen after May 11

Gavin Williamson tonight dismissed calls to spell out an 'exit strategy' from coronavirus lockdown - despite claims ministers want schools to reopen after May 11.

The Education Secretary defied a growing clamour for clarity, insisting he could not 'give a date' for pupils to get back to the classroom.

The comments came amid the first signs a blueprint is being hatched within Government to ease lockdown misery, although the Cabinet appears split over whether to risk more deaths from the disease to save the plunging economy.

Mr Williamson told the daily Downing Street briefing he was sorry that children were having to suffer through the crisis and have their education interrupted. But he said the UK had not yet met five tests - including NHS capacity being high enough, widespread testing being in place, and the threat of a second peak reduced.

'I can't give you a date. Because before we do that we need to meet five tests,' he said.

The fledgling plan would see the country get back up in running in stages after May 11, with primary, GCSE pupils, and nurseries potentially going back part-time.

Even before the news on the delayed shipment, the BMA said last night it will support doctors who refuse to work without adequate PPE.

Dr Chaand Nagpul, BMA council chair, said: 'There are limits to the level of risk staff can be expected to expose themselves and their patients to. In the most extreme circumstances, if adequate protective measures are not in place, doctors can refuse to put themselves at risk of becoming infected, and inform their management to make alternative arrangements'.

Prof Neil Mortensen from the Royal College of Surgeons has told his colleagues not to risk their health if good PPE could not be used when treating coronavirus patients.

He said: 'We are deeply disturbed by this latest change to personal protective equipment guidance, which was issued without consulting medical bodies.

'After weeks of working with PHE and our sister medical royal colleges to get PPE guidance right, this risks confusion and variation in practice across the country.'

But Dr Harries said: 'I think we have had, if I might say from my own professional perspective, we could perhaps have a more adult, and more detailed conversation about PPE supplies.

'For example, quite rightly, the conversation at the moment is very much focused on gown supplies. Earlier, in earlier weeks, I'm very aware of consideration of eye-wear for example, in goggles and masks.'

Dr Harries called the pandemic a 'huge pull on services which we have never seen before'.

She continued: 'We have managed actually despite signalling many potential shortfalls to continue to supply going forward, and even as I stand here, I know with the gown position, for example, that even though when orders go in overseas, supplies may be very different what is received to what we think we're going to get.

'We perhaps need to, rather than lumping all of the PPE together, which is not a homogeneous mix at all, we just need to think carefully through what has been achieved and the challenges which are acknowledged ahead.'

Asked if she would be comfortable treating Covid-19 patients by re-using single-use PPE, Dr Harries said: 'If I happened to be working on the frontline today I have a responsibility to look after patients to the best of my ability, to protect my colleagues and my staff and to manage my practice safely.

'All of those in the current climate will mean that I need to understand the agreed guidance on PPE .. and to implement that whenever I can.'

She said it was 'very easy to make a throwaway comment about single-use PPE' but the situation was 'actually quite complex'.

Dr Harries added: 'It is the fact we are in a global shortage ... we all need to use this PPE carefully.

'Some sessional use is entirely appropriate. For example wearing a gown for sessional use with a disposable plastic apron on top of it is an entirely appropriate use of PPE.

'In that example you can see there is one element of what some people may call re-use and one element of what some may call single use.'

When asked why the Government has not responded to manufacturers willing to produce PPE, Mr Williamson said that they will be contacted in the next 24 hours.

The Education Secretary said that a billion extra PPE have been brought into the country while the Government was doing 'immense work' in trying to find British suppliers. He encouraged those suppliers who have been in contact with the Government and have 'slipped through the net' to get in touch again.

He added: 'We recognise this is a national endeavour and we are so incredibly grateful for so many people who are willing to step forward to make a real difference, and we certainly don't want to miss out on those opportunities.'

The press conference comes amid intensifying fears that underfunding during a prolonged period of austerity has left the NHS inadequately prepared in terms of PPE for a pandemic.

Mr Hancock appointed Lord Deighton, chief planner from the London 2012 Olympics, as 'PPE tsar' after the Government issued guidance stating that medics would have to re-use PPE supplies.

Lord Deighton, 64, who is personally known to Boris Johnson from the Olympics, will be charged of the 'end-to-end process of design through to manufacture' including streamlining approvals', sources claim.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured)

Dr Jenny Harries (left) and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (right) fielded questions at today's No10 conference

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (left) has appointed Lord Paul Deighton (right) to help curb the chronic shortage of PPE

Paramedics wearing PPE help a patient from an ambulance into The Royal London Hospital in east London (April 18, 2020)

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMigwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTgyMzQ0ODEvRG9jdG9ycy10aHJlYXRlbi1zdG9wLXRyZWF0aW5nLXBhdGllbnRzLVBQRS1vZmZpY2lhbHMtY2FsbC1hZHVsdC1jb252ZXJzYXRpb24uaHRtbNIBhwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTgyMzQ0ODEvYW1wL0RvY3RvcnMtdGhyZWF0ZW4tc3RvcC10cmVhdGluZy1wYXRpZW50cy1QUEUtb2ZmaWNpYWxzLWNhbGwtYWR1bHQtY29udmVyc2F0aW9uLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-04-19 20:30:06Z
52780731657415

Johnson faces cabinet split on lifting lockdown - Financial Times

Boris Johnson is facing a split at the top of his cabinet over the speed with which Britain exits its coronavirus lockdown, while also confronting claims he was “missing in action” when the crisis first hit.

The prime minister, recovering from Covid-19 at Chequers, faces a big test when he returns to work in deciding whether the economy can start to reopen before the virus has been completely suppressed.

Michael Gove, cabinet office minister, and Rishi Sunak, chancellor, are among those arguing for a swifter reopening, while Matt Hancock, health secretary, wants to crush the virus before the lockdown is eased.

In a further sign of the tensions, senior government officials say that Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief adviser, is backing Mr Hancock, while cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill is taking a more “hawkish” line.

Mr Sunak has ordered the Treasury to model for a possible “U-shaped” economic recovery from the virus, reflecting fears that there will not be a swift rebound.

The chancellor is concerned that unemployed workers will not quickly find new jobs, while his allies are also worried that some people will not immediately return to work, even if restrictions are lifted.

Cabinet strains on the exit strategy from the lockdown surfaced at the end of last week, when Mr Gove joined Mr Sunak in arguing that the economy should start to reopen even while the virus was present in society.

The split centres on how low the reproduction rate of the virus — known as its R number — should be before the lockdown starts to be unwound.

Government officials confirm that Mr Gove and Mr Sunak believe that if the R number is sustainably below 1 — where the number of new infections is no longer rising — then restrictions can begin to be lifted.

The Sunday Times, which first reported the tensions, quoted Mr Gove as telling colleagues that “we need to run this hot”, so that new virus cases — and deaths — would continue but within the capacity of the NHS to cope.

But Mr Hancock wants the R number close to zero before beginning to reopen the economy, arguing that Britain cannot afford another damaging peak. The government’s current lack of testing capacity is a key issue.

Although Mr Gove said on Sunday that the government was “on course to be able to test 100,000 a day by the end of the month” it currently has capacity for only 38,000. Testing and tracing of contacts are a key part of any exit strategy.

One government adviser said Mr Johnson had a huge decision to make. “Do you take it to zero or do you start to end the lockdown? It’s the biggest policy issue facing the country.”

Those who support a longer lockdown, a policy broadly supported by the public according to opinion polls, say that Mr Gove and Mr Sunak’s approach is too risky.

“The idea you can control the rate of transmission just below R=1 is premised on the idea that you can control the spread of the virus, turning taps on or off,” said one senior Tory.

Downing Street expects the timetable for any lifting of the lockdown to be guided by advice from the government’s Sage expert committee, which is due to report on the impact of different exit strategies next week.

Gavin Williamson, education secretary, denied a report that there were plans to reopen schools as early as May 11, but ministers are studying a variety of scenarios for a staged lifting of the restrictions.

One University College London paper, co-authored by economists Paul Ormerod and Gerard Lyons, a former adviser to Boris Johnson, has been read with interest by ministers and suggested a “traffic light” exit.

It proposed a red phase, during which some shops could open with social distancing, could start in early May, followed by an amber phase in late May during which people could use public transport while wearing masks and restaurants could reopen with social distancing.

In a green phase starting in mid-June the public could be fully released from lockdown if health experts allowed it and sporting events and other mass gatherings could resume, along with international travel.

Meanwhile ministers have rallied to the defence of Mr Johnson after the Sunday Times Insight team revealed that the prime minister failed to attend five successive Cobra emergency meetings on the virus in January and February.

Jonathan Ashworth, shadow health secretary, said Mr Johnson appeared to have been “missing in action”, including 12 days spent out of sight at his Chevening grace and favour home in late February as the virus spread.

But Mr Williamson insisted that from the moment the threat of coronavirus became clear the prime minister had been “absolutely leading our fight against the virus”.

Mr Gove told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme that prime ministers did not always attend Cobra meetings and that Mr Johnson had been kept fully briefed by Mr Hancock.

“It’s grotesque the idea our prime minister should be portrayed as not caring about this,” Mr Gove said. Mr Johnson chaired his first Cobra meeting on March 2.

Mr Gove confirmed that Britain had sent personal protective equipment to China before the virus hit the UK, but that more PPE had been sent in the other direction.

“All governments make mistakes, including our own,” he said, adding that the country would learn “profound lessons” at “some point in the future” when a review was undertaken of its response.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiP2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZ0LmNvbS9jb250ZW50L2JhN2Y2YTBlLWEwMmUtNDgxOS05M2NmLWZmM2U5ZGMxOTJkMtIBP2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmZ0LmNvbS9jb250ZW50L2JhN2Y2YTBlLWEwMmUtNDgxOS05M2NmLWZmM2U5ZGMxOTJkMg?oc=5

2020-04-19 18:03:07Z
52780734829046

Doctors threaten to stop treating patients over PPE as officials call for 'adult conversation' - Daily Mail

Furious doctors threaten to stop treating patients as ministers admit 84 tonnes of crucial coronavirus PPE has FAILED to arrive from Turkey with supplies running out - but medical officer Jenny Harries complains critics are not being 'adult' about problems

NHS Confederation, BMA, and Royal Colleges have all agreed to back frontline staff due to PPE failures
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries called for 'a more adult conversation' as Government is criticised
Prof Neil Mortensen said the RCS is 'deeply disturbed by this latest change to personal protective equipment'
BMA chief Dr Chaand Nagpul said there are 'limits to the level of risk staff can expose themselves to'
It comes as Britain recorded 596 coronavirus-related deaths today, bringing the national death toll to 16,060
Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline and Jack Wright For Mailonline

Published: 17:20 BST, 19 April 2020 | Updated: 18:29 BST, 19 April 2020

Furious doctors have warned they might be forced to stop treating patients as ministers admitted tonight that a crucial consignment of personal protective equipment has failed to arrive from Turkey.

But appearing alongside Mr Williamson at the daily Downing Street briefing, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries complained that critics are not being 'adult' about the problems with PPE.

She urged people to reflect on what had been 'achieved' in maintaining levels of equipment amid global pressures, and insisted the UK was an 'international exemplar in preparedness'.

Dr Harries also played down concerns about revised guidance that some pieces of protective kit should be re-used, urging health workers to 'implement' the rules as effectively as possible.

The Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Nurses and Midwives, and the British Medical Association have also raised serious concerns.

Mr Williamson confirmed that the expected shipment from Turkey has been held up - although the cause is not clear. 'We hope to see that coming into the country tomorrow,' he said.

On another frantic day with tensions rising in the coronavirus battle:

Britain recorded 596 more deaths today, taking the official national death toll to 16,060 to date;
The Government was accused by Labour of 'treating the public like children' by refusing to spell out how the exit strategy from lockdown might look, with Keir Starmer demanding a 'road map' out of the crisis;
OECD chief Angel Gurria warned there will have to be 'stop-go' arrangements in place for 'social distancing' for a long time to come, urging governments to 'err on the side of caution';
The Irish health minister has suggested that pubs might not be able to open until there is a coronavirus vaccine, which some believe will take more than a year;
Infectious diseases expert Sir Jeremy Farar, a member of the SAGE advisory group, has cautioned that the lockdown 'cannot go on much longer' as it is 'damaging all our lives';
A consignment of PPE, including desperately-needed gowns, that Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick boasted would arrive today from Turkey is reportedly delayed;
The chairman of the British Medical Association council said it had warned the Government 'weeks ago' about the risk of personal protective equipment shortages but hit a 'brick wall';
Michael Gove said the UK had sent PPE equipment to China early in the outbreak, but insisted it was not part of the UK's pandemic stocks and stressed the Asian superpower had since sent back more;
One of the scientists leading efforts to make the breakthrough warned it is not 'completely certain' that a coronavirus vaccine can be produced, with Mr Gove admitting no-one should see it as a 'dead cert'.