Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson rejects early easing of lockdown - Daily Mail

Boris Johnson snuffs out Cabinet calls for early easing of lockdown: PM intervenes from Chequers rehab to insist a second peak of coronavirus outbreak not economic misery is the biggest danger

• Boris Johnson intervened from Cheuqers to say avoiding second coronavirus peak is the biggest priority
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove thought to be keen to ease restrictions soon
• Health secretary Matt Hancock has argued that the virus should be suppressed before the lockdown is lifted 
• Government sources are pouring cold water on prospects of schools being reopened before the end of May
• Some ministers have been pushing 'traffic light' plan for the draconian curbs to be eased to protect economy
• Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 13:41 BST, 20 April 2020 | Updated: 14:49 BST, 20 April 2020

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Boris Johnson today moved to snuff out Cabinet pressure for an early easing of lockdown, making clear that a second peak in the coronavirus outbreak is the biggest threat to the country.

The PM has intervened from his recuperation at Chequers to warn there must not be any let-up in the draconian curbs until scientists are sure the disease will not flare up again. 

Mr Johnson has told First Secretary Dominic Raab and senior aides that 'moving too quickly' would be the worst outcome for both the economy and public health.

The premier's stance emerged amid signs of Cabinet splits over how quickly to ease the restrictions, with fears the crippling impact of lockdown on business and jobs will kill more people than the virus itself.  

Hawks in government have been pointing out the NHS now has some spare capacity to treat patients, and suggesting that it should be allowed to 'run hot' to revive the economy. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove are thought to be among those pushing for an earlier release. 

Government sources have also been frantically playing down a 'traffic light' exit strategy circulated by senior Tories over the weekend, which could see schools partly reopened by mid-May. Early June is said to be more likely.  

The PM's official spokesman fuelled speculation that Mr Johnson will be back sooner rather than later today, briefing political journalists that he is getting 'daily updates' at Chequers - although stressing that he is not yet doing any 'official work'.

Asked for Mr Johnson's stance on the timing of lockdown, the spokesman said: 'The big concern is a second peak. That is what ultimately will do the most damage to health and the most damage to the economy. If you move too quickly the virus could begin to spread exponentially again.'  

On another day of coronavirus chaos: 

• England, Scotland and Wales have announced 450 more deaths from the coronavirus today, taking the UK's total death toll to 16,510;
• The number is a fall on the 596 fatalities announced yesterday, Sunday, and half as many as were confirmed the day before that (888);
• Nicola Sturgeon said she will publish a 'framework' for decisions on the lockdown this week, but warned that social distancing will be needed for some time to come; 
• A vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients; 
• The daily number of those tested languished at 21,600 with just ten days to go to hit the Government's 100,000 target; 
• The death toll of frontline NHS and care home staff, from heart surgeons and nurses to porters and volunteers, reached at least 80;  
• Michael Gove attacked 'grotesque' claims Boris Johnson was 'missing in action' at the start of the crisis after he missed five meetings of the emergency Cobra committee; 
• More than 100 top doctors backed calls for the public to be told to wear homemade face masks when they leave the house; 
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak was urged to boost his business bailout schemes amid warnings that up to 11.7million could be furloughed or left jobless over the next three months; 
• Analysis suggests that more than 2,500 elderly patients are dying of coronavirus in care homes every week. 

Mr Johnson recording a video message on Easter Sunday at Number 10 after his release from the hospital, before leaving for Chequers to recover from his illness

Fury as vital PPE kit from Turkey is delayed AGAIN 

Ministers face fresh fury today as a vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients. 

Hospitals are on the verge of running out of some life-saving supplies after the 84-tonne delivery, including 400,000 protective gowns, failed to arrive last night. 

Medical bodies say shortages mean doctors could need to make 'difficult decisions' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced with fanfare on Saturday that the consignment was coming, before Education Secretary Gavin Williams humiliatingly admitted last night that it had been postponed.

Mr Williamson said he 'hoped' it would be in the UK today, while Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden predicted this morning that it will leave Turkey today. 

However, Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said this morning there was 'low confidence' the materials will actually arrive.

'As of an hour ago there is relatively low confidence it will arrive today. If it is going to arrive today is will probably arrive late in the day,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

He accused ministers of raising the hopes of health staff saying they had 'bitter experience' of promised PPE either failing to arrive, or turning out to be either faulty or the wrong kit. 

Hospital bosses have slammed the government over shortage of PPE amid warnings trusts may run out of protective gowns today as medics threaten to stop treating coronavirus patients over fears for their own safety.  

Medical bodies say the shortages mean doctors could be forced into a 'difficult decision' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. It comes as the death toll among health workers including frontline NHS staff and care workers hits 80.  

The shortages have led to a chorus of criticism that those fighting in the frontline against the virus are being betrayed as the Government fails to 'get a grip' on the escalating crisis. 

Some ministers have been pushing a blueprint that would see restrictions start being eased as early as May 11, when the current lockdown period ends. 

The 'traffic light' proposals suggest reopening schools part-time, and gradually allowing non-essential shops to get up and running again in an 'amber' phase. Pubs and restaurants, and the over-70s would face many months more on a 'red signal' in isolation until a vaccine can be found or the outbreak fades altogether.

However, Health secretary Matt Hancock has been stressing that before easing restrictions the government should suppress the virus for longer so its transmission rate dwindles. 

A government source told the Times: 'The idea that we will be rushing to lift measures is a non-starter. 

'If the transmission rate rises significantly we will have to do a harder lockdown again.' 

Downing Street has signalled that there will not be any movement on releasing an 'exit strategy' until the end of the month.  

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she will publish a 'framework' on how decisions will be taken about the curbs later this week.

'The initial version of this work will not set out what measures will be lifted and when,' she told the daily Scotland briefing. 

'We are simply not yet in the position to take those decisions in a properly informed way.'

She added: 'It will also be clear in the work we set out later in the week that living with this virus, as we will need to learn to do, is likely to mean some restrictions on everyday life in the form of social distancing for some time to come.' 

The wrangling comes amid a growing backlash over the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Johnson has been accused of 'skipping' five Cobra meetings in January and February as the pandemic emerged.  

A devastating Sunday Times article claimed ministers 'just watched' as the death toll mounted in Wuhan.  

A Whitehall source said the Government 'missed the boat on testing and PPE' (personal protective equipment) during a vital period before the outbreak took hold in Britain. 

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

But in an extraordinary detailed response last night the government insisted the report contained 'falsehoods' and distorted the picture of its actions.  

Earlier, Mr Gove confirmed the PM did not attend the meetings, but described the idea this amounted to neglect as 'grotesque'. 'He didn't. But then he wouldn't. Because most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them.' 

He said the UK had sent PPE to China in the initial phase of the crisis, but stressed it was not from the core pandemic stockpile, and Beijing had sent far more back since. 

Number 10 insisted Mr Johnson, who is currently recovering from coronavirus at Chequers after spending several nights in intensive care last week, 'has been at the helm' of the government's response to the crisis. 

Revelations of Mr Johnson's concerns come as it emerged pubs and restaurants could remain closed until the winter, as Michael Gove (pictured) said hospitality would be 'among the last to exit the lockdown'. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (right)  wants to minimise the damage of the lockdown to businesses. Matt Hancock (left) - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - argued that before easing restrictions the government should try to suppress the virus for longer so its transmission rate becomes much lower.

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

As his more junior colleagues took the reins on virus mitigation, Mr Johnson's personal life reportedly commanded his attention, namely how to break the news of Carrie Symonds' pregnancy to his family.

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.  

It also emerged 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. 

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

But asked at the daily No10 press briefing about Mr Johnson's absence from Cobra meetings until the beginning of March, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'The Prime Minister from the moment that it became clear that there were challenges in terms of coronavirus developing in China has absolutely been leading our nation's effort to combat the coronavirus, making sure that resources or money is not a concern for any department, especially the health service.'

He added that 'many Cobra meetings' are led by the departmental minister.

He said: 'The focus the Prime Minister was putting on this and has continued to put on this has meant that this is the whole Government effort.'    

Ministers face fresh fury today as a vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients. 

Hospitals are on the verge of running out of some life-saving supplies after the 84-tonne delivery, including 400,000 protective gowns, failed to arrive last night. 

Medical bodies say shortages mean doctors could need to make 'difficult decisions' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced with fanfare on Saturday that the consignment was coming, before Education Secretary Gavin Williams humiliatingly admitted last night that it had been postponed.

Mr Williamson said he 'hoped' it would be in the UK today, while Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden predicted this morning that it will leave Turkey today. 

However, Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said this morning there was 'low confidence' the materials will actually arrive.

'As of an hour ago there is relatively low confidence it will arrive today. If it is going to arrive today is will probably arrive late in the day,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

He accused ministers of raising the hopes of health staff saying they had 'bitter experience' of promised PPE either failing to arrive, or turning out to be either faulty or the wrong kit. 

Hospital bosses have slammed the government over shortage of PPE amid warnings trusts may run out of protective gowns today as medics threaten to stop treating coronavirus patients over fears for their own safety.  

Medical bodies say the shortages mean doctors could be forced into a 'difficult decision' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. It comes as the death toll among health workers including frontline NHS staff and care workers hits 80.  

The shortages have led to a chorus of criticism that those fighting in the frontline against the virus are being betrayed as the Government fails to 'get a grip' on the escalating crisis. 

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak is facing mounting pressure to boost his business bailout so that the Government increases its guarantee on loans to struggling firms to 100 per cent. 

The Treasury will today announce a further £1.25billion package to support innovative firms hit as the virus lockdown causes the economy to stutter to a halt.

It will include a £500million loans fund for high-growth companies and £750million in loans and grants for small firms focused on research and development. 

'At a very basic level, this is wrong': Government hits back at claims Boris Johnson 'skipped' Cobra meetings and ministers dragged their feet and 'lacked grip' over COVID-19 response in lengthy 14-point rebuttal 

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. 

But last night, 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'.

It comes after Michael Gove admitted that Boris Johnson was not present at the meetings, but claimed 'most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them'

Gavin Williamson also insisted that Boris Johnson was 'driving' the government's coronavirus response despite 'skipping' five Cobra meetings at the start of the outbreak. 

The very first point in the government's rebuttal says 'at a very basic level, this is wrong' in response to allegations that ministers brushed aside the dangers of coronavirus in mid-January.  

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. 

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

The Government's full 14-point response to claims that ministers dragged their feet  over coronavirus response

Claim – On the third Friday in January Coronavirus was already spreading around the world but the government ‘brushed aside’ the threat in an hour-long COBR meeting and said the risk to the UK public was ‘low’.

Response – At a very basic level, this is wrong. The meeting was on the fourth Friday in January. The article also misrepresents the Government’s awareness of Covid 19, and the action we took before this point. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was first alerted to Covid 19 on 3 January and spoke to Departmental officials on 6th Jan before receiving written advice from the UK Health Security Team.

He brought the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister and they discussed Covid 19 on 7 January. The government’s scientific advisory groups started to meet in mid-January and Mr Hancock instituted daily coronavirus meetings. He updated Parliament as soon as possible, on January 23rd.

The risk level was set to “Low” because at the time our scientific advice was that the risk level to the UK public at that point was low. The first UK case was not until 31 January. The specific meaning of “public health risk” refers to the risk there is to the public at precisely that point. The risk was also higher than it had been before - two days earlier it had been increased “Very Low” to “Low” in line with clinical guidance from the Chief Medical Officer.

The WHO did not formally declare that coronavirus was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) until 30 January, and only characterised it as a global pandemic more than a month later, on 11 March. The UK was taking action and working to improve its preparedness from early January.

Claim - ‘This was despite the publication that day of an alarming study by Chinese doctors in the medical journal The Lancet. It assessed the lethal potential of the virus, for the first time suggesting it was comparable to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed up to 50 million people.'

Response - The editor of the Lancet, on exactly the same day – 23 January - called for “caution” and accused the media of ‘escalating anxiety by talking of a ‘killer virus’ and ‘growing fears’. He wrote: ‘In truth, from what we currently know, 2019-nCoV has moderate transmissibility and relatively low pathogenicity. There is no reason to foster panic with exaggerated language.’ The Sunday Times is suggesting that there was a scientific consensus around the fact that this was going to be a pandemic – that is plainly untrue. 

Claim - It was unusual for the Prime Minister to be absent from COBR and is normally chaired by the Prime Minister.

Response - This is wrong. It is entirely normal and proper for COBR to be chaired by the relevant Secretary of State. Then Health Secretary Alan Johnson chaired COBR in 2009 during H1N1. Michael Gove chaired COBR as part of No Deal planning. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps chaired COBR during the collapse of Thomas Cook. Mr Hancock was in constant communication with the PM throughout this period.

At this point the World Health Organisation had not declared COVID19 a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’, and only did so only 30 January. Indeed, they chose not to declare a PHEIC the day after the COBR meeting.

Examples of scientific commentary from the time:

Prof Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said:

“This announcement is not surprising as more evidence may be needed to make the case of announcing a PHEIC. WHO were criticised after announcing the pandemic strain of novel H1N1_2009, when the virus was eventually realised to have similar characteristics to seasonal influenza and is perhaps trying to avoid making the same mistake here with this novel coronavirus. To estimate the true severity of this new disease requires identifying mild or asymptomatic cases, if there are any, while determining the human to human transmission rate might require more evidence.”

Dr Adam Kamradt-Scott, Senior Lecturer in International Security Studies, University of Sydney, said: “Based on the information we have to date, the WHO Director-General’s decision to not declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern is not especially surprising. While we have seen international spread of the virus, which is one of the criteria for declaring a PHEIC, the cases in those countries do not appear to have seeded further local outbreaks. If that was to start to occur, it would constitute a greater concern but at the moment the outbreak is largely contained within China.”

Claim - 'Imperial’s Ferguson was already working on his own estimate — putting infectivity at 2.6 and possibly as high as 3.5 — which he sent to ministers and officials in a report on the day of the Cobra meeting on January 24. The Spanish flu had an estimated infectivity rate of between 2.0 and 3.0, so Ferguson’s finding was shocking.’

Response - Infectivity on its own simply reveals how quickly a disease spreads, and not its health impact. For that, it is necessary to know about data such as associated mortality/morbidity. It is sloppy and unscientific to use this number alone to compare to Spanish flu.

Claim - No10 ‘played down the looming threat’ from Coronavirus and displayed an ‘almost nonchalant attitude…for more than a month.’

Response - The suggestion that the government’s attitude was nonchalant is wrong. Extensive and detailed work was going on in government because of Coronavirus, as shown above.

Claim - By the time the Prime Minister chaired a COBR meeting on March 2 ‘the virus had sneaked into our airports, our trains, our workplaces and our homes. Britain was on course for one of the worst infections of the most insidious virus to have hit the world in a century.'

Response - This virus has hit countries across the world. It is ridiculous to suggest that coronavirus only reached the UK because the Health Secretary and not the PM chaired a COBR meeting.

Claim - 'Failure of leadership' by anonymous senior advisor to Downing Street.

Response - The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the Government response to Covid 19, providing the leadership to steer his Ministerial team through a hugely challenging period for the whole nation. 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?

Claim - The government sent 279,000 items of its depleted stockpile of protective equipment to China during this period in response to a request for help from the authorities there.

Response - 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.

Claim - Little was done to equip the National Health Service for the coming crisis in this period.

Response - This is wrong. The NHS has responded well to Coronavirus, and has provided treatment to everyone in critical need. We have constructed the new Nightingale hospitals and extended intensive care capacity in other hospitals.

Claim - Among the key points likely to be explored are why it took so long to recognise an urgent need for a massive boost in supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers; ventilators to treat acute respiratory symptoms; and tests to detect the infection.

Response - The Department for Health began work on boosting PPE stocks in January, before the first confirmed UK case.

Discussions on PPE supply for COVID-19 began w/c 27 January (as part of Medical Devices and Clinical Consumables), with the first supply chain kick-off meeting on 31 January. The first additional orders of PPE was placed on 30 January via NHS Supply Chain’s ‘just-in-time contracts’. BAU orders of PPE were ramped up around the same date.

Friday, 7 February, the department held a webinar for suppliers trading from or via China and the European Union. Over 700 delegates joined and heard the Department’s requests to carry out full supply chain risk assessments and hold onto EU exit stockpiles where they had been retained.

Monday, 10 February, the department spoke with the major patient groups and charities to update them on the situation regarding the outbreak and to update them on the steps it was taking to protect supplies.

Tuesday, 11 February, the department wrote to all suppliers in scope of the Covid 19 supply response work – those trading from or via China or the EU – repeating the messages from the webinar and updating suppliers on the current situation relating to novel coronavirus.

The NHS has spare ventilator capacity and we are investing in further capacity.

Claim - Suggestion that ‘lack of grip’ had the knock-on effect of the national lockdown being introduced days or even weeks too late, causing many thousands more unnecessary deaths.

Response - The government started to act as soon as it was alerted to a potential outbreak. Mr Hancock was first alerted to Covid 19 on 3 January and spoke to Departmental officials on 6th Jan before receiving written advice from the UK Health Security Team. He brought the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister and they discussed Covid 19 on 7 January.

The government’s scientific advisory groups started to meet in mid-January and Hancock instituted daily meetings to grip the emerging threat. We have taken the right steps at the right time guided by the scientific evidence.

Claim - Scientists said the threat from the coming storm was clear and one of the government’s key advisory committees was given a dire warning a month earlier than has previously been admitted about the prospect of having to deal with mass casualties.

Response - The government followed scientific advice at all times. The WHO only determined that COVID 19 would be a global pandemic on 11 March. Claiming that there was scientific consensus on this is just wrong. Sage met on January 22 but the first NERVTAG meeting was held on 13 January (NERVTAG is the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group – see here https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/new-and-emerging-respiratory-virus-threats-advisory-group ).

Claim - The last rehearsal for a pandemic was a 2016 exercise codenamed Cygnus, which predicted the health service would collapse and highlighted a long list of shortcomings — including, presciently, a lack of PPE and intensive care ventilators.

Response - The Government has been extremely proactive in implementing lessons learnt around pandemic preparedness, including from Exercise Cygnus. This includes being ready with legislative proposals that could rapidly be tailored to what became the Coronavirus Act, plans to strengthen excess death planning, planning for recruitment and deployment of retired staff and volunteers, and guidance for stakeholders and sectors across government.

Claim - By February 21 the virus had already infected 76,000 people, had caused 2,300 deaths in China and was taking a foothold in Europe, with Italy recording 51 cases and two deaths the following day. Nonetheless NERVTAG, one of the key government advisory committees, decided to keep the threat level at “moderate”.

Response - This is a misrepresentation of what the threat level is. This is about the current public health danger – and on February 21, when the UK had about a dozen confirmed cases, out of a population of over 66 million, the actual threat to individuals was moderate. In terms of the potential threat, the government was clear – on 10 February the Secretary of State declared that “the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constituted a serious and imminent threat to public health”.

 

'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.' 

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'. 

He had earlier told Sky News's Sophy Ridge: 'The idea that the Prime Minister skipped meetings that were vital to our response to the coronavirus, I think is 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. 

'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.'

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. 

He told Sky News: 'What really is emphasised in that piece is the fact that the government ministers had their eye off the ball.

'They were totally focused on other issues such as Brexit, and the celebration of us emerging from Europe.

'The Prime Minister had other things on his mind, and we're fully aware of this, but apparently he didn't attend five Cobra meetings on this issue.

'And when Michael Gove says 'but prime ministers don't attend all Cobra meetings', I cannot recall a Cobra meeting when it was called with Blair or Brown as prime minister when the prime minister wasn't in the chair.'

Damian Green, former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, told Sky News it was 'not unusual' for the Prime Minister to miss Cobra meetings.

He said: 'Cobra meets more often than people think.

'Cobra meets quite a lot and quite often it's not chaired by the Prime Minister.

'There are times when the PM has to be there to chair it, when big decisions need to be made.

'It's perfectly sensible to be chaired by the Health Secretary.'

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.

 

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2020-04-20 14:08:41Z
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Boris Johnson snuffs out Cabinet calls for early easing of lockdown - Daily Mail

Boris Johnson snuffs out Cabinet calls for early easing of lockdown: PM intervenes from Chequers rehab to insist a second peak of coronavirus outbreak not economic misery is the biggest danger

• Boris Johnson intervened from Cheuqers to say avoiding second coronavirus peak is the biggest priority
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove thought to be keen to ease restrictions soon
• Health secretary Matt Hancock has argued that the virus should be suppressed before the lockdown is lifted 
• Government sources are pouring cold water on prospects of schools being reopened before the end of May
• Some ministers have been pushing 'traffic light' plan for the draconian curbs to be eased to protect economy
• Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 13:41 BST, 20 April 2020 | Updated: 14:34 BST, 20 April 2020

Advertisement

Boris Johnson today moved to snuff out Cabinet pressure for an early easing of lockdown, making clear that a second peak in the coronavirus outbreak is the biggest threat to the country.

The PM has intervened from his recuperation at Chequers to warn there must not be any let-up in the draconian curbs until scientists are sure the disease will not flare up again. 

Mr Johnson has told First Secretary Dominic Raab and senior aides that 'moving too quickly' would be the worst outcome for both the economy and public health.

The premier's stance emerged amid signs of Cabinet splits over how quickly to ease the restrictions, with fears the crippling impact of lockdown on business and jobs will kill more people than the virus itself.  

Hawks in government have been pointing out the NHS now has some spare capacity to treat patients, and suggesting that it should be allowed to 'run hot' to revive the economy. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove are thought to be among those pushing for an earlier release. 

Government sources have also been frantically playing down a 'traffic light' exit strategy circulated by senior Tories over the weekend, which could see schools partly reopened by mid-May. Early June is said to be more likely.  

The PM's official spokesman fuelled speculation that Mr Johnson will be back sooner rather than later today, briefing political journalists that he is getting 'daily updates' at Chequers - although stressing that he is not yet doing any 'official work'.

Asked for Mr Johnson's stance on the timing of lockdown, the spokesman said: 'The big concern is a second peak. That is what ultimately will do the most damage to health and the most damage to the economy. If you move too quickly the virus could begin to spread exponentially again.'  

On another day of coronavirus chaos: 

• England, Scotland and Wales have announced 450 more deaths from the coronavirus today, taking the UK's total death toll to 16,510;
• The number is a fall on the 596 fatalities announced yesterday, Sunday, and half as many as were confirmed the day before that (888);
• Nicola Sturgeon said she will publish a 'framework' for decisions on the lockdown this week, but warned that social distancing will be needed for some time to come; 
• A vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients; 
• The daily number of those tested languished at 21,600 with just ten days to go to hit the Government's 100,000 target; 
• The death toll of frontline NHS and care home staff, from heart surgeons and nurses to porters and volunteers, reached at least 80;  
• Michael Gove attacked 'grotesque' claims Boris Johnson was 'missing in action' at the start of the crisis after he missed five meetings of the emergency Cobra committee; 
• More than 100 top doctors backed calls for the public to be told to wear homemade face masks when they leave the house; 
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak was urged to boost his business bailout schemes amid warnings that up to 11.7million could be furloughed or left jobless over the next three months; 
• Analysis suggests that more than 2,500 elderly patients are dying of coronavirus in care homes every week. 

Mr Johnson recording a video message on Easter Sunday at Number 10 after his release from the hospital, before leaving for Chequers to recover from his illness

Fury as vital PPE kit from Turkey is delayed AGAIN 

Ministers face fresh fury today as a vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients. 

Hospitals are on the verge of running out of some life-saving supplies after the 84-tonne delivery, including 400,000 protective gowns, failed to arrive last night. 

Medical bodies say shortages mean doctors could need to make 'difficult decisions' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced with fanfare on Saturday that the consignment was coming, before Education Secretary Gavin Williams humiliatingly admitted last night that it had been postponed.

Mr Williamson said he 'hoped' it would be in the UK today, while Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden predicted this morning that it will leave Turkey today. 

However, Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said this morning there was 'low confidence' the materials will actually arrive.

'As of an hour ago there is relatively low confidence it will arrive today. If it is going to arrive today is will probably arrive late in the day,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

He accused ministers of raising the hopes of health staff saying they had 'bitter experience' of promised PPE either failing to arrive, or turning out to be either faulty or the wrong kit. 

Hospital bosses have slammed the government over shortage of PPE amid warnings trusts may run out of protective gowns today as medics threaten to stop treating coronavirus patients over fears for their own safety.  

Medical bodies say the shortages mean doctors could be forced into a 'difficult decision' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. It comes as the death toll among health workers including frontline NHS staff and care workers hits 80.  

The shortages have led to a chorus of criticism that those fighting in the frontline against the virus are being betrayed as the Government fails to 'get a grip' on the escalating crisis. 

Some ministers have been pushing a blueprint that would see restrictions start being eased as early as May 11, when the current lockdown period ends. 

The 'traffic light' proposals suggest reopening schools part-time, and gradually allowing non-essential shops to get up and running again in an 'amber' phase. Pubs and restaurants, and the over-70s would face many months more on a 'red signal' in isolation until a vaccine can be found or the outbreak fades altogether.

However, Health secretary Matt Hancock has been stressing that before easing restrictions the government should suppress the virus for longer so its transmission rate dwindles. 

A government source told the Times: 'The idea that we will be rushing to lift measures is a non-starter. 

'If the transmission rate rises significantly we will have to do a harder lockdown again.' 

Downing Street has signalled that there will not be any movement on releasing an 'exit strategy' until the end of the month.  

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she will publish a 'framework' on how decisions will be taken about the curbs later this week.

'The initial version of this work will not set out what measures will be lifted and when,' she told the daily Scotland briefing. 

'We are simply not yet in the position to take those decisions in a properly informed way.'

She added: 'It will also be clear in the work we set out later in the week that living with this virus, as we will need to learn to do, is likely to mean some restrictions on everyday life in the form of social distancing for some time to come.' 

The wrangling comes amid a growing backlash over the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Johnson has been accused of 'skipping' five Cobra meetings in January and February as the pandemic emerged.  

A devastating Sunday Times article claimed ministers 'just watched' as the death toll mounted in Wuhan.  

A Whitehall source said the Government 'missed the boat on testing and PPE' (personal protective equipment) during a vital period before the outbreak took hold in Britain. 

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

But in an extraordinary detailed response last night the government insisted the report contained 'falsehoods' and distorted the picture of its actions.  

Earlier, Mr Gove confirmed the PM did not attend the meetings, but described the idea this amounted to neglect as 'grotesque'. 'He didn't. But then he wouldn't. Because most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them.' 

He said the UK had sent PPE to China in the initial phase of the crisis, but stressed it was not from the core pandemic stockpile, and Beijing had sent far more back since. 

Number 10 insisted Mr Johnson, who is currently recovering from coronavirus at Chequers after spending several nights in intensive care last week, 'has been at the helm' of the government's response to the crisis. 

Revelations of Mr Johnson's concerns come as it emerged pubs and restaurants could remain closed until the winter, as Michael Gove (pictured) said hospitality would be 'among the last to exit the lockdown'. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (right)  wants to minimise the damage of the lockdown to businesses. Matt Hancock (left) - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - argued that before easing restrictions the government should try to suppress the virus for longer so its transmission rate becomes much lower.

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

As his more junior colleagues took the reins on virus mitigation, Mr Johnson's personal life reportedly commanded his attention, namely how to break the news of Carrie Symonds' pregnancy to his family.

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.  

It also emerged 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. 

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

But asked at the daily No10 press briefing about Mr Johnson's absence from Cobra meetings until the beginning of March, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'The Prime Minister from the moment that it became clear that there were challenges in terms of coronavirus developing in China has absolutely been leading our nation's effort to combat the coronavirus, making sure that resources or money is not a concern for any department, especially the health service.'

He added that 'many Cobra meetings' are led by the departmental minister.

He said: 'The focus the Prime Minister was putting on this and has continued to put on this has meant that this is the whole Government effort.'    

Ministers face fresh fury today as a vital shipment of coronavirus protective kit from Turkey looks set to be delayed again - with medics warning they might be forced to stop treating patients. 

Hospitals are on the verge of running out of some life-saving supplies after the 84-tonne delivery, including 400,000 protective gowns, failed to arrive last night. 

Medical bodies say shortages mean doctors could need to make 'difficult decisions' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced with fanfare on Saturday that the consignment was coming, before Education Secretary Gavin Williams humiliatingly admitted last night that it had been postponed.

Mr Williamson said he 'hoped' it would be in the UK today, while Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden predicted this morning that it will leave Turkey today. 

However, Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said this morning there was 'low confidence' the materials will actually arrive.

'As of an hour ago there is relatively low confidence it will arrive today. If it is going to arrive today is will probably arrive late in the day,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

He accused ministers of raising the hopes of health staff saying they had 'bitter experience' of promised PPE either failing to arrive, or turning out to be either faulty or the wrong kit. 

Hospital bosses have slammed the government over shortage of PPE amid warnings trusts may run out of protective gowns today as medics threaten to stop treating coronavirus patients over fears for their own safety.  

Medical bodies say the shortages mean doctors could be forced into a 'difficult decision' between exposing themselves to the virus or 'letting a patient die on their watch'. It comes as the death toll among health workers including frontline NHS staff and care workers hits 80.  

The shortages have led to a chorus of criticism that those fighting in the frontline against the virus are being betrayed as the Government fails to 'get a grip' on the escalating crisis. 

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak is facing mounting pressure to boost his business bailout so that the Government increases its guarantee on loans to struggling firms to 100 per cent. 

The Treasury will today announce a further £1.25billion package to support innovative firms hit as the virus lockdown causes the economy to stutter to a halt.

It will include a £500million loans fund for high-growth companies and £750million in loans and grants for small firms focused on research and development. 

'At a very basic level, this is wrong': Government hits back at claims Boris Johnson 'skipped' Cobra meetings and ministers dragged their feet and 'lacked grip' over COVID-19 response in lengthy 14-point rebuttal 

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. 

But last night, 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'.

It comes after Michael Gove admitted that Boris Johnson was not present at the meetings, but claimed 'most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them'

Gavin Williamson also insisted that Boris Johnson was 'driving' the government's coronavirus response despite 'skipping' five Cobra meetings at the start of the outbreak. 

The very first point in the government's rebuttal says 'at a very basic level, this is wrong' in response to allegations that ministers brushed aside the dangers of coronavirus in mid-January.  

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. 

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

The Government's full 14-point response to claims that ministers dragged their feet  over coronavirus response

Claim – On the third Friday in January Coronavirus was already spreading around the world but the government ‘brushed aside’ the threat in an hour-long COBR meeting and said the risk to the UK public was ‘low’.

Response – At a very basic level, this is wrong. The meeting was on the fourth Friday in January. The article also misrepresents the Government’s awareness of Covid 19, and the action we took before this point. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was first alerted to Covid 19 on 3 January and spoke to Departmental officials on 6th Jan before receiving written advice from the UK Health Security Team.

He brought the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister and they discussed Covid 19 on 7 January. The government’s scientific advisory groups started to meet in mid-January and Mr Hancock instituted daily coronavirus meetings. He updated Parliament as soon as possible, on January 23rd.

The risk level was set to “Low” because at the time our scientific advice was that the risk level to the UK public at that point was low. The first UK case was not until 31 January. The specific meaning of “public health risk” refers to the risk there is to the public at precisely that point. The risk was also higher than it had been before - two days earlier it had been increased “Very Low” to “Low” in line with clinical guidance from the Chief Medical Officer.

The WHO did not formally declare that coronavirus was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) until 30 January, and only characterised it as a global pandemic more than a month later, on 11 March. The UK was taking action and working to improve its preparedness from early January.

Claim - ‘This was despite the publication that day of an alarming study by Chinese doctors in the medical journal The Lancet. It assessed the lethal potential of the virus, for the first time suggesting it was comparable to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed up to 50 million people.'

Response - The editor of the Lancet, on exactly the same day – 23 January - called for “caution” and accused the media of ‘escalating anxiety by talking of a ‘killer virus’ and ‘growing fears’. He wrote: ‘In truth, from what we currently know, 2019-nCoV has moderate transmissibility and relatively low pathogenicity. There is no reason to foster panic with exaggerated language.’ The Sunday Times is suggesting that there was a scientific consensus around the fact that this was going to be a pandemic – that is plainly untrue. 

Claim - It was unusual for the Prime Minister to be absent from COBR and is normally chaired by the Prime Minister.

Response - This is wrong. It is entirely normal and proper for COBR to be chaired by the relevant Secretary of State. Then Health Secretary Alan Johnson chaired COBR in 2009 during H1N1. Michael Gove chaired COBR as part of No Deal planning. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps chaired COBR during the collapse of Thomas Cook. Mr Hancock was in constant communication with the PM throughout this period.

At this point the World Health Organisation had not declared COVID19 a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’, and only did so only 30 January. Indeed, they chose not to declare a PHEIC the day after the COBR meeting.

Examples of scientific commentary from the time:

Prof Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said:

“This announcement is not surprising as more evidence may be needed to make the case of announcing a PHEIC. WHO were criticised after announcing the pandemic strain of novel H1N1_2009, when the virus was eventually realised to have similar characteristics to seasonal influenza and is perhaps trying to avoid making the same mistake here with this novel coronavirus. To estimate the true severity of this new disease requires identifying mild or asymptomatic cases, if there are any, while determining the human to human transmission rate might require more evidence.”

Dr Adam Kamradt-Scott, Senior Lecturer in International Security Studies, University of Sydney, said: “Based on the information we have to date, the WHO Director-General’s decision to not declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern is not especially surprising. While we have seen international spread of the virus, which is one of the criteria for declaring a PHEIC, the cases in those countries do not appear to have seeded further local outbreaks. If that was to start to occur, it would constitute a greater concern but at the moment the outbreak is largely contained within China.”

Claim - 'Imperial’s Ferguson was already working on his own estimate — putting infectivity at 2.6 and possibly as high as 3.5 — which he sent to ministers and officials in a report on the day of the Cobra meeting on January 24. The Spanish flu had an estimated infectivity rate of between 2.0 and 3.0, so Ferguson’s finding was shocking.’

Response - Infectivity on its own simply reveals how quickly a disease spreads, and not its health impact. For that, it is necessary to know about data such as associated mortality/morbidity. It is sloppy and unscientific to use this number alone to compare to Spanish flu.

Claim - No10 ‘played down the looming threat’ from Coronavirus and displayed an ‘almost nonchalant attitude…for more than a month.’

Response - The suggestion that the government’s attitude was nonchalant is wrong. Extensive and detailed work was going on in government because of Coronavirus, as shown above.

Claim - By the time the Prime Minister chaired a COBR meeting on March 2 ‘the virus had sneaked into our airports, our trains, our workplaces and our homes. Britain was on course for one of the worst infections of the most insidious virus to have hit the world in a century.'

Response - This virus has hit countries across the world. It is ridiculous to suggest that coronavirus only reached the UK because the Health Secretary and not the PM chaired a COBR meeting.

Claim - 'Failure of leadership' by anonymous senior advisor to Downing Street.

Response - The Prime Minister has been at the helm of the Government response to Covid 19, providing the leadership to steer his Ministerial team through a hugely challenging period for the whole nation. 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?

Claim - The government sent 279,000 items of its depleted stockpile of protective equipment to China during this period in response to a request for help from the authorities there.

Response - 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.

Claim - Little was done to equip the National Health Service for the coming crisis in this period.

Response - This is wrong. The NHS has responded well to Coronavirus, and has provided treatment to everyone in critical need. We have constructed the new Nightingale hospitals and extended intensive care capacity in other hospitals.

Claim - Among the key points likely to be explored are why it took so long to recognise an urgent need for a massive boost in supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers; ventilators to treat acute respiratory symptoms; and tests to detect the infection.

Response - The Department for Health began work on boosting PPE stocks in January, before the first confirmed UK case.

Discussions on PPE supply for COVID-19 began w/c 27 January (as part of Medical Devices and Clinical Consumables), with the first supply chain kick-off meeting on 31 January. The first additional orders of PPE was placed on 30 January via NHS Supply Chain’s ‘just-in-time contracts’. BAU orders of PPE were ramped up around the same date.

Friday, 7 February, the department held a webinar for suppliers trading from or via China and the European Union. Over 700 delegates joined and heard the Department’s requests to carry out full supply chain risk assessments and hold onto EU exit stockpiles where they had been retained.

Monday, 10 February, the department spoke with the major patient groups and charities to update them on the situation regarding the outbreak and to update them on the steps it was taking to protect supplies.

Tuesday, 11 February, the department wrote to all suppliers in scope of the Covid 19 supply response work – those trading from or via China or the EU – repeating the messages from the webinar and updating suppliers on the current situation relating to novel coronavirus.

The NHS has spare ventilator capacity and we are investing in further capacity.

Claim - Suggestion that ‘lack of grip’ had the knock-on effect of the national lockdown being introduced days or even weeks too late, causing many thousands more unnecessary deaths.

Response - The government started to act as soon as it was alerted to a potential outbreak. Mr Hancock was first alerted to Covid 19 on 3 January and spoke to Departmental officials on 6th Jan before receiving written advice from the UK Health Security Team. He brought the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister and they discussed Covid 19 on 7 January.

The government’s scientific advisory groups started to meet in mid-January and Hancock instituted daily meetings to grip the emerging threat. We have taken the right steps at the right time guided by the scientific evidence.

Claim - Scientists said the threat from the coming storm was clear and one of the government’s key advisory committees was given a dire warning a month earlier than has previously been admitted about the prospect of having to deal with mass casualties.

Response - The government followed scientific advice at all times. The WHO only determined that COVID 19 would be a global pandemic on 11 March. Claiming that there was scientific consensus on this is just wrong. Sage met on January 22 but the first NERVTAG meeting was held on 13 January (NERVTAG is the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group – see here https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/new-and-emerging-respiratory-virus-threats-advisory-group ).

Claim - The last rehearsal for a pandemic was a 2016 exercise codenamed Cygnus, which predicted the health service would collapse and highlighted a long list of shortcomings — including, presciently, a lack of PPE and intensive care ventilators.

Response - The Government has been extremely proactive in implementing lessons learnt around pandemic preparedness, including from Exercise Cygnus. This includes being ready with legislative proposals that could rapidly be tailored to what became the Coronavirus Act, plans to strengthen excess death planning, planning for recruitment and deployment of retired staff and volunteers, and guidance for stakeholders and sectors across government.

Claim - By February 21 the virus had already infected 76,000 people, had caused 2,300 deaths in China and was taking a foothold in Europe, with Italy recording 51 cases and two deaths the following day. Nonetheless NERVTAG, one of the key government advisory committees, decided to keep the threat level at “moderate”.

Response - This is a misrepresentation of what the threat level is. This is about the current public health danger – and on February 21, when the UK had about a dozen confirmed cases, out of a population of over 66 million, the actual threat to individuals was moderate. In terms of the potential threat, the government was clear – on 10 February the Secretary of State declared that “the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constituted a serious and imminent threat to public health”.

 

'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.' 

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'. 

He had earlier told Sky News's Sophy Ridge: 'The idea that the Prime Minister skipped meetings that were vital to our response to the coronavirus, I think is 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. 

'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.'

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. 

He told Sky News: 'What really is emphasised in that piece is the fact that the government ministers had their eye off the ball.

'They were totally focused on other issues such as Brexit, and the celebration of us emerging from Europe.

'The Prime Minister had other things on his mind, and we're fully aware of this, but apparently he didn't attend five Cobra meetings on this issue.

'And when Michael Gove says 'but prime ministers don't attend all Cobra meetings', I cannot recall a Cobra meeting when it was called with Blair or Brown as prime minister when the prime minister wasn't in the chair.'

Damian Green, former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, told Sky News it was 'not unusual' for the Prime Minister to miss Cobra meetings.

He said: 'Cobra meets more often than people think.

'Cobra meets quite a lot and quite often it's not chaired by the Prime Minister.

'There are times when the PM has to be there to chair it, when big decisions need to be made.

'It's perfectly sensible to be chaired by the Health Secretary.'

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.

 

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2020-04-20 13:17:49Z
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Coronavirus: Claiming cash through the Job Retention Scheme explained - Sky News

Applications are now open for businesses to secure cash through the government's Job Retention Scheme.

Here is a simple guide to explain what it is for and how to do it.

What is the Job Retention Scheme?

This is the vehicle announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month to prevent mass redundancies caused by the COVID-19 lockdown and protect the economy in the long term.

It covers the bulk of wages due to staff who have been furloughed - placed on leave. More on that later.

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Before the scheme was extended until the end of June, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the bill at £42bn.

The Taxman explains furlough scheme aid

How can I claim?

Only employers, not employees, can submit claims under the Job Retention Scheme.

It is done via an online portal operated by HM Revenue & Customs here.

How much can be claimed?

Exactly one month ago today I announced the unprecedented decision to step in and help pay people’s wages.

We promised support would be available by the end of April – today, we deliver our promise.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now live: https://t.co/Y6ulSecuwI pic.twitter.com/J21dSlE2iZ

— Rishi Sunak #StayHomeSaveLives (@RishiSunak) April 20, 2020

Businesses can request 80% of a member of staff's regular monthly salary, up to a maximum of £2,500.

The sum secured has to be passed on in full by the employer to the employee. The employer can also top up that wage if able or willing to do so.

It will be taxed in the usual way for the relevant amount.

The scheme also covers National Insurance and pension contributions.

Employment rights, such as sick and holiday pay, remain in place as normal.

Who is eligible?

Employers can only claim for furloughed employees who were on a company's PAYE payroll on or before 19 March.

Only workers who have been retained by, but are not completing work for, their company can be covered.

Two other points of note: Anyone starting their job after 28 February is not eligible and those made redundant since that date can receive money if they are technically re-hired and placed on furlough.

When will I get my money?

It is hoped it will take up to six working days to process a claim and pay the money to a company's bank account.

It means there should be time to spare if an employer's pay day is 30 April.

HMRC has 5,000 staff working on the project to not only support applicants but also detect any fraud.

The Taxman has been testing the new claim system at volumes of 450,000 users per hour.

Phone and web chat support is available, but claimants are being advised to use these services sparingly.

How long does the scheme run for?

It has already been extended to the end of June.

Much will depend on how long restrictions on movement remain.

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2020-04-20 09:59:18Z
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Schools will open in June at the earliest with primary kids first as millions begin Government-launched - The Sun

MILLIONS of kids start home learning tomorrow — amid talks about some schools reopening by the summer.

However, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson refused to set a date for children to return.

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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson refused to set a date for children to return to schoolCredit: EPA

He said he wanted “nothing more” than to see kids back in the classrooms across the nation — but he shot down rumours school gates would open again next month.

Instead, education chiefs are discussing plans for limited opening in June at the earliest.

Even then, sources said it was likely that primary schools would open first — as they have in Denmark.

After what would have been the two-week Easter break ended, children will tomorrow start virtual classes launched by the Government.

The latest development came as

Mr Williamson said: “People are anxious to know when we are going to relax restrictions.

“When schools are likely to be fully back and open again. I want nothing more than to see schools back, get them back to normal, make sure that children are sat around, learning and experiencing the joy of being at school. But I can’t give you a date.”

He said schools would open when other lockdown measures are eased. That will be when five tests first outlined by stand-in PM Dominic Raab last Thursday were met.

They include protecting the NHS’s ability to cope, ensuring a drop in the daily death rates and having reliable data to show the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.

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Speaking from Downing Street today, Mr Williamson issued a thank-you to the schoolchildren across Britain who were all doing their bit by staying at home, in a bid to beat the virus.

He said: “I wanted to say to you how sorry I am. that you’ve had your education disrupted in this way. I know how hard it must be. And I’d like to thank you for making the adjustments that you’ve had to make.

“I know that you’ll be missing your friends, your teachers, your lessons.

“And I want you to know that you are such an important part at this point too.

“And I cannot thank you enough for all that you were doing.”

Pupils will tomorrow log on to the Oak National Academy where 180 classes have been created by more than 40 state school teachers.

They have uploaded classes designed to be used from reception to Year Ten.

Teachers can download the materials to use for their virtual classes from tomorrow and 180 new lessons will be provided each week.

Mr Williamson said: “This is a totally new initiative, led by 40 brilliant teachers who have assembled video lessons and resources for any teacher in the country to make use of if they wish to do so.”

He added: “I recognise all challenges that families will be facing at the moment and we’re determined to support parents who are helping their children learn from home. I think we all know how difficult that can be.”

As well as the online learning, Mr Williamson unveiled a package of measures that will see vulnerable and disadvantaged kids offered IT equipment and free 4G internet packs.

He said the Government was working with telecoms firms to make educational resources exempt from internet data charges.

Primary schools in Denmark this week opened their doors again after being in lockdown, and Mr Williamson confirmed that the Government was monitoring their situation. French schools will also open again early next month.

Teaching unions welcomed the official announcement that schools would not reopen here.

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BBC's shows to educate nation

EASTENDER Danny Dyer will be among the famous faces leading lessons as part of the BBC’s plans to help educate the nation’s schoolchildren during the Covid-19 crisis.

Danny, 42, who is a direct descendant of King Edward III, will provide a history class for five to seven-year-olds on Henry VIII.

Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, 31, will help children learn to count in Spanish.

Professor Brian Cox will cover science, while Ed Balls is teaching maths.

Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker, 37, will drop in on BBC Bitesize Daily, airing on BBC iPlayer and the BBC red button.

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Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said speculation was “irresponsible” and added: “I am pleased that the Secretary of State for Education has moved to set the record straight immediately.

“Any return to school must be led by the best scientific and medical advice available. But any return to school must be planned in dialogue with the profession and be accompanied by robust safety measures for pupils, parents, school staff and the wider community.”

It has emerged a third of kids are taking part in online lessons, but private school students are twice as likely as state school pupils to do so every day, a poll by the Sutton Trust education charity revealed.

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Rumours of schools reopening next month have been shot down, with education chiefs discussing plans for limited opening in June at the earliestCredit: PA:Press Association/PA Images

Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff

SUN readers are today urged to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.

Yesterday, we backed a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.

A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”

SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”

We are asking readers to sign the petition online at thesun.co.uk/georgecrossfornhs.

Gavin Williamson ‘cant give a date’ for schools to reopen after ministers rule out going back in just three weeks

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2020-04-20 08:02:37Z
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Coronavirus UK: New government scheme to help save jobs and keep up pay revealed - Express

Employers will now be able to claim grants for their workers' wages online. The launch comes following the Government's warning of the economic cost for many companies should there be any delay in its implementation.

In a statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "Our unprecedented job retention scheme will protect millions of jobs across the country and is now up and running.

"It's vital that our economy gets up and running again as soon as it's safe - and this scheme will allow that to happen."

Under the furlough scheme, employers claim cash grants worth up to 80% of their staff's wages.

However, this is capped at £2,500 a month per worker.

Approximately 5,000 HMRC staff will operate the scheme, assisting thousands of UK firms.

The money should reach bank accounts within six working days, a statement from the Treasury said.

Phone lines and web-chat services will be available to help answer applicants' questions, with the scheme launching 10 days ahead of schedule, it added.

This comes after Rish Sunak announced the scheme would be extended for a further month until the end of June, in light of the ongoing nation wide lockdown.

JUST IN: Coronavirus breakthrough: Scientists to use llama blood antibodies

The Sunday Times has reported that a briefing document seen by ministers has given dire predictions about the UK’s future if restrictions aren’t eased soon.

One source told the newspaper that failure to act would mean “there won’t be anything left of the economy”.

One in three fashion businesses are not expected to survive a month, while the car industry faces cash flow issues and airlines could run out of money within a matter of weeks.

Moreover, coronavirus lockdown is set to cost a quarter of UK jobs, according to a new study.

Research by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex says a total of around 6.5 million people are to loose their jobs due to the impact the coronavirus lockdown is having on the economy.

Hospitality services such as accommodation and food jobs are predicted to suffer the worst rate of cuts.

The study predicts 75.1 percent of jobs in this industry will be lost, which equates to around 1.3 million positions.

Ranked second was "other services" at 50.2 percent.

So called "wholesale, retail and repair of motor vehicles" came in at 47.6 percent of job losses - or roughly two million jobs.

Although these losses are mostly set to be temporary, this doesn't apply to all jobs.

Professor Matteo Richiardi, an expert on modelling labour markets who led the research, warned the risk of jobs being permanently lost depends on the duration of the lockdown.

He said: "If this is short, say a few months, the links between employers and employees of affected industries might not be severed, and individual careers might not suffer too much. Under a longer lockdown, losses of human capital and scarring effects will occur."

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2020-04-20 05:22:16Z
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