Minggu, 02 Agustus 2020

Coronavirus: Covid cluster linked to Aberdeen bar after 13 new cases - BBC News

A cluster of 13 cases of Covid-19 linked to a pub in Aberdeen is being investigated by public health officials.

NHS Grampian said the cases were associated with The Hawthorn Bar in Holburn Street in the city centre.

The pub said the outbreak was linked to customers who visited on 26 July.

The cluster comes as the latest figures showed 31 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Scotland in the past 24 hours.

That is higher than the 30 Covid-19 cases reported on Friday - which was the biggest daily increase for eight weeks.

Despite the rise in cases, there were no deaths reported in Scotland due to coronavirus for the 17th day in a row.

'I felt terrible'

All those who have tested positive in Aberdeen are showing only mild symptoms, though the health board said there may be further cases linked to the cluster.

One man, who is now being treated in hospital for coronavirus and who visited the bar last week, said he first began feeling ill on Wednesday.

The patient, who has asked not to be identified, told the BBC: "By Saturday morning I felt terrible. I had a severe fever and my eyes were really sore. I also had a pain in my side and doctors considered removing my appendix which they thought may have become infected from the virus."

He added: "It was very surreal being rushed to hospital and my mind did start to wonder in case things took a nasty turn.

"However, I do feel lucky that I only have mild symptoms and that I haven't had any breathing difficulties."

Health officials in Grampian said physical distancing measures were in place at the bar and contact tracing was being carried out to trace those linked with the cluster.

Scotland's national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch said: "We've sent people to have a look, and everything was in place that we have written down that should be in place.

"Same with the pharmacy earlier on in the week in Port Glasgow - very well managed, no blame.

"But this virus just needs a moment to jump across a household. So it's an individual responsibility as well as a business responsibility to take that enormously seriously."

Continue trading

In a statement published on their Facebook page, management at The Adams & The Hawthorn said they had been given permission to continue trading and that appropriate safety measures were in place.

The statement said the venue had undergone deep cleaning as well as "decontamination by fogging".

Phil Adams, who owns the bar, said he was "absolutely devastated" by news of the cluster.

He added: "We've put a lot of measures in place and we've worked very hard to ensure all our staff and customers are safe.

"This is a very trying time, not just for me but for everyone involved with the business."

The tally of 31 new cases across Scotland on Sunday accounts for 1.1% of newly tested individuals, according to the Scottish government.

The figures also showed there were 265 people in hospital with Covid-19 as of Saturday evening, and three in intensive care.

In response to the latest figures, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Another day y'day with no deaths of people who had tested positive for Covid.

"However, 31 new cases reported. All of these being carefully investigated and appropriate action taken. But we should take this as a further warning that Covid is still out there."

The daily figures showed that no new deaths were recorded among people who tested positive for the virus, meaning the tally under this specific measurement remains at 2,491.

However, the total number of coronavirus-linked deaths as calculated by the National Records of Scotland currently stands at 4,201.

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2020-08-02 12:52:41Z
52780970954861

Conservative MP not suspended after arrest on suspicion of rape - Sky News

A Conservative MP arrested over allegations of rape will not be suspended from the party while police investigate.

A spokesperson for the Conservative whips' office said: "These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. The whip has not been suspended.

"This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded."

It comes after shadow safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said it was "shocking" the party had not decided to withdraw the whip.

Labour MP said it was 'only right' the former MP had the whip removed
Image: Labour MP Jess Phillips said the whip should be removed from the MP

The accused former minister was arrested and taken to an east London police station on Saturday morning and released on bail later that day.

He has been accused by a young woman who used to work in parliament, Sky News understands.

"In any other organisation, were this police investigation to be going on, somebody would be suspended while the investigation was taking place," Ms Phillips told Times Radio.

More from Politics

"I find it shocking this morning in the news that the Conservative Party has decided not to withdraw the whip in this case."

She said it was "only right" the whip was withdrawn and pointed to the conviction earlier this week of former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, who was allowed to maintain the whip while being investigated for sexual assault.

An MP who has the whip withdrawn is effectively expelled from their party, but keeps their seat and must sit as an independent until they have the whip restored.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick said the government will "take all the steps that are necessary" following the arrest.

"This is a very serious allegation and it's right that it's treated as such," he said.

"We need to be a political party that ensures women are safe and feel comfortable at all times and that's exactly what we are doing."

Robert Jenrick
Image: Housing secretary Robert Jenrick says the allegation is 'serious'

The woman's complaint was reported to a fellow MP, Sky News understands.

It is claimed some allegations were raised with Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, and chief whip Mark Spencer.

Mr Spencer had reportedly not known the "magnitude" of the allegations, and it is understood he told the woman to make a formal complaint to parliamentary authorities, who would investigate.

The woman later spoke to police.

A police statement said: "The Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.

"These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020.

"The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations.

"A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday 1 August on suspicion of rape."

In a statement, the Conservative Party said it takes "all allegations of this nature extremely seriously" but refused to comment further as the matter is now being investigated by police.

A statement from Mr Spencer said: "The chief whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including parliament's independent complaints and grievance scheme, which can formally carry out independent and confidential investigations."

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2020-08-02 12:33:45Z
CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvbnNlcnZhdGl2ZS1wYXJ0eS1jcml0aWNpc2VkLWZvci1ub3Qtc3VzcGVuZGluZy1tcC1hcnJlc3RlZC1vbi1zdXNwaWNpb24tb2YtcmFwZS0xMjA0MDk5N9IBeWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmUtcGFydHktY3JpdGljaXNlZC1mb3Itbm90LXN1c3BlbmRpbmctbXAtYXJyZXN0ZWQtb24tc3VzcGljaW9uLW9mLXJhcGUtMTIwNDA5OTc

Conservative MP not suspended after arrest on suspicion of rape - Sky News

A Conservative MP arrested over allegations of rape will not be suspended from the party and that decision will only be reviewed after a police investigation has ended, the party has said.

A spokesperson for the Conservative whips' office said: "These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. The whip has not been suspended.

"This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded."

It comes after shadow safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said it was "shocking" the party had not decided to withdraw the whip.

Labour MP said it was 'only right' the former MP had the whip removed
Image: Labour MP Jess Phillips said the whip should be removed from the MP

The accused former minister was arrested and taken to an east London police station on Saturday morning and released on bail later that day.

He has been accused by a young woman who used to work in parliament, Sky News understands.

"In any other organisation, were this police investigation to be going on, somebody would be suspended while the investigation was taking place," Ms Phillips told Times Radio.

More from Politics

"I find it shocking this morning in the news that the Conservative Party has decided not to withdraw the whip in this case."

She said it was "only right" the whip was withdrawn and pointed to the conviction earlier this week of former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, who was allowed to maintain the whip while being investigated for sexual assault.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick said the government will "take all the steps that are necessary" following the arrest.

"This is a very serious allegation and it's right that it's treated as such," he said.

"We need to be a political party that ensures women are safe and feel comfortable at all times and that's exactly what we are doing."

Robert Jenrick
Image: Housing secretary Robert Jenrick says the allegation is 'serious'

The woman's complaint was reported to a fellow MP, Sky News understands.

It is claimed some allegations were raised with Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, and chief whip Mark Spencer.

Mr Spencer had reportedly not known the "magnitude" of the allegations, and it is understood he told the woman to make a formal complaint to parliamentary authorities, who would investigate.

The woman later spoke to police.

A police statement said: "The Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.

"These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020.

"The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations.

"A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday 1 August on suspicion of rape."

In a statement, the Conservative Party said it takes "all allegations of this nature extremely seriously" but refused to comment further as the matter is now being investigated by police.

A statement from Mr Spencer said: "The chief whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including parliament's independent complaints and grievance scheme, which can formally carry out independent and confidential investigations."

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2020-08-02 11:58:18Z
CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvbnNlcnZhdGl2ZS1wYXJ0eS1jcml0aWNpc2VkLWZvci1ub3Qtc3VzcGVuZGluZy1tcC1hcnJlc3RlZC1vbi1zdXNwaWNpb24tb2YtcmFwZS0xMjA0MDk5N9IBeWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmUtcGFydHktY3JpdGljaXNlZC1mb3Itbm90LXN1c3BlbmRpbmctbXAtYXJyZXN0ZWQtb24tc3VzcGljaW9uLW9mLXJhcGUtMTIwNDA5OTc

Tory MP arrested after being accused of rape and sexual assault - Daily Record

A Tory MP has been arrested after a former parliamentary aide accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control, according to reports.

The ex-minister, who has not been named, is alleged to have assaulted a woman and forced her to have sex - and the abuse allegedly took place during a relationship, The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday reported.

The Metropolitan Police said it received allegations on Friday of sexual offences and assault relating to four separate incidents at addresses in London, including in Westminster, between July last year and January this year.

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A spokesman for the Met said: "The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations."

A man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of rape and was taken into custody at an east London police station, the force added.

He has been released on bail to a date in mid-August.

The papers said the allegations were raised with Tory Chief Whip Mark Spencer, and the complainant also spoke to him - but no action was taken.

A spokesman for Spencer said: "The Chief Whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, which can formally carry out independent and confidential investigations."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further."

The investigation comes days after former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke was convicted at Southwark Crown Court in a separate case of sexually assaulting two women, one of whom was a parliamentary worker.

Douglas Ross MP, who is standing for the Scottish Conservative leadership, called the allegations against a former Tory minister accused of rape "extremely serious".

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: "These are extremely serious allegations and they have to be investigated thoroughly.

Scottish politics

"I did see further comments from the Chief Whip's (Mark Spencer) office that they weren't aware of the magnitude of the allegations.

"I can't explain anything further, I wasn't party to any of these discussions but clearly they must be investigated thoroughly, and that's clearly happening with the Met Police.

"But I only know what I've read in the press this morning."

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2020-08-02 08:09:00Z
CAIiEClyPuGmotEEj_ZW-pyTP9sqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowrueiCTDmn7gCMIbTtwU

Coronavirus: Millions of over-50s could be told to stay at home to avoid second nationwide lockdown - Sky News

Millions of over 50s could be told to stay at home under a "nuclear" option to prevent a new nationwide lockdown if there is a second wave of coronavirus.

Boris Johnson is reportedly considering asking a greater number of people in England to take part in the shielding programme should there be a big spike in COVID-19 cases.

A Sunday Times report said people aged between 50 and 70 could be given personalised risk ratings, taking into account factors such as age and medical conditions.

2.2 million were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak of the virus - advice that ended on Saturday.

Mark Allen has been shielding for six months
Coronavirus: Shielding advice ends

As part of a strategy to tackle a potential second wave of coronavirus in the future, the prime minister is also reportedly considering lockdown conditions for London.

Ideas include giving Londoners stay-at-home orders, restricting travel beyond the M25, and banning people from staying in other people's homes, similar to policies implemented in local lockdowns imposed in Leicester and parts of the north-west of England.

Measures to prevent a second nationwide lockdown, and any economic fallout, were discussed by Mr Johnson at what was described by sources as a "war game" session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.

More from Covid-19

Downing Street distanced itself from the details in the reports, calling them "speculative".

It comes after the prime minister was forced to postpone the latest easing of lockdown on Friday.

The planned reopening of some businesses in the leisure and beauty sectors was delayed due to fears that the prevalence of coronavirus was rising for the first time since May.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Experts have already suggested that pubs could be closed in exchange for allowing schools to reopen fully in September.

It follows a warning from England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty that the country was "near the limit" of how many parts of normal life could be resumed safely.

It has been less than a month since pubs were allowed to reopen after the peak of the virus, but Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said the "trade off" could be required for the sake of children's education.

Schools are set to fully reopen in September
Image: Schools are set to fully reopen in September

Most schools closed at the end of March as the UK went into lockdown, although many remained open for children of key workers and vulnerable pupils.

More than half of pupils struggled to learn at home during lockdown, according to an Office for National Statistics survey, raising concerns about the continued closure of schools.

Gavin Williamson asks if Labour MP is suggesting schools can never open
'Do we never open schools until there's a vaccine?'

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care has denied abandoning a promise to regularly test care home residents during the summer.

The Sunday Times reported that a leaked memo from Professor Jane Cummings, the government's adult social care testing director, to local authority leaders said "previously advised timelines for rolling out regular testing in care homes" were being altered due to "unexpected delays".

The regular testing of residents and staff was meant to have started on 6 July but will now start on 7 September, according to the Press Association.

A DHSC spokeswoman said: "It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test."

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2020-08-02 06:33:45Z
52780969813088

Conservative MP arrested on suspicion of rape - BBC News

A Conservative MP has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape.

The Sunday Times reported that the allegations against the former minister were made by an ex-parliamentary employee.

The Met Police said the allegations relate to four separate incidents alleged to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020.

The Conservative Party said it takes such allegations "extremely seriously".

The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, said the complainant alleges that the MP assaulted her, forced her to have sex and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.

The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation into the allegations.

"On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault," the force said in a statement.

"These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020.

"A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday 1 August on suspicion of rape. He has been released on bail to return on a date in mid-August."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further."

There are also reports that the Conservative Party's chief whip, Mark Spencer, had been aware of allegations - and previously spoke with the alleged victim.

According to sources, Mr Spencer had not known the "magnitude" of the allegations.

A spokesman for the chief whip said that he took all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and had strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities.

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2020-08-02 02:35:49Z
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Sabtu, 01 Agustus 2020

Conservative MP arrested on suspicion of rape - BBC News

A Conservative MP has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape.

The Sunday Times reported that the allegations against the former minister were made by an ex-parliamentary employee.

The Met Police said the allegations relate to four separate incidents alleged to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020.

The Conservative Party said it takes such allegations "extremely seriously".

The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, said the complainant alleges that the MP assaulted her, forced her to have sex and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.

The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation into the allegations.

"On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault," the force said in a statement.

"These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020.

"A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday 1 August on suspicion of rape. He has been released on bail to return on a date in mid-August."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further."

There are also reports that the Conservative Party's chief whip, Mark Spencer, had been aware of allegations - and previously spoke with the alleged victim.

According to sources, Mr Spencer had not known the "magnitude" of the allegations.

A spokesman for the chief whip said that he took all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and had strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities.

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2020-08-02 02:31:59Z
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