British people took to the streets in massive numbers to applaud National Health Service workers during the coronavirus crisis.
Schools in Scotland and Wales will close on Friday, March 20, as their devolved governments try to contain the spread of coronavirus. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned parents that schools might not re-open until the end of the summer term.
REUTERS/John Sibley NHS testing for coronavirus will be increased to 25,000 people a day in the next four weeks, the UK government has announced.Over 50,000 people have been tested in the UK up to now. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Public safety is my top priority, and radically ramping up testing for coronavirus is a key part of our plan to protect lives. We are already among the best in the world for coronavirus testing and today we are launching a national effort to increase our testing capability even further. "Our aim is to protect life, protect the most vulnerable, and relieve pressure on our NHS – so it is right that we prioritise testing for those most at risk of severe illness. We will always do the right thing at the right time, based on the best scientific advice, and will do whatever it takes to protect life."British members of parliament assembled in the House of Commons, Westminster, London, March 16, 2020.The House of Commons has cut the number of MPs being allowed to enter the House of Commons chamber for Prime Minister's Questions as the coronavirus spreads rapidly across Westminster. Conservative and Labour whips both emailed their members instructing them only to appear in the Commons chamber if they had a question to ask the Prime Minister, theFILE - In this Monday, July 10, 2017 file photo, Paul McCartney performs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. USA. Paul McCartney has snagged the coveted Saturday-night headline slot at Glastonbury next year as the British music festival celebrates its 50th birthday. Festival organizers confirmed Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 that the former Beatle will perform on the main Pyramid Stage on June 27. The organisers of Glastonbury Festival have cancelled this year's festival because of coronavirus. Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lemar were due to headline Britain's biggest music festival.—Glastonbury Festival Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to pay for NHS staff to say in a west London hotel for 2 monthsRoman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea FC, will pay for NHS staff to stay at the club's Millennium Hotel for two months. "Chelsea Football Club is joining the medical response to the coronavirus outbreak in London with the news the National Health Service has accepted the Club's offer to make the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available for NHS staff," the club said in a statement. "The initiative came from club owner Roman Abramovich and, after contact with the NHS was made by Chairman Bruce Buck, it was decided the best way Chelsea can assist the NHS is to provide accommodation for NHS staff. Mr Abramovich will be covering the costs of providing the accommodation."Filming on popular BBC shows like EastEnders, Casualty, and Holby City will be postponed "until further notice" due to the outrbreak of coronvirus, the BBC has said in a statement. Police will be able to detain coronavirus carriers under the government's new emergency coronavirus lawsPolice will have the power to temporarily detain people who have caught coronavirus but are not self-isolating under emergency measures being prepared by the UK government.If as expected it passes into law, it will allow:Retired health and social care workers to return to work The creation of a compensation fund for people who take emergency leave from their jobs to volunteer in public services like the NHSMinisters to close down ports and other transport hubs if there are staff shortages Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The new measures we will be introducing in the Emergency Coronavirus Bill this week will only be used when it is absolutely necessary and must be timed to maximise their effectiveness, but crucially they give the government the powers it needs to protect lives. "By planning for the worst and working for the best we will get through this, but this is a national effort and we must all work together — from businesses prioritising the welfare of their employees, to people thoroughly washing their hands. "I also want to pay tribute to our brilliantly selfless NHS and social care staff who are working tirelessly to care for our friends and loved ones in this unprecedented period."UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is due to make an announcement on how the government will protect renters whose incomes are disrupted by coronavirus. Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Wednesday morning that Jenrick would shortly be making an announcement. Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are under pressure to protect renters after failing to mention them in the emergency measures revealed on Tuesday evening. Sunak said there will be mortgage holidays for people who are struggling to pay them, meaning they will not have to make payments for three months.UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced enormous financial support for businesses and workers in a bid to limit the economic impact of coronavirus. Sunak said the government would make £330 billion of loans available to businesses which need them amid warnings that businesses nationwide and across several sectors could collapse. The Chancellor also announced a three month suspension of mortgage payments for those struggling to pay, and said small businesses most vulnerable will be entitled to funding grants worth up to £25,000 each.However, Sunak and Johnson faced questions on how businesses would be able to pay back those loans, and what financial support renters would receive.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from Iranian prison for 2 weeksNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe — the British-Iranian dual citizen who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2016 — has been released on temporary furlow for two weeks.Zaghari-Ratcliffe will be forced to wear an ankle tag and stay within 300 metres of her parents' home during the temporary release.REUTERS/Phil Noble Carmaker Nissan says vehicle production has been suspended at its plant in Sunderland, northeast England plant due to supply chain disruption and a sharp drop in market demand.The UK government insists that the Brexit transition period will not be delayedThe UK government continues to insist that it will not extend the Brexit transition period beyond the current end date of December 31, despite coronavirus forcing upcoming trade negotiations to be cancelled.In light of the latest guidance on coronavirus, we will not formally be convening negotiating work strands tomorrow in the way we did in the previous round. "We expect to share a draft FTA [free trade agreement] alongside the draft legal texts of a number of the standalone agreements in the near future still, as planned. "Both sides remain fully committed to the negotiations and we remain in regular contact with the European Commission to consider alternative ways to continue discussions, including looking at the possibility of video conferencing or conference calls, and exploring flexibility in the structure for the coming weeks.20,000 deaths or fewer would be best case scenario for the UK governmentSir Patrick Vallance, the UK government's chief chief scientific adviser, has just told MPs that a coronavirus death toll of 20,000 or below would be a "good outcome." He said "seasonal flu tends to lead to 8,000 excess deaths, so if we can get [the number of deaths from covid19] down to 20,000 and below, that's a good outcome of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak, but I mean it is still horrible."Public worship is "suspended until further notice", the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has just announced.Boris Johnson: "We are engaged in a war against the disease which we have to win"Boris Johnson and his Cabinet have just discussed their plan to combat coronavirus. The prime minister told his ministers "we are engaged in a war against the disease which we have to win," according to a readout of the meeting. Downing Street said "Secretaries of State will hold sector specific roundtables including, but not limited to, aviation, retail, manufacturing, food, insurance, financial services, sport, entertainment and events, and tourism and hospitality." Chancellor Rushi Sunak is to announce new economic measures to helping businesses deal with the impact of the virus later today.British people have been told to cancel all non-essential travel globally as the country ramps up its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK Foreign Secretary told the UK Parliament on Tuesday that it would advise British people not to leave the country for at least 3o days. "UK travellers abroad now face widespread international border restrictions and lockdowns in various countries. The speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented," Raab said. "So I have taken the decision to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel." Boris Johnson's government drastically changed its coronavirus plan after realising only "in the last few days" that it would result in the deaths of up to 250,000 people, according to reportsThe UK abruptly changed its strategy to cope with coronavirus yesterday after realising only "in the last few days" that its existing approach would result in the deaths of up to 250,000 people, according to a report by a team of disease experts who have advised the government on its scientific approach. The report, from Imperial College's COVID-19 response team, said the UK had initially adopted a "mitigation" strategy, by which it would slow, but not necessarily stop, the spread of the disease. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced yesterday to abandon that strategy and adopt more draconian measures to "suppress" the disease.Sign outside the Tate Modern Switch House on March 31st 2017 in London, United Kingdom. Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London. Tate has announced that it has closed all of its galleries across the country in a bid to help prevent the spread of coronavirus."For over 120 years we have been welcoming people to our galleries to enjoy great art from around the world. However, the welfare of our visitors and staff must always come first. "That's why we are closing Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives from this evening, Tuesday 17 March until 1 May 2020. We will be reviewing this and keep you updated."We believe that access to art for everyone is a universal human right. Now more than ever, art can lift our spirits, brighten our days and support our mental health. So whilst our galleries are shut, we'll be sharing some ideas for how you can still enjoy the best of Tate online. "If you have a ticket for an upcoming event or exhibition, we'll be in touch as soon as possible. "Thank you for your support – we don't know yet when galleries will reopen, but we look forward to welcoming you back when they do.A bus passes a sign for the London Underground tube system in London January 29, 2013.London will reduce its public transport to weekend levels of service, mayor Sadiq Khan has said. Khan told Sky News that the number of people using the Tube and London's other public transport had plummeted amid the outbreak of coronavirus."I was on the tube today and it was 40 per cent down today than it was a few weeks ago, so we have got to recognise that and follow the advice from the experts."BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images As the stark reality of Boris Johnson's extraordinary press conference on Monday sets in, British businesses are pleading with him for financial support to prevent entire industries collapsing. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced a €300 billion support package, promising that "no business whatever its size will face risk of bankruptcy." Johnson is under huge pressure to announce similar measures amid warnings that his policy of advising Brits to avoid pubs, cafes, and restaurants, but not telling them to close, will leave businesses unable to claim insurance to cover the huge loss in custom.UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: The PM's statement is the worst of all worlds, leaving businesses, guests and teams all unprotected and in limbo. "No insurance will apply unless the government requires closure — and even then any payout will come far too late to save millions of jobs." UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a series of measures for keeping businesses afloat at a press conference on Tuesday. Airlines, railway companies, construction firms, and sports teams are just some of other businesses seeking government help.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference addressing the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Britain March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/PoolBoris Johnson has told all British people to work at home "where possible" and limit all non-essential human contact for up to three months as the coronavirus spreads across the UK"Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others, and to stop all non-essential travel," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a press conference on Monday. "We need people to start working from home where they can and you should avoid pubs, clubs and other venues." The prime minister said that anyone living in a household where an individual within that household had experienced symptoms of the coronavirus should isolate themselves for 14 days.European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has announced. It means people from non-EU member states will not be allowed to enter the bloc unless they are long term residents of the EU, family members of EU nationals, diplomats, or essentials workers like doctors, nurses, and researchers. People transporting goods will aso be exempt from the ban. However, the UK is set to exempt from these restrictions. Von der Leyen said "there are no restrictions for the UK citizens to travel to the continent." German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen attends a Christian Democratic Union and Social Democratic Party fraction meeting at the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany November 26, 2015.The EU on Monday said it would ask its 27 member states — plus European countries with close economic and political ties to the bloc — to impose a 30-day ban on non-essential travel. The countries invited to implement the EU's proposal are its member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and Ireland.No. This is a proposal. It is up to EU member states and the other European countries invited to implement it whether they do or not. They could adopt the proposals in full, partially, or not at all.Yes. The proposed ban is on non-essential travel. But long term residents of the EU, family members of EU nationals, diplomats, and essentials workers like doctors, nurses, and researchers, are all exempt. People who commute across the EU's border are as well.Despite no longer being in the EU, the UK is in a transition period, during which it will continue to follow EU law. Because of this, UK citizens will continue to be treated as EU citizens and will exempt from the 30-day travel ban.A pedestrian walks past a BBC logo at Broadcasting House in central LondonThe BBC has announced that it is delaying plans to abolish the free license fee for the over 75s until August. The policy was supposed to take effect on June 1. The BBC has decided to keep the free license fee for the elderly until later in the year after it emerged that the UK government was planning to urge older people to stay at home for a period lasting up to four months.
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