Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Thursday, March 26, 2020

ANALYSIS: UK residents applaud health workers, as virus continues to spread globally

Live Reporting



  1. A third of UK coronavirus deaths in London

    There are now 578 people in the UK who have died with coronavirus.
    Of those, 184 have died in London - just under a third.
    A graph showing the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK by region
  2. Jenrick: Balance to be struck with economy

    BBC Question Time
    Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says most people are now realising there is "a moral obligation" to follow social distancing rules.
    But he says that the advice from medics and scientists means people can still go to work in some cases.
    They must follow advice, he adds, such as going directly to work, being considerate about public transport and when are in workplace, follow public health guidance.
    But Mr Jenrick concedes: "If you can't do that it is difficult to see how those businesses remain open."
    He says, however, that a "balance to be struck", adding: "If you go too far, it isn't sustainable and you cant keep society with you.
    "You also need some part of the economy to continue to operate."
    But Labour's Emily Thornberry says: "The protection of life trumps everything and ought to trump everything.
    "Ideally we want to keep the economy going, but we should not compromise [on health]."
  3. Brazil's Bolsonaro gives go-ahead for churches to stay open

    Jair Bolsonaro pictured at a rally
    Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has announced that places of worship count as “essential services” making them exempt from confinement orders.
    Under the decree, “religious activities of any kind” are classed alongside supermarkets and pharmacies.
    Most places of worship in the country have already closed.
    The governor of Sao Paulo recommended places of worship shut for 60 days.
    Some evangelical leaders have welcomed Mr Bolsonaro’s decision.
    Silas Malafaia, head of one of the country’s largest pentecostal churches, the Assembly of God, said: “In this pandemic of panic, no hospital can calm people down, but religion can.”
    Just 10 days ago, Mr Bolsonaro was criticised for holding a rally during the outbreak. He was pictured shaking hands and taking selfies with supporters.
    Cases of coronavirus have risen in Brazil with the figure currently standing at 2,433 confirmed cases and 57 deaths.
  4. UK 'should shut down as much as possible'

    BBC Question Time
    The next question is about who should be going into work, after questions over whether places like construction sites should be staying open.
    Humphrey Cobbold, chief executive of the Pure Gym group, says the government has offered "no clarity at all" on who should go in.
    He adds, however, it is important people follow social distancing rules.
    Richard Horton, of medical journal The Lancet, backs a total shutdown of construction sites, adding the UK should have to "shut down as much as possible".
    He warns that without this, the other measures brought in by the government will have to go on for longer.
  5. Jenrick: Testing numbers to step up in next week

    BBC Question Time
    Labour's Emily Thornberry continues on the issue of testing, calling it "ironic" that the UK invented the test, but isn't using it.
    Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says her conclusion isn't fair, claiming the UK's approach is "broadly similar to others".
    But presenter Fiona Bruce says Germany has increased its number of tests to 500,000 a week while the UK has only conducted 90,000 overall.
    Mr Jenrick says the UK is "ramping up" testing, and the industry is "working as hard as it possibly can and round the clock to get as many tests as possible".
    He adds that the government will be able to step up the numbers "quite significantly in the next week or so", and says when antibody tests come into play - which will show who has already had the virus - it could be "a game changer".
  6. Criticism over UK testing rates

    BBC Question Time
    There's another audience question on protective equipment, this time for NHS workers on mental health wards.
    "We don't seem to seem to provide the most basic protection," says Labour's Emily Thornberry.
    She also criticises the government's testing regime, saying not enough is being done, and this is making the outbreak "difficult to manage".
    A similar point is made by Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of medical journal the Lancet, who also says more testing needs to be done.
    He says the government "forgot the most fundamental principles of outbreak control".
    Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick defends the government's approach, saying contact did go on in the early stages of the outbreak and ministers have been following scientific advice.
  7. In pictures: UK shows appreciation for NHS and carers

    People clapping outside home
    The British public has shown its support for National Health Service (NHS) workers and carers on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.
    Thousands across the country clapped, cheered and even set off fireworks to show appreciation for healthcare workers at 20:00 GMT.
    London landmarks were cast in the NHS' signature blue - while a P&O cruise ship lit a special message in support of the institution.
    People clapping outside home
    People clapping outside homes
    P&O cruise liner it up to support NHS
    Scroll down for a video of the round of applause.
  8. Cobbold: Protective kit is a solvable problem

    BBC Question Time
    The chief executive of gym chain PureGym, Humphrey Cobbold, says he finds it "hard to understand why we got caught as short as we did in this crisis".
    He says the signs were there in China and Italy earlier in the year and the government "really have got to take away the lessons from that".
    But, he adds, looking back doesn't help now and it is time to "focus on the supplies" and "get the kit to the front line".
    Mr Cobbold says, as a businessman, transferring the protective gear to staff is "a solvable problem", but he hopes the government "has got the best help it can".
  9. Horton: Lack of equipment 'national scandal'

    BBC Question Time
    The next question is from a local GP who is having to self isolate, asking about the lack of testing and equipment in the health service.
    The Lancet's Richard Horton it is "a national scandal", adding: "We shouldn't be in this position."
    Mr Horton says the UK "knew this was coming" at the end of January, but the government "wasted February".
    He adds: "We are putting health workers in the front line without the armour to protect themselves."
    Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says it is a "big challenge", but the government is "ramping up supply rapidly".
    However, he cannot answer when hospitals will have all the equipment they need.
  10. UK applauds coronavirus health workers

    Video content

    Video caption: Clap for our Carers: National applause for coronavirus health workers
    Earlier, people across the UK took part in a national round of applause to thank health workers helping in the fight against coronavirus.
    The public has been asked to follow strict regulations and stay at home.
  11. Thornberry: Nothing being done for zero-hours workers

    BBC Question Time
    There's another question about support for the self-employed, and the speed of the help available.
    Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick acknowledges there will be a delay in receiving payment, but says HMRC say this is how long it will have to take. He adds it is important people have certainty on when they are paid.
    He says the government also says people can claim Employment Support Allowance earlier than usual, and income thresholds for receiving benefits under universal credit have been lowered.
    Labour's Emily Thornberry urges more to be done for people on zero-hours contracts, adding "nothing" is being done for them.
  12. Horton: We are all going to invest more in society

    BBC Question Time
    The editor of medical journal The Lancet, Richard Horton, hopes that something positive will come out of the outbreak.
    He says: "One of the lessons of this epidemic is how connected we all feel to one another.
    "My health depends on your health, your health depends on my health."
    Mr Horton adds: "Maybe that's one of the lessons that will come out of this.
    "We are all going to have to invest more in our society, in the NHS, in an education system to give us security - human security."
  13. Jenrick: We will work through it with you

    BBC Question Time
    Before Question Time starts, BBC presenter Fiona Bruce and her guests give their own round of applause for the NHS.
    But now, questions from Shrewsbury.
    A self-employed person with less than 12 months on his books asks why he isn't being helped by the new measures announced for the self-employed by the chancellor today.
    Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says the government has already put forward an "unprecedented package" of measures, and the new ones will help the "vast majority" of people who are self-employed.
    But he promises HMRC will "look at whatever you have got".
    He adds: "If you don't have the three years [or accounts] I really urge people in that situation to give us what they've got and we will work through it and see if we can help you.
    "We can't promise... but will do everything we can."
    Labour's Emily Thornberry says she is "not pretending this isn't really difficult" but says "more needs to be done".
  14. France deaths include 16-year-old girl

    A 16-year-old girl is among 365 people who have been confirmed dead in France as the country faces its highest daily death toll.
    Top French health official Jerome Salomon said that the girl had died in the Ile-de-France region of Paris but said no further details would be given.
    "Severe forms (of coronavirus) with the young are very rare," he noted.​​
    A total of 1,696 people have died in hospital in France from the virus, although the toll does not include those who have passed away at home or at retirement homes, he said.
    A total of 29,155 people had tested positive for the virus so far, he added.
    France has been on lockdown since March 17.
    "It is very difficult to estimate when the peak will come... people who are ill now were infected before the confinement began," explained Salomon.
  15. Question Time begins...

    BBC Question Time
    After the applause, we now move to Question Time, which has begun on BBC One.
  16. Let the clapping commence...

    And applause has begun to echo around the UK as people show their appreciation for NHS staff working tirelessly through the coronavirus crisis.
  17. 'Clap for our Carers' about to start

    As NHS staff across the UK care for those affected by Covid-19, we're being asked to thank them tonight.
    The Clap for our Carers event has had a huge amount of support on social media and will see people opening their doors and windows to applaud NHS staff at 20:00 GMT.
    Annemarie Plas, the woman behind it all, explained what inspired the idea.

    Video content

    Video caption: Coronavirus: 'Clap for Carers' creator on her viral challenge
  18. Will movie streaming boom forever change habits?

    The film business has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic - but around the world people are watching films in high numbers through streaming platforms.
    Could this surge forever change viewing habits? From his home in New York, Talking Movies' Tom Brook has been speaking to moviegoers around the world via Skype.

    Video content

    Video caption: Movie streaming boom as people stay at home
  19. 'Some positive news but we have to remain cautious'

    Nick Triggle
    Health Correspondent
    The government and health officials have faced criticism over the amount of testing the UK is doing compared to other nations but deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries stressed different countries are at different stages of the outbreak.
    The UK is currently doing 6,000 to 7,000 tests a day and they are only being offered to patients, so some healthcare providers are having to be taken out of the workforce.
    There are plans to increasing testing of NHS staff soon.
    There was some positive news about the rate of infections starting to be a more gentle rise but, as Dr Harries said, we have to be cautious about that as it's only been a few days.
  20. Indonesian weddings shutdown

    Videos of Indonesian weddings getting shutdown are being shared online.
    Indonesian president Joko Widodo has rejected calls for a widespread lockdown seen in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.
    But he has urged the public to stay at home and promised rapid testing.
    The governor of Jakarta has declared a state of emergency and schools have been closed in the capital. All tourism and entertainment venues have been shutdown.
    A total of 78 people are known to have died from coronavirus in the country, a Health Ministry official said on Thursday.

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