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We've seen another significant moment this week with the launch today of the NHS Test and Trace service. This, fast on the heels of the announcement last Friday that local councils will be at the forefront in responding to local outbreaks, in order to control infection and ensure that the public can be protected from further spread.
The two are complementary, and are vital steps in our recovery and return to more normal lives.
This week we’ve heard that non-essential shops will be opening soon; some school year groups will be returning to classrooms next week and we’re seeing more people out and about and traffic on our roads indicates more people are travelling. All this, but with restrictions. All this, but requiring all of us to remain vigilant, especially with regards to vulnerable and shielded friends and family members.
Many of us, perhaps parents of children returning to school next week, will be feeling mixed emotions. That’s understandable. Our schools are doing all they can to maintain normality, while keeping pupils and staff safe.
So this week, let’s remember how far we’ve come. Let’s clap for our NHS and care workers one last time. But let’s continue to look out for and support each other, at home, at work, and in our daily lives.
In this update:
The NHS Test and Trace service has been launched today.
The government is introducing the service to help return life more to normal, in a way that is safe and protects our NHS and social care.
Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to find out about who they've been in close contact with recently. Then, if necessary, those they've interacted with will be notified and told they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus.
There's more information about how the system works on the government's website, along with guidance for people who have been notified by NHS Test and Trace that they've been in contact with someone who has had a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Last Friday the government announced that Councils will receive a share of an extra £300m to help establish local outbreak plans which will include local coordination and management of infection control and of local testing and tracing arrangements.
We welcomed that announcement because it’s something we were calling for.
We’ve been asked how those plans sit alongside the government’s announcement today about national testing and tracing.
A locally managed outbreak response which can quickly spot and then mobilise all our local resources to contain any new clusters of infection or hotspots is seen as a good way to ensure that the release of lockdown can be managed more effectively and safely.
From 15 June, people in England could be fined for not wearing a covering, the transport secretary says.
A German man, 43, is being investigated on suspicion of murder over the British girl’s disappearance.
The business secretary has been self-isolating at home since he became unwell on Wednesday.
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Watch as land continues to collapse during the rescue effort.
Travis McMichael used the phrase while Ahmaud Arbery was on the ground, a Georgia court hears.
The chain will reopen three shops in Northern Ireland on Monday, followed by 50 in England a week later.
The demonstration is one of many held globally in the wake of the 46-year-old's death.
Kemi Badenoch urges MPs not to use evidence of higher ethnic minority death rates to stoke racial tension.
Spanish police investigate Nacho Vidal over the death of a man who inhaled a psychedelic substance.
Care home staff from the charity MHA look back at the impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Jian Zihao says physical and mental health problems have caused him to quit e-sports.
Meghan urges young people to rebuild society after the African-American man died in police custody.
In a viral speech, Curtis Hayes implored two generations of demonstrator to "find a better way".
The resident stopped Scott Morrison's press briefing, complaining his lawn had "just been reseeded".
The North Korean leadership has called the balloon-senders "human scum" and "mongrel dogs".
In Russia, coronavirus has seen the long-time president's approval rating fall to an all-time low.
Mark and Marco explain what their lives have been like since losing their partners.
Ronnie, 10, and seven-year-old Reggie Cockroft want to help NHS and supermarket workers.
FGM was outlawed by Sudan's new Sovereign Council, who have been in power since August 2019.
The press secretary compares the president to the British wartime leader inspecting bomb damage.
Viewers have until 15 July to cast their vote for the only Bafta TV award decided on by the public.
After 13 years, the hunt for the missing three year old may be a step closer to a conclusion.
Black Lives Matter protests continue in the UK - but are they illegal under restrictions on gatherings?
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Any day now two men may be executed in Europe's only country that still has the death penalty.
Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo writes about the racism he has experienced in the US.
Layla Barnes is one of thousands of small business owners who are getting no government support in the pandemic.
With theatres closed, and TV and movie filming on hold, acting school graduates are struggling.
Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory in the 1920 Trianon treaty and now aims to revive its past.
Identifying superspreading events could be crucial in the fight against the virus, scientists say.
George Floyd's death has sparked protests across the world and raised questions about police practice.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says "it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused" after opposing NFL kneeling protests.
American teenager Coco Gauff gives an emotional speech at a Black Lives Matter protest, saying she "demands change now".
The remainder of the NBA season will be played at Florida's Disney World Resort from 31 July.
Premier League teams will be able to make five substitutions, rather than the usual three, in each match to the end of the season.
Ben Chilwell is tempted by Chelsea interest, Liverpool will not rival the Blues in their pursuit of Timo Werner, plus more.
Face coverings are to become compulsory for people using public transport in England.
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Wales is the latest part of the UK to launch a tracing system, but how do they work?
Why is lifting restrictions being described as a "dangerous moment"?
You can now meet more people and play certain non-contact sports in the UK - but what are they?
The UK Statistics Authority has criticised the government's handling of Covid-19 testing data.
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Non-essential shops can reopen in England in June, but will I be able to buy a book or have a haircut?
Meeting friends? Here's how to handle the awkward new rules - from sharing food to avoiding hugs.
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Children seem to be at low risk from the disease, but can they still spread it?
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Ministers have set targets for testing, medical equipment and hospital beds. Have they delivered?
There is a lot of uncertainty around when and how weddings are allowed to take place. What are your rights?
How will social and work life be different after the easing of some restrictions around the UK?
Many airlines are planning to resume flying, but they first need to reduce the risks of Covid-19.
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What is being done for the five million self-employed people in the UK facing a sudden loss of income?
Shetland was one of the UK areas worst hit by Covid-19 - now there have been no new cases for six weeks. How did they do it?
William Cater drove into a line of queuing traffic waiting to leave the motorway.
The letter was written by the Pooh illustrator to a boy who had invited the bear to his birthday party.
The man, aged in his 40s, died at the scene where the broken cables ignited a number of fires.
The pilot was blinded "for five to 15 seconds" and had to abandon his search, a court hears.
Suppliers say people should be "mindful" of the amount of water they are using during lockdown.
South Cerney Outdoor centre was broken into over the weekend who had barbecues and left rubbish.
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Siobhan Baillie gave birth last week and her office said it would report abusive persons to police.
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Key graphics explaining how coronavirus has spread in the UK and the government's response.
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1. How to become a good mentor. Leaders must be good at judging others’ potential and finding and developing more leaders - good at discerning where a person is, knowing where he or she is supposed to go and providing what they will need when they get there. The bottom line in any successful organisation is that no one person can do it alone. If you really want to be an effective leader you must establish an effective team. Here are some guidelines for selecting the right people to mentor and develop. MORE>> 2. How work can change, post-pandemic. The global pandemic has upended working life for vast portions of the professional world, forcing millions of people to quickly adapt to remote work and fresh challenges of all kinds. But despite the dire circumstances, this crisis may help us see how work can change for the better. Employers may embrace the benefits of flexible, remote work. Business leaders may become more adept at quickly shifting strategic gears to adapt to new circumstances. And now that our colleagues have gained a glimpse into our personal lives via video meetings, we may grow more comfortable showing more of our self at work. Editor 3. Britons in lockdown exhibit one of three mental states. The response of Britons in lockdown can be divided into three categories - accepting, suffering or resisting, according to new research by a team at King’s College London. The experts say that 48% of people accept their confinement, 44% suffer because of it, and 9% resist the lockdown. Young people were the most likely be in the resisting group, which was 64% male, while people aged between 55 and 75 were most likely to accept the restrictions. Daily Mail 4. Personal standards slip during lockdown. Suspicion that people are letting some standards slip in lockdown has been confirmed by Unilever: it says worldwide sales of personal grooming products such as shampoo have fallen significantly in the past few weeks, and that it suspects sales of deodorant are going to be lower than normal too. On the other hand, its cleaning products such as Cif and Domestos are flying off the shelves. Financial Times 5. Captain Tom Moore turns 100. The appeal by NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore topped £32m as he celebrated his 100th birthday. The war veteran was treated to an RAF fly-past, a letter from the Queen, a recorded message from Boris Johnson, a promotion to honorary colonel, more than 150,000 birthday cards from the public, and a post-mark from the Royal Mail, in honour of his efforts to raise funds for the health service by walking laps of the garden at his Bedfordshire home. The Telegraph |
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5. The link between COVID-19 and obesity. Government scientists are investigating whether Britain’s high death toll is the result of the obesity crisis after it emerged that the proportion of severely obese patients in intensive care with CV-19 is twice the proportion of servery obese people in the general population. With that in mind, here’s how to work out your BMI. Divide your weight in kilograms by your height (in metres) squared. So if you are 180cm tall and weigh 80kiliograms (like me), your body mass index (BMI) is 80/(1.80²)=24.7. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9; between 25 and 29.9 means you are overweight; 30-39.9 is obese; 40+ is morbidly obese. Editor 6. Podcasts to inform and entertain. If you are using podcasts to keep up with the corona-crisis, rather than get away from it, you’re spoiled for choice. The World Service’s Coronavirus Global Update provides an excellent, snappy overview” courtesy of international correspondents. The Coronavirus Newscast is Brexitcast, but coronafied; upbeat and insider-y. LBC’s daily pod, Coronavirus UK, has Nick Ferrari grilling guests. But the pick of the corona pods is The Coronavirus Diaries, weekly from BBC Sounds and 5 Live, in which healthcare workers report from the front line. The Observer 7. Is lower air pollution under lockdown saving lives? Improvements in air quality during coronavirus lockdowns have resulted in 11,000 fewer deaths across Europe over the past month, according to a new study. Researchers at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) say the effects of the significant reduction in air travel and road traffic are comparable to “everyone in Europe stopping smoking for a month”. The Sun 9. All change at number 10. Boris Johnson, 55, is only the third divorced prime minister since 1721, but the first to be divorced twice. Meanwhile Ms Symonds, 32, is the youngest partner of a PM in 173 years. Whilst they are the first unmarried couple to live in Downing Street, it is not an unusual arrangement elsewhere in the UK with co-habiting unmarried couples now the fastest-growing family type in the UK, according to the ONS. BBC 10. The bottom line. As men are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than women, has anyone considered letting women and children out of lockdown first? We could run the country for a few weeks and see how things go while the men could stay at home baking banana bread and clapping for carers. This was a suggestion received from a female subscriber to this newsletter. Editor |
The Covid crisis is putting the survival of one of the UK's largest zoos at risk.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from 15 June.
The Seacole Centre in Surrey opened to cater for Covid patients and others who need help with their recovery.
Demonstrators condemning the death of George Floyd gathered in Hyde Park then marched to Downing Street.
The prime minister says people have a right to protest, but should observe social distancing.
Actor John Boyega gave an emotional speech at a London protest in response to the death of George Floyd.
With rain forecast in the coming days, Boris Johnson has urged the public not to gather inside.
The bee-eating Asian hornet has already reached the Channel Islands and beekeepers fear it could soon reach the UK mainland.
Suzie Vaughan says she thought her "heart was going to burst" when she saw her daughters again.
Zachary, 4, has been hospitalised with chest infections many times, but his parents say he has never been so well.
Police have directed long queues of traffic at some Scottish McDonald's drive-thrus.
Wales is the latest part of the UK to launch a tracing system, but how do they work?
BBC Breakfast commissioned poet Hussain Manawer to mark three months since the first UK coronavirus death.
A headteacher says children were not as "bubbly and lively" as they were before lockdown.
As lockdown in England eases, Christine and David Passmore meet six-week-old Amari.
He spent four of his weeks in critical care strapped to a ventilator but now he is walking again.
Black British people react to the African-American's death, and the ongoing racial tensions in the US and UK.
Diversity's Ashley Banjo reflects on the death of George Floyd and growing up mixed race in the UK.
Five doctors administering end-of-life care reflect on the current crisis.
The foreign secretary admitted that the government's five-level, colour-coded alert system was not yet at level three.
A couple whose IVF treatment was delayed say struggling to start a family has been "heart-wrenching".
The structure was constructed by staff at an events company whose children attend the school.
This weekend thousands of people will gather as an online choir to perform Handel’s Messiah.
The government's scientist gave his opinion when asked about Dominic Cumming's controverisal travel during lockdown.
From social distancing dinner dates to candle scents inspired by pubs, here are some stories you may have missed this week.
Clive Myrie meets patients and staff on the Covid ward at the Royal London Hospital.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has warned the public to be sensible as lockdown eases in England.
How can you treat your own teeth while waiting to see a dentist?
Could changes we have been forced to make in the pandemic become long-term environmental solutions?
Aerial shots show how the coronavirus pandemic changed the way we use public spaces.
Lockdown measures in England are easing from Monday, but some scientists warn that the government is lifting restrictions too soon.
The BBC’s Clive Myrie meets black and minority ethnic hospital staff and sees the impact the virus is having beyond the ward.
The BBC's Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys answers kids' questions about going back to school.
People across the UK showed their appreciation for front-line workers for the tenth week in a row.
Up to six people from different households can meet outdoors from 1 June.
The prime minister stepped in to direct questions about his closest aide away from scientific advisers at the government's daily briefing.
Heath Secretary Matt Hancock says the vast majority of people in the UK will cooperate with the test and trace system.
How one of London’s Asian communities and its hospital copes with death during the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents of a Berkshire village have been taking advantage of quiet streets to perform their own silly walks.
Perspex table dividers, one-way systems and social distancing are likely to be part of pub life.
