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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.
The 14-day isolation for arrivals is needed to protect "hard-won progress", the home secretary says.
Parents who choose not to send their children to school when they reopen will not be fined.
It comes as UK police chiefs say they stand alongside all those "appalled and horrified" by the death.
The PM's promise comes as a union calls for more transparency over the accuracy of coronavirus tests.
Suzie Vaughan says she thought her "heart was going to burst" when she saw her daughters again.
Boris Johnson said the Labour leader's attacks on government were undermining "public trust and confidence".
About 3,000 jobs are at risk after one the UK's big restaurant group's warned of a coronavirus hit to profits.
Videos on social media show hundreds of people drinking and dancing into the early hours.
Disruption to school in England could continue into the autumn until November, MPs are told
Government minister Greg Hands said a car "mounted the pavement and struck people" in Sloane Square.
Anders Tegnell says more should have been done early on to stem coronavirus in Sweden.
As the UK's 14-day quarantine plan looms, many have decided to take a summer holiday regardless.
Viewers have until 15 July to cast their vote for the only Bafta TV award decided on by the public.
Community midwife Rachel Millar describes being on the cover of Vogue as "surreal".
Hundreds of people found themselves trapped by police - until Rahul Dubey flung open his doors.
Two hundred shortlisted photos aim to show there is more that unites us than sets us apart.
Zachary, 4, has been hospitalised with chest infections many times, but his parents say he has never been so well.
The bee-eating Asian hornet has already reached the Channel Islands and beekeepers fear it could soon reach the UK mainland.
A male northern voice is the BBC's initial choice for its voice assistant, in the testing phase.
Living without fillers and Botox under lockdown is a mental health challenge for some individuals.
Asked about race, unrest and the US response, the Canadian prime minister chose his words carefully.
Covid-19 has affected BAME people disproportionately. Now they want to know why.
Four years before George Floyd's death made global headlines, another man was shot dead in the same part of the US.
There is a change in tone from the opposition leader towards Boris Johnson, but what is his plan?
For people whose diaries are usually full, the quarantine period has made them reassess their priorities.
People in England and Wales shielding with health conditions are able to leave home. Some don't want to.
Worries about coronavirus transmission spell an uncertain future for millions of sex workers globally.
The retired footballer had to jump out of a plane for his new Saturday night BBC One show.
How New Order's World in Motion topped the charts 30 years ago, symbolising a "cultural revolution".
The divisive US president's visit to a church amid ongoing nationwide protests drew heavy criticism.
Protests after the death of George Floyd have led to a surge in misleading videos and unfounded theories.
US Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker says it would be "almost a yawner of an event" if this year's match against Europe is played without fans present.
Three West Indies players choose not to travel to England for next month's Test series because of coronavirus fears.
Amazon Prime will make its four Premier League games free to air when the season restarts.
There have been some iconic moments for the home nations since 1966 - but what did BBC Sport pundits consider the best?
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and other Bundesliga players will face no disciplinary action after tributes to George Floyd.
British Paralympic powerlifter, Ali Jawad takes you through four exercises designed to help improve upper body and core strength.
The government is under pressure to relax the 2m social distancing rule - but is it safe to do so?
What are the tests for coronavirus, who are they for and how do they work?
What do you need to know if you're planning to fly during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Which children are the first to go back to school, and what about the rest?
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.
The Royal College of General Practitioners is warning people not to mix up the symptoms.
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.
Parents of year six and year one pupils have been falling out over whether to send them back to school.
The BBC's Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys answers kids' questions about going back to school.
A head teacher explains how she is piecing school life back together before children return.
Children seem to be at low risk from the disease, but can they still spread it?
People most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they get coronavirus are being asked to stay home.
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?
Will employees still get paid if they are told to self-isolate? And other questions answered by BBC experts.
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.
Millions unable to do their job due to coronavirus will have their wages paid by a new scheme.
What is being done for the five million self-employed people in the UK facing a sudden loss of income?
Dental practices in England have been told they can reopen from Monday, 8 June.
Senior Conservatives are still questioning adviser's account of driving his family 260 miles during lockdown.
Millions in the UK will soon be asked to monitor who they have been near to combat coronavirus.
After almost 10 weeks of lockdown which restrictions are being eased - and which remain in force?
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?
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.
Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world are watching these men solve Sudoku puzzles.
Some restrictions on vulnerable people shielding from coronavirus are to be eased after 10 weeks.
Siobhan Baillie gave birth last week and her office said it would report abusive persons to police.
Brothers Martin and Richard Morgan say the "substantial piece of horn" was their best find yet.
Wales is the latest part of the UK to launch a tracing system, but how do they work?
Meeting friends? Here's how to handle the awkward new rules - from sharing food to avoiding hugs.
Police across the UK now have wide-ranging powers to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
You can now meet more people and play certain non-contact sports in the UK - but what are they?
From one way systems to not touching everything on the shelves - shopping will look very different.
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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 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.
