Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

22 Sep

22 September

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements:

  • UK coronavirus alert level was moved up to 4 yesterday, meaning that transmission is “high or rising exponentially”. Coronavirus cases increased by 4,368 in the UK, daily hospital admissions went up by 233.
  • The PM will give a statement in the Commons today at 12:30 pm on the new restrictions.
  • Michael Gove has told Sky today that the new Government advice will contain a shift in emphasis on working from home: “If it is possible for people to work from home, then we’d encourage them to do so.”
  • New restrictions announced yesterday for England include 10pm closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants starting from Thursday.
  • Public Health England is launching its biggest flu vaccination campaign, aiming to vaccinate 30 million people. Having flu and Covid-19 together significantly increases the risk of death, scientist have warned.
  • The FT reports that head of the UK test-and-trace Dodo Harding suggests that companies could be charged for the rapid tests used to find out if staff are infected. The rapid tests are part of the Project Moonshot and would give the results in 20 minutes.
  • Yesterday, the Government has unveiled a multi-billion-pound rescue deal for UK train operators.

Regional /Devolved

  • Yesterday, Johnson spoke to the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and agreed a “united approach, as much as possible, in the days and weeks ahead.”
  • Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will announce new restrictions today, after a Cobra meeting with the PM. She said the Scottish Government would aim to avoid a full-scale lockdown such as the one imposed in March.
  • The Guardian’s Severin Carrell reports that Scottish ministers are considering far reaching restrictions, including local lockdowns in school holidays, travel restrictions and shutting hairdressers.
  • Yesterday Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster announced a ban on households mixing indoors.
  • Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, has told Sky he met with council leaders and public health experts yesterday to “agree a new London plan” that “includes some new restrictions “.
  • From 22 September, people in Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and the parts of Lancashire not already under tightened restrictions (excluding Blackpool) must not mix with people outside their household in homes or gardens. Pubs and restaurants must shut at 10pm.
  • Starting today, residents in Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston are banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens.

International

  • Global stocks sink due to fears of new lockdowns; UK and US stock markets suffered heavy losses over fears that a renewed rise in coronavirus cases will blight economic prospects.
  • Alitalia airline has announced it would trial flights between Rome and Milan where every single passenger has to confirm that they have tested negative for the virus.
  • Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday that his government had made a mistake when it eased restrictions aimed at containing coronavirus over the summer.
  • Former real estate mogul, Ren Zhiqiang, will be jailed for 18 years, after criticising Xi Jinping over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Plastic face shields are almost totally ineffective at trapping respiratory aerosols, according to modelling in Japan , the Guardian reports.
  • UN aid chief, Sir Marc Lowcock has warned that lack of Covid help for poor countries will haunt the west, resulting in conflict, instability and refugee flows.

Stakeholders

  • The Unite union raised concerns about the lack of social distancing on school buses, which it fears puts drivers at risk; the Government says it is providing £40m to help increase capacity.
  • A coalition of sports organisations have written to the PM to ask emergency funding , warning of “a lost generation of activity” due to the epidemic.
  • In response to the new closing time for pubs and restaurants, UK Hospitality’s chief executive highlighted data showing that just 5 per cent of infections out of the home are related to hospitality. The industry has described the new rule, a “crushing blow” for the sector.
  • The Guardian reports that two groups of scientists have written to the Government giving conflicting advice over how government should handle the Covid pandemic, with one advising that only over-65s and the vulnerable should be shielded, while the other backs nationwide measures.

Unconfirmed

  • The exceptions to the rule of six are expected today, as well as enforcement getting tighter. The Times’ Francis Elliott and Steve Swinford write that indoor sporting events are likely to be removed from the list of exemptions to the rule of six, and the number allowed to attend weddings could be slashed to 15 from 30.
  • More rules on face coverings are expected, possibly whilst moving around in offices.