Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

25 Jun

25 June 2020

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

Key Announcements

  • 14 academics have written a letter in the BMJ to raise concerns about the establishment of SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in England. In their letter, they cover three concerns: Firstly, there is no specific clinical indication for the test on an individual basis; Secondly, the performance of these assays has not yet been assessed to the standard typically required of a novel test; And thirdly, the resource implications are not considered.
  • The Business and Planning Bill will have its first reading in Parliament today. It is expected to be rushed through Parliament before July 4, in order to allow more pubs, restaurants and cafés in England to serve customers outside. It is designed to increase al fresco service, street trading, pedestrianize areas and outdoor markets so that hospitality sectors can operate more effectively from next Saturday. The current 28-day consultation period required for permission to set up tables and chairs outside will be cut to five days, and every venue with an alcohol licence will be given the right to sell beer and wine for people to drink on the pavement or the street.
  • The Bill will also extend the period in which planning permissions lapses, so that building projects with an expiration date during lockdown can extend until April 2021.
  • A number of papers are reporting that proposals for new air bridges with some countries in Europe will be announced on Monday, when the 14-day quarantine rule review is due.
  • The Office for National Statistics will publish its latest data at 9:30am today, providing an estimate of the number of people in England who have had Covid 19 up to around June 20 . The data will also include a provisional death toll in England and Wales, as well as their latest economic indicator.
  • The Department of Health and Social Care will also publish statistics on its test track and trace scheme at 11am today.
  • NHS bosses will hold a board meeting this afternoon to assess how the NHS coped with the pandemic.
  • Five councils have warned the Government that they face bankruptcy as a consequence of the pandemic unless emergency Government support is provided.

Regional/Devolved

  • The Northern Ireland Economy minister, Diane Dodds will call for the relaxation of the 2m social distancing rule in NI when the executive meets later today.
  • Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford, however, has said the 2m rule will remain in place in Wales for the time being.
  • Scotland’s Finance Secretary has formally requested more powers from Westminster. In a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury she has said that the Royal Mail redundancies highlight the need for greater support and has requested the power to borrow £500m.

International   

  • Global cases of Covid 19 has now passed 9.4 million. The WHO states it expects to see global infections pass 10 million by the end of the week. At least 480,000 people have died.
  • According to the John Hopkins University, the United States recorded its highest daily infection rate since April yesterday, with a one-day total of 34,700 new Covid-19 cases.
  • Texas has reported an all-time daily high with 5,489 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. A few weeks ago, it became one of the first states to ease its coronavirus lockdown measures.
  • China has reported 19 new cases of coronavirus amid mass testing in Beijing, after an outbreak saw 249 people get infected after visits to a wholesale food market.
  • An outbreak in Melbourne, Australia has seen 33 new cases identified overnight. The Government will use 1,000 Australian defence force personnel to door-knock two suburbs linked to the outbreak, offering free testing.

Stakeholders    

  • The Gatsby Charitable Foundation has warned that the education sector faces an exacerbation of the longstanding teacher shortages challenge in the aftermath of COVID-19 unless there is increased support for schools with their recruitment efforts.
  • The Committee on Climate Change has warned that the Government must seize the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change
  • Swim England’s Chief Executive, Jane Nickerson has called on Prime Minister to explain the science behind the decision not to reopen pools on 4 July.