Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

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

Key Announcements

Saturday 25th April

Priti Patel (Home Secretary)

• Began by stating that the core message of protecting the NHS remained the basis of the Government’s strategy.
• Patel then paid tribute to the frontline workers who had suffered as a result of COVID-19.
• Patel added that the Government’s increasingly tough stance on domestic abuse was making headway in reducing such crimes.
• Furthermore, crimes overall had dropped since this time last year, Patel said that some of the more “sophisticated” forms of crime were adapting.
• Efforts would continue in the line of tackling drug smuggling which was often being hidden in PPE and other medical equipment.
• “Coronavirus merely highlights the bravely of our police force”, Patel added.
• She then said that social distancing measures were helping the country get through the crisis.
• The five tests laid out by the Government however, had to be met in order for the social distancing measures to be relaxed.

Lynne Owens (Director General of the National Crime Agency)

• Began by saying that their had no been an increase in any crime because of COVID-19, but the National Crime Agency had identified efforts by organised criminals to use new methods by which to undertake criminal activity.
• Over the past months, 360kg of cocaine had been seized, showing how the supply of drugs was still continuing.
• Moreover, other forms of heinous crimes, such as child abuse and pornography remained a critical area by which the Police were working to tackling.
• People who were attempting to make fake PPE were also being arrested in large numbers.

Stephen Powis (National Medical Director of NHS England)

• Began by saying that the NHS had not been overwhelmed so far.
• Powis added that the NHS remained there for those who had other issues besides COVID-19.
• On the levels of transport use, use of public transport especially buses and tubes had significantly reduced. There however was a gradual increase in car usage.
• Powis emphasised that social distancing was “far from over”.
• Powis then added that numbers of people in hospitals were declining rapidly especially in London.

Sunday 26th April

George Eustice (Environment Secretary)

• Said that at the beginning of the crisis, there was panic buying, which has largely subsided now. He added that the food supply chains had seen a reduction in the absence of individuals.
• So far, 500,000 food parcels had been delivered to members of the “shield” group, moreover, the Government had been working closely with local authorities to support efforts to bring food to the needy. Age UK was among of the charities working with the Government in this regard.
• Eustice added that many supermarkets had introduced “priority slots” of delivery for those who needed food delivered to their homes.

 Stephen Powis (National Medical Director of NHS England)

• Powis then said that the public transport usage in the UK had dropped significantly overall.
• He added that there was a “definite” trend in the reduction of people in hospital as a result of COVID-19.
• Powis said that the number of daily deaths in hospitals had began to slowly decline.

 International   

• Italy has outlined plans to ease the strict restrictions it imposed seven weeks ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the measures would be relaxed from 4 May, with people being allowed to visit their relatives in small numbers .
• Germany reported just 1,018 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the lowest number since the early days of the outbreak more than six weeks ago .
• The Bank of Japan has promised unlimited buying of government bonds, a sharp increase in its purchases of corporate debt and easier financing for banks in response to Covid-19 .
• El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has responded to an upswing in violence during the coronavirus crisis by authorising the use of lethal force against gangs .

Stakeholders    

• Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Employment Rights and Protections, commenting on the TUC ‘s report ‘Preparing for the return to work’, said: “With the country pulling together during this time of crisis, Labour is working constructively with the Government to stop the spread of the coronavirus and support workers and businesses.”
• Airbus has warned its 135,000 employees that it may not survive the coronavirus lockdown unless it takes immediate action that may involve deeper job cuts .

Unconfirmed reports

• Edward Argar, health minister, insisted on Monday that it was too early to consider easing Britain’s coronavirus lockdown, saying the “focus has to be on the health impact“.
• US scientists are working with China to investigate the origin of coronavirus, despite criticism from the Trump administration that Beijing is failing to co-operate with outsiders to stem the disease .