Sunday 22 March 2020
- Thanks to everyone working to keep the country going, including those in social care, distribution, transport, and every other sector; anyone who has communicated with their mothers from a distance today on Mother's Day; and thanks to everyone forced to close a business for making this sacrifice.
- Special steps will be taken to protect the vulnerable (1.5m total identified by the NHS with highest risk of being hospitalised). NHS will contact these people by letter (to start landing by Tuesday) followed up by text and/or phone call as necessary, and urge them to stay at home for 12 weeks (full list of relevant medical conditions is already online - see gov.uk link below). Letters will include resources for mental health. Distribution list may be slightly overestimated to ensure that everyone who needs to be included is informed. GPs can raise the issue for any other patients they believe to be in the high-risk category. Government's message to these individuals: you are not alone.
- Shielding measures will do more than any other single measure to save lives and reduce the spread. We owe it to those working so hard on the frontline to make an effort to shield the most vulnerable to help save their lives.
- For those who are vulnerable and self-identify as having no support network (via website and phone number provided in letter), the government is working around the clock to create a safety net of local hubs which will deliver medicines, groceries, and other essential items. Supermarkets and other existing businesses and agencies (including armed forces) will be involved and there will also be opportunities for the public to volunteer. The hope is for the first deliveries to be made at the end of next week. Food parcels will start off being generic and then may be adapted to individuals.
- Don't send your child to school unless you're a key worker.
- Going outdoors is important for health and well-being but must be done responsibly in line with advice for social distancing. Stay 2 metres apart. Even if you feel you are safe, you can infect others. For every one adhering to the measures, you are doing your bit to slow the disease, and the more we do this collectively, the more time we give the NHS to save lives, and get through this crisis faster.
- Outdoor environments are generally safer than indoor but should not be combined with social contact. Those who are congregating in any areas are making them dangerous for those who need to go out. Proximity is the problem.
- Epidemiology suggests that smallish gatherings (e.g. family coming together on Mother's Day) are riskier than larger ones due to the personal nature and people having closer physical contact.
- Be cautious about making direct comparison of numbers from another country such as Italy.
- Specific hospitals are struggling with a shortage of beds and ventilators as had been predicted, but there are flex plans to offer additional support. There are efforts currently being made to massively increase the amount available.
- Government interventions must be introduced at the right time to have the maximum effect.
- If people don't follow advice properly, tougher measures may have to be introduced (e.g. closing playgrounds).
- The most important general advice: stay at home if you possibly can.
- Special steps will be taken to protect the vulnerable (1.5m total identified by the NHS with highest risk of being hospitalised). NHS will contact these people by letter (to start landing by Tuesday) followed up by text and/or phone call as necessary, and urge them to stay at home for 12 weeks (full list of relevant medical conditions is already online - see gov.uk link below). Letters will include resources for mental health. Distribution list may be slightly overestimated to ensure that everyone who needs to be included is informed. GPs can raise the issue for any other patients they believe to be in the high-risk category. Government's message to these individuals: you are not alone.
- Shielding measures will do more than any other single measure to save lives and reduce the spread. We owe it to those working so hard on the frontline to make an effort to shield the most vulnerable to help save their lives.
- For those who are vulnerable and self-identify as having no support network (via website and phone number provided in letter), the government is working around the clock to create a safety net of local hubs which will deliver medicines, groceries, and other essential items. Supermarkets and other existing businesses and agencies (including armed forces) will be involved and there will also be opportunities for the public to volunteer. The hope is for the first deliveries to be made at the end of next week. Food parcels will start off being generic and then may be adapted to individuals.
- Don't send your child to school unless you're a key worker.
- Going outdoors is important for health and well-being but must be done responsibly in line with advice for social distancing. Stay 2 metres apart. Even if you feel you are safe, you can infect others. For every one adhering to the measures, you are doing your bit to slow the disease, and the more we do this collectively, the more time we give the NHS to save lives, and get through this crisis faster.
- Outdoor environments are generally safer than indoor but should not be combined with social contact. Those who are congregating in any areas are making them dangerous for those who need to go out. Proximity is the problem.
- Epidemiology suggests that smallish gatherings (e.g. family coming together on Mother's Day) are riskier than larger ones due to the personal nature and people having closer physical contact.
- Be cautious about making direct comparison of numbers from another country such as Italy.
- Specific hospitals are struggling with a shortage of beds and ventilators as had been predicted, but there are flex plans to offer additional support. There are efforts currently being made to massively increase the amount available.
- Government interventions must be introduced at the right time to have the maximum effect.
- If people don't follow advice properly, tougher measures may have to be introduced (e.g. closing playgrounds).
- The most important general advice: stay at home if you possibly can.
Friday 20 March 2020
Today's wide-ranging UK press conference:
- PM reiterated advice of staying at home, avoiding unnecessary social contact, washing hands, etc.
- Cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, gyms, leisure centres are being told to close ASAP tonight, although takeout food can still be sold. This will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
- The speed of recovery depends on the public's compliance with measures
- People may be tempted to go out but should not - you're endangering yourself, your family, and everyone else and hindering progress against the virus
- PM reiterated advice of staying at home, avoiding unnecessary social contact, washing hands, etc.
- Cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, gyms, leisure centres are being told to close ASAP tonight, although takeout food can still be sold. This will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
- The speed of recovery depends on the public's compliance with measures
- People may be tempted to go out but should not - you're endangering yourself, your family, and everyone else and hindering progress against the virus
Chancellor announced "unprecedented measures in scope and scale":
- Coronavirus job retention scheme is being introduced to protect people's jobs and incomes
- For the first time in history government will step in and help pay people's wages
- All employers can apply for grants to cover 80% of employees' salaries up to £2.5K per month, backdated to 1st March and for 3 months, with an extension if necessary, and with no upper limit so that employees can be furloughed instead of laid off
- Previously announced loans will now be interest free for 12 months and available starting on Monday
- Deferment of next quarter of VAT payments until end of June
- Universal credit increased £1K for next 12 months
- Working tax credits also increased £1K for next 12 months
- Self employed to receive protection as well (can claim universal credit equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees)
- Self assessment payments deferred until January 2021
- Local housing benefit will cover at least 30% of rent
- We want to look back on this time for its atmosphere of kindness and decency and collective national effort
- Coronavirus job retention scheme is being introduced to protect people's jobs and incomes
- For the first time in history government will step in and help pay people's wages
- All employers can apply for grants to cover 80% of employees' salaries up to £2.5K per month, backdated to 1st March and for 3 months, with an extension if necessary, and with no upper limit so that employees can be furloughed instead of laid off
- Previously announced loans will now be interest free for 12 months and available starting on Monday
- Deferment of next quarter of VAT payments until end of June
- Universal credit increased £1K for next 12 months
- Working tax credits also increased £1K for next 12 months
- Self employed to receive protection as well (can claim universal credit equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees)
- Self assessment payments deferred until January 2021
- Local housing benefit will cover at least 30% of rent
- We want to look back on this time for its atmosphere of kindness and decency and collective national effort
Questions from press:
- In regard to Mother's Day, people should think very carefully about visiting any elderly person and/or those in vulnerable groups
- Transport is too important for delivery of services to be shut down
- Wage initiative covers anyone in PAYE scheme
- Social distancing applies to children as well. If you go outside then do so in a manner which reduces social contact (e.g. bike ride 2 metres apart). Do exercise but not in groups and cut out the associated social connections (sitting in car together or meeting in close contact indoors).
- The country has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). There were bottlenecks which have now been resolved.
- Parties at home: government can't forbid every form of socialising but the risk is that anybody, including young people, can become vectors of the disease
- Charities will benefit from the schemes and interventions introduced this week. Funding may be increased for local voluntary groups.
- PM emphasised two takeaways: we're telling these places to close and it's heart-wrenching, but government has introduced economic measures not just to support businesses but individuals
- In regard to Mother's Day, people should think very carefully about visiting any elderly person and/or those in vulnerable groups
- Transport is too important for delivery of services to be shut down
- Wage initiative covers anyone in PAYE scheme
- Social distancing applies to children as well. If you go outside then do so in a manner which reduces social contact (e.g. bike ride 2 metres apart). Do exercise but not in groups and cut out the associated social connections (sitting in car together or meeting in close contact indoors).
- The country has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). There were bottlenecks which have now been resolved.
- Parties at home: government can't forbid every form of socialising but the risk is that anybody, including young people, can become vectors of the disease
- Charities will benefit from the schemes and interventions introduced this week. Funding may be increased for local voluntary groups.
- PM emphasised two takeaways: we're telling these places to close and it's heart-wrenching, but government has introduced economic measures not just to support businesses but individuals
Thursday 19 March 2020
Statement from PM:
- Thank you to everyone for efforts and sacrifices being made
- Projected timeline of turning the tide within the next 12 weeks
- First patient in UK has been enrolled in a trial for drugs to treat the virus and trials for a vaccine will start in mid-April
- Test for antibodies is being developed to determine whether an individual has already had the virus
- Please follow all advice scrupulously and we must all pull together
- Collective efforts and scientific progress will determine our success
- PM: Businesses, stand by your employees, and the government will stand by you
- Thank you to everyone for efforts and sacrifices being made
- Projected timeline of turning the tide within the next 12 weeks
- First patient in UK has been enrolled in a trial for drugs to treat the virus and trials for a vaccine will start in mid-April
- Test for antibodies is being developed to determine whether an individual has already had the virus
- Please follow all advice scrupulously and we must all pull together
- Collective efforts and scientific progress will determine our success
- PM: Businesses, stand by your employees, and the government will stand by you
Responses to questions from the press:
- People are urged to avoid gatherings but there is "no prospect" of shutting down the Tube
- Testing is crucial to defeating the virus
- ICU capacity particularly in London hospitals is under pressure and 3 points are necessary to mitigate this:
1)people need to practice social distancing to pull down the peak
2)NHS needs to add beds
3)NHS staff need to be tested as a matter of urgency so they can reliably work on the frontline
- The great majority of people will have milder symptoms, including children
- Severe cases usually occur in medically vulnerable people (over 70s and those with underlying conditions) but are not limited to those groups so even younger people must take the threat of the virus seriously
- People are urged to avoid gatherings but there is "no prospect" of shutting down the Tube
- Testing is crucial to defeating the virus
- ICU capacity particularly in London hospitals is under pressure and 3 points are necessary to mitigate this:
1)people need to practice social distancing to pull down the peak
2)NHS needs to add beds
3)NHS staff need to be tested as a matter of urgency so they can reliably work on the frontline
- The great majority of people will have milder symptoms, including children
- Severe cases usually occur in medically vulnerable people (over 70s and those with underlying conditions) but are not limited to those groups so even younger people must take the threat of the virus seriously
Wednesday 18 March 2020
Takeaways:
- UK schools to shut from Friday afternoon until further notice to help flatten the curve for ICUs
- Provision will be made for children of key workers (NHS staff, police, etc.) and the most vulnerable children
- Provision will be made to supply meals or vouchers to children in need
- Exams in May and June will be cancelled
- Chief Scientific Adviser now stresses the importance of monitoring all cases including those who are asymptomatic
- There will be a movement toward home-based tests for the virus or other methods of testing which minimise contact
- There will be measures to help protect renters
- PM not completely ruling out possibility of stricter ("further and faster") measures to limit movement of populace
- Modelling takes into account that not all will comply with guidelines but as many as possible must take advice seriously in order to protect the most vulnerable and mitigate suffering
- UK schools to shut from Friday afternoon until further notice to help flatten the curve for ICUs
- Provision will be made for children of key workers (NHS staff, police, etc.) and the most vulnerable children
- Provision will be made to supply meals or vouchers to children in need
- Exams in May and June will be cancelled
- Chief Scientific Adviser now stresses the importance of monitoring all cases including those who are asymptomatic
- There will be a movement toward home-based tests for the virus or other methods of testing which minimise contact
- There will be measures to help protect renters
- PM not completely ruling out possibility of stricter ("further and faster") measures to limit movement of populace
- Modelling takes into account that not all will comply with guidelines but as many as possible must take advice seriously in order to protect the most vulnerable and mitigate suffering
Additional important points:
- It is unclear whether the shutting of "all schools" includes private schools, nurseries, higher and further education
- Government is introducing legislation to ban evictions of renters for next 3 months
- It is unclear whether the shutting of "all schools" includes private schools, nurseries, higher and further education
- Government is introducing legislation to ban evictions of renters for next 3 months
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