News

  Main points from today The PM addressed the House of Commons at lunchtime and announced the following additional measures to ease lockdown in England from 4th July 2020:- Reducing 2 metre social distancing to ‘1 metre plus’. ‘1 metre plus’ means remaining one metre apart, while taking mitigations to reduce the risk of transmission … Read more

Main points from today Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, led the briefing today. He announced that the Government has created a £1 billion covid catch up fund to help children catch up with learning.  Schools will be able to decide how to use this at a local level.  £650 million universal catch up premium and £350 … Read more

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing today. He announced that Astra Zeneca were producing a vaccine in order to stockpile, prior to scientific approval of its use.  If approved, care workers, over 50’s and those with underlying conditions would be take priority for vaccination. He also stated that the Government … Read more

Main points from today The Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, led the briefing today. No announcements other than the return of Premier League football tonight, with all remaining fixtures being shown live on TV, one third of which will be free to air. 299,251 positive cases, an increase of 1,115 from yesterday.  42,153 deaths, an increase … Read more

Main points from today The PM led the briefing today. He announced that the government has immediately authorised the NHS to use the world’s first coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death.  The new steroid treatment reduces deaths by one third for patients on a ventilator and one fifth for patients on oxygen. … Read more

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing today. He confirmed that from today it is mandatory to wear face coverings (not surgical masks) on public transport. Non-essential shops also opened. On Saturday, measures were taken to allow individual prayer at places of worship. It was allowed for single-adult households to form … Read more

Main points from today Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, led the briefing today. He confirmed that from Monday it is mandatory to wear face coverings (not surgical masks) on public transport. Department of Health data shows the UK R rate is between 0.7 and 0.9.  The R rate in England is between 0.8 and 1 and … Read more

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing today. He confirmed that figures from the first week of test and trace (28th May to 3rd June) showed as follows:- 8,117 people who tested positive were referred to test and trace. Of those 5,407 (67%) were contacted and provided details of people they … Read more

Main points from today The PM led the briefing today. He stated that the Government’s 5 tests were still being met. Therefore, from the weekend single adult households will be able to form a support bubble with one other household, which could include overnight stays if necessary. Retail shops can open from Monday 15th June … Read more

Main points from today Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, led the briefing today. He stated that retail outlets that had previously been required to close, can open from Monday 15th June 2020, provided they comply with guidelines. Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, told MP’s the Government was prepared to shut ‘clusters’ of schools if Covid-19 cases emerge … Read more