A quarter of a million people are being recruited for an NHS volunteer army as retired doctors and medical students are called up to help to run a 4,000-bed hospital in a London conference centre.

Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor | Rhys Blakely, Science Correspondent www.thetimes.co.uk

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has issued a “your NHS needs you” appeal to those willing to look after 1.5 million vulnerable people being “shielded” from coronavirus.

He is under pressure, however, to spell out when tests for the virus will be available for NHS staff, despite promising to “ramp up” existing labs and order 3.5 million commercial kits.

Oxford University researchers said yesterday that half of Britain might have already contracted coronavirus since January and that testing was urgently needed to discover how many people had acquired immunity to it.

Professor Sunetra Gupta, whose conclusions have not yet been peer- reviewed, said: “It is possible that this ends with a whimper not a bang — we need to know.”

Jack Blanchard- Politico Newsletter

“… So just why are construction workers not told to down tools by the UK government, as Sturgeon has demanded (a point Wales’ Mark Drakeford today echoed)? As I put it to Hancock today, some will cynically suspect the reason is not unconnected with the Tories pulling in £1m in pre-election donations from housing developers. Even Conservatives in rural areas have long muttered that the party’s cosy relations with the housebuilding industry threatens to tear up their green and pleasant land.

Yet the failure to ban construction work in this lockdown may be simpler. First, the complex nature of the chancellor’s self-employed wage support plan means it could be days if not weeks away. Second, many builders (like White Van Man and Woman) voted Tory in last year’s election. Third, there’s a wider worry that cancelling such a big part of economic activity would plunge the nation into an even deeper crisis. Only today, the latest Markit data pointed to a collapse that would spark a serious recession.

There’s also no small irony in the fact that only two weeks ago – yes just two weeks ago – Rishi Sunak was unveiling a Budget which trumpeted massive infrastructure spending and lots and lots more construction work. They were Rishi Rich and Bozza the Builder remember? In theory, the promise of billions of pounds of future work ought to keep the industry afloat despite a temporary lockdown.

But reality may be much more grim for job losses. And perhaps the real issue with construction is how coronavirus is laying bare an industry which is usually ignored because it rolls on regardless. One building firm boss emailed me today to say the industry had appalling payment processes, that big contractors bully smaller ones, that many firms go bust then resurface “ready to dupe the next subcontractor in the queue”. Add in zero-hours for some, health and safety fears for others and it’s no wonder the PM wants to steer clear of this mess of problems unless he absolutely has to.

But if this virus death toll gets much worse, Johnson may have to shut down most building sites (many of their suppliers are shutting anyway) and put the nation’s physical health before its economic health. A wider shutdown would also fit with the pattern of his handling of the crisis so far: hold off, hold off, then finally submit to the inevitable. Can he fix it? Yes he Khan. …”

At the end of momentus “stay at home” Wednesday, Owl copies this assessment of Boris Johnson and his government’s response to these early stages of the coronavirus epidemic.

The provisional verdict is that ministers did too little, too late.

Editorial: Boris Johnson’s response to coronavirus has been too little, too late

@IndyVoices  www.independent.co.uk 

It is not possible to know what is going through the prime minister’s mind during his Covid-19 press conferences, but a degree of trepidation is etched into those usually jovial features.

There is cause for concern. The rate of spread of the coronavirus, the number of cases and fatalities are all accelerating. Britain, by common consent, is already on the steep part of the upward curve of infection – and many say, on the same trajectory as Italy. In other words, the harrowing scenes we witness now in Italy’s hospitals could soon be replicated in Britain. By this time next month, the NHS could also be overwhelmed by the demand.

That is a terrifying prospect, and one Boris Johnson must be dreading. It now seems unlikely that the NHS will be able to secure all the necessary resources, especially respirators, in time. At that point, the theoretical questions now being posed about the British response to the pandemic will grow acute and immediate. It will be a moment of political reckoning.

It is, though, not too early now to ask whether the government’s early response was sufficiently robust and rapid. Is it too late to “flatten the curve”? It is not so long ago, for example, that the prime minister was joshing about shaking hands with people and only a matter of days since he suggested he would try to see his mother on Mother’s Day.

The prime minister’s approach throughout has been characterised by a resistance to put statutory limits on individual and corporate freedoms. Johnson was too slow to accept the inevitable after the publication of the Imperial College research on the likely course of casualties under the previous, more relaxed approach, and the new policy of suppression was adopted very belatedly. Only now have stricter rules been applied to public places, and the emergency powers legislation been presented to parliament.

The provisional verdict, then, is that ministers did too little, too late. Certainly there are mitigating factors. The government overestimated how far the public would obey its guidance Yet the government was also inconsistent with that guidance, which often shifted in a matter of days. The government’s defence is that it was guided by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser – “the science”. If so, then there are legitimate questions about how that science was understood by those in government, as there remain serious questions as to the role of unqualified figures such as Dominic Cummings in deeply misguided strategies such as “herd immunity” – questions that will need answering sooner rather than later.

Owl thinks this article has a misleading title (see below) because it refers to the total number of tests. The substance of the article is the plea by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt  to ramp up the daily test rate which continues to run at 5,000 day.

 While typing this, Owl is listening to the radio. This reinforces Owl’s impression that a lot of emphasis is being placed on the early deployment of a simple antibody test. Certainly this would be a really important development, a game changer even, but the move from a successful laboratory test to one that can be used reliably in the real world may have hiccoughs along the way. It should not be used to take the pressure off infection testing, we need both.

UK almost doubles number of coronavirus tests as cases surge

Andrew Woodcock Political Editor @andywoodcock  www.independent.co.uk 

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has issued a plea for the government to step up coronavirus testing, after it emerged that tests continue to run at around 5,000 a day.

As long ago as 11 March, the NHS set out its plans to ramp testing up to 10,000 a day, and last week Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that this would be increased to 25,000. In an upbeat press conference on Thursday, the prime minister suggested the number could eventually reach 250,000 as new tests came on stream.

But figures released today showed that 5,605 tests were conducted on Monday, bringing the tally between 16 and 23 March to 39,840, almost doubling the total since the beginning of the outbreak to 83,945.

The figures were published as it emerged that Mr Johnson wrote to UK research institutes on Sunday asking them to lend the NHS the expensive machines needed to carry out tests for Covid-19, and warning that there were none available for the government to buy. 

Health secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that officials were negotiating the purchase of “millions” more kits, with the aim of ramping up the rate of testing.

But Mr Hunt, now chair of the Commons Health Committee, warned that the public would lose confidence unless the government spelt out how quickly it could scale up testing.

He called for a move to widespread testing in the community of the kind seen in the successful suppression strategies in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Mr Hunt told MPs: “The concern is that we appear to be testing on a daily basis virtually no more people than over a week ago, when the commitment was to increase the daily amount of tests form 5,000 to 25,000.”

He asked the health secretary to “give us an estimated date when we will get back to routine Covid-19 testing in the community of all suspected cases”.

Mr Hunt said: “Even if that is three to four weeks away, a date means that there is a plan and without a date, people won’t be confident that there is a plan.”

Mr Hancock refused to give a target date for wider tests, but said the Department of Health was in the process of purchasing “millions” of tests for use “as quickly as possible”.

Staff at hospitals and care homes for the elderly across the country have expressed rising frustration about a lack of tests, which leave them unable to be sure whether to remain at work or stay home to avoid infecting colleagues. An online petition calling for the priority testing of frontline NHS staff has gathered 1.2m signatures.

The World Health Organisation has called on governments around the globe to “test, test, test” as widely as possible so infected people can be isolated and their contacts traced.

The Politico website reported that the email sent to research institutes around the country on Sunday included a personal plea from prime minister Boris Johnson stating that No 10 was making an “urgent appeal” for machines to carry out coronavirus tests “in the national interest”.

An unnamed source within the research sector told Politico: “It’s great that they are ramping up testing, but it should have been done weeks ago. This is costing lives every day.” 

But a government source said the message was the latest in a number of requests for help to the private sector and academia stretching back several weeks.

In the email, a senior Downing Street aide said: “We will meet all expenses and assume all liabilities and requirements associated with the use of these machines for this purpose. We undertake to return or replace the equipment when the emergency is over. We would very much like to collect any machines you have tomorrow (Mon 23) or Tuesday.”

An attached letter from Mr Johnson said that “there are no machines available to buy,” and that the “urgent appeal” is therefore “in the national interest.”

He added: “If you have any staff who are experienced in using the machines … that would also be very helpful.”

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth raised concerns over the PM’s apparent suggestion that there were “no machines available”.

Mr Ashworth told the House of Commons: “Many NHS staff will be asking why didn’t we procure machines and kits sooner?”

Mr Hancock refused to comment on the email, but told MPs he “did not recognise” claims that the government was finding it impossible to buy testing machines.

“It is true, absolutely, that we are bringing testing machines together to provide a more efficient testing system,” he told the House of Commons. 

“I am very grateful to the universities who have these testing machines and are putting them into the system. This is a national effort and they are playing their part, but we are also buying machines where we can.”

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “It is no secret that we are rapidly scaling up our efforts to boost testing capacity to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS and save lives.

“Together with Public Health England and the NHS, we are exploring how we can work across industry and academic sectors to establish viable options which will significant ramp up the number of tests we can carry out.”

“We had a choice early on in the UK’s trajectory to go down the South Korean path of mass testing, isolating carriers of the virus (50% of whom are asymptomatic), tracing all contacts to ensure they isolate as well, and at the same time taking soft measures to delay the spread. Instead, we watched and waited, and whether it was academic navel-gazing, political infighting, a sense of British exceptionalism, or a deliberate choice to minimise economic disruption over saving lives, we have ended up in a position where we are now closer to the Italy scenario than anticipated, and are faced with taking more and more drastic measures.”

Devi Sridhar   www.theguardian.com  Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh

Those of us who have been tracking the novel coronavirus since December can easily identify its key milestones. There was mid-January, when human to human transmission of coronavirus was confirmed. Then later that month Hubei province hit 500 cases, the unprecedented lockdown extended to almost 60 million people, and the Lancet published a study showing that a third of patients require admission to intensive care, and 29% get so bad that they need ventilation. By the end of February, a sobering WHO-China joint mission press conference illustrated the massive policy response in China – and, on 29 February, the UK saw its first case of local transmission.

In the UK we have had nine weeks to listen, learn and prepare. We have had nine weeks to run outbreak simulations, set up supply chains to ensure sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, and bring about the availability of rapid, cheap tests. We have had nine weeks to establish algorithms to support contact tracing, and start mass awareness campaigns not only about hand-washing, but about the risks that the virus would pose to social and economic activity if not taken seriously by all. Countries such as Senegal were doing this in January.

The UK’s head start in managing the outbreak continued as our confirmed case count remained lower than our neighbours’. However, on 12 March, Boris Johnson announced that all minor testing and contact tracing would stop and passive self-isolation would be introduced for those with symptoms, all part of a herd immunity strategy supposedly endorsed by the “best science”. After a backlash from scientists, the government clarified that it was not explicitly pursuing herd immunity, but would be taking measures at the “right time guided by the evidence”, all according to a plan which it did not share with the public.

On 17 March, Imperial College released a study noting that it had revised the model the government had been using, and stating that suppressing the virus was in fact the best way to avoid a vast number of people dying. The earlier model did not include the ICU data shared in the Lancet on 24 January. Instead, it was similar, but much later information from Italy, that changed their recommendation.

So, at the end of week, the UK government did a 180-degree turn, reversing what it had said only days previously. It made the decision to take the same measures other countries had in order to delay the spread of virus: closing schools except for the children of key workers, closing pubs and other gathering places, asking households to self-isolate for 14 days and focusing on scaling up testing to 25,000 tests per day over the next month. However, capacity issues and lost time mean that testing will take time to ramp up, PPE supply chains are strained, and all while patient numbers continue to increase as we follow Italy’s path.

The twists and turns described above have created a climate where the public do not trust that the government is responding in their best interests. Many cannot say what the government’s strategy is, or are confused about how serious coronavirus is for their health. Communication during a crisis must be clear, transparent, open and responsive. The confusion over herd immunity, for example, has made people reasonably think that the government wants everyone to get the virus to protect the economy, that it is not taking more decisive action because this is not a serious threat, or that the government does not know what it is doing. None of these are the whole story, but such perceptions are certainly not helpful in a crisis.

We had a choice early on in the UK’s trajectory to go down the South Korean path of mass testing, isolating carriers of the virus (50% of whom are asymptomatic), tracing all contacts to ensure they isolate as well, and at the same time taking soft measures to delay the spread. Instead, we watched and waited, and whether it was academic navel-gazing, political infighting, a sense of British exceptionalism, or a deliberate choice to minimise economic disruption over saving lives, we have ended up in a position where we are now closer to the Italy scenario than anticipated, and are faced with taking more and more drastic measures.

Perhaps the delay was due to fears about a second wave of the virus, next winter. But why not then work on buying time for the NHS to prepare, for health staff to get PPE, to make testing available, to boost beds and equipment, to trial antiviral treatments, or get us closer to the point that one of the vaccine candidates being investigated might actually work. Why not use the time to learn more about reinfection by the virus, about immune response, which seems to affect who needs ICU care, and about who recovers spontaneously? To understand where this virus came from, whether it is indeed seasonal, and how it could mutate? Why give in at such an early stage unless the goal is to get through this outbreak quickly so that whoever is left can help get the economy back to normal? It is still not clear who exactly is advising the government, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, and what factors the prime minister and his colleagues are taking into account in his decision-making.

Where does all this leave us now? Given that we lost the window of containment several weeks ago, the only feasible path forward seems to be to put in stringent physical distancing measures to delay the spread of the virus. But these alone will not be enough. We also need to backtrack and start doing the mass testing, tracing and isolating that are integral to breaking chains of transmission. Putting these measures in place does not mean that we will immediately solve NHS capacity challenges, or that we will not see a massive rise in patients dying. They will, however, help to slow down the spread. We must also continue to push for the protection of the health workforce and frontline responders who are exposed to high viral loads. And we must race to make up for the time lost during two months of passivity.

On March 12, Boris Johnson announced that all minor testing and contact tracing would stop and passive self-isolation would be introduced for those with symptoms, supposedly endorsed by the “best science”. In the absence of much needed reliable data, Cambridge statisticians have resorted to using death rates in innovative ways, macabre but necessary in desperate times.

Caelainn Barr www.theguardian.com

The coronavirus established itself early on in Italy where reported deaths are now in excess of those recorded in China.

But is the crisis witnessed in Italy about to play out in the UK? And when are lockdowns and other interventions likely to start to make a difference?

Though there are some similarities – the picture is complex

Number of victims

The death toll in Britain is roughly two weeks behind that of Italy, according to researchers who have analysed the data.

In week 10 of this year, ending 6 March, Italy announced 176 new Covid-19 deaths, comparable to the 166 deaths the UK reported in week 12.

If the spread of the pandemic in the UK tracks Italy’s closely, the domestic death toll could soon rise sharply.

Italian authorities recorded 1,066 new Covid-19 deaths in week 11, the equivalent of this week in the UK’s outbreak.

“It looks as though we are two weeks behind Italy in number of Covid-19 deaths,” said Prof Sheila Bird, formerly of the MRC’s Biostatistics Unit at Cambridge University.

“But all this means is that we have comparable population sizes and had a comparable number of deaths in week 12 as Italy had in week 10. We may be on a less steep trajectory than Italy, but it’s too early to know yet.”

On Monday, a new analysis of data from both countries showed that deaths may indeed be rising marginally more slowly in Britain than they did in Italy. Prof David Spiegelhalter, at Cambridge University’s Statistical Laboratory, looked at the numbers of deaths reported in the 14 days since the fifth fatality in each country. The figures suggest that UK Covid-19 deaths have risen on average about 30% per day, versus 37% during the equivalent period of Italy’s epidemic.

Spiegelhalter stressed that the outlook was “all very uncertain at the moment” not least because the two populations and their nations’ responses to the outbreak differ so much. There was “some reason for hope,” he said of the UK situation, “although we will must be ready for having hundreds of deaths a day.”

Has Italy reached its peak – and what about the UK?

The same analysis hints that Italy may be approaching a peak in its epidemic, but the answer will only be clear if the country continues to report falling numbers of new deaths over the coming days and weeks.

The UK’s peak may not be so severe if the UK’s response to the outbreak has been effective, Spiegelhalter said, but the answer to that is not yet clear.

Compared with Britain, Italy had less time to prepare, the virus may have been circulating more widely before it was detected, and the country has more older people who are more tightly connected to family and friends.

However, comparisons present problems, as it’s not possible to truly compare like-with-like.

One factor that will have a substantial impact on deaths is the capacity for hospitals to care for the most seriously ill patients, and this differs markedly from country to country. “When you hit the capacity of intensive care beds then you might get an additional shift up which could reset the rate of increase thereafter,” said Bird.

Different demographics – and testing

One reason for Italy’s high death rate could be the country’s demographics – 23% of its population are aged 65 and over. The UK is younger on average – with 18% of its population in this age category. Covid-19 is more dangerous for older people.

Testing and the number of confirmed cases is also an issue.

Differences in testing policy, for example, will account for some of the variations in mortality rates as testing more patients will increase the number of confirmed cases, and is likely to reduce the overall mortality rate. Data on patient characteristics such as age and underlying health conditions is another factor we don’t know about.

Germany, where 21% of the population are over 65, appears to have one of the world’s lowest death rates. The country has reported just 94 deaths from 24,873 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The reasons for this are not yet clear, but they could include differences in data gathering or its high testing rate.

As Adam Kucharski, who is modelling the outbreak at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, points out, deaths reported today do not reflect the state of the epidemic at the moment.

Those who die are typically infected about four weeks earlier. “Strictly speaking we should say something like: transmission in the UK four weeks ago was where Italy was about six weeks ago,” he said.

The lockdown effect

For the same reason, the impact of the cascade of lockdowns across Italy, and ever more stringent restrictions on movement brought in across the UK, will take time to show up in the daily death tolls. A wave of Italians fled to the country’s south when news leaked on 8 March that the government intended to quarantine 16 million people in the high-risk north. If those people carried the infection with them, the deaths that result are not likely to show up until at least the start of next week.

In the UK, where pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres shuttered only days ago, and school closures began this week, any resulting impact on deaths will not be apparent until mid-April soonest. “It’s quite likely to be at least three weeks before we see a slow down in the deaths. And they will potentially still be increasing. It depends how much social distancing we’ve managed to achieve,” said Bird.

More than 7,500 former NHS staff have heeded the government’s call to rejoin the health service and help tackle the coronavirus outbreak. They include about 5,633 nurses and midwives and 1,930 doctors.

Denis Campbell  www.theguardian.com

Matt Hancock told MPs on Monday that 7,563 clinical staff had applied to come back into the NHS by seeking to rejoin the register for their professions.

The returning clinicians are one of the main elements of the NHS’s drive to expand its workforce in readiness for dealing with the large number of people the Covid-19 virus will leave seriously ill.

Updating the Commons about staffing numbers, the health secretary said: “7,563 clinicians have so far answered our call to return to work, including members of this house, and I want to pay tribute to every single one of them.

“These are difficult times and they have risen to the call of the nation’s needs and we know that many more will join them.”

All 18,000 final-year nursing students in England are also being asked to work in hospitals to help expand the workforce, and junior doctors training as psychiatrists are also being transferred to work in acute hospitals for the forseeable future in some parts of England.

MPs among the returnees include the Conservatives’ Maria Caulfield, a former NHS cancer nurse, who plans to work at a hospital in her Lewes constituency. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who succeeded Sadiq Khan as the MP for Tooting when he became mayor of London in 2016, is returning to her former role as an A&E doctor at St George’s hospital in her constituency. Dr Kieran Mullan, the Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich, is also returning to his role as a doctor in a hospital emergency department.

Former Lib Dem cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey said there were many qualified healthcare professionals in the UK’s refugee community.

He added: “I’ve spoken to a refugee charity, RefuAid, who says they have 514 qualified healthcare professionals on their books – people who are willing to work, fully qualified in their own country, but there are bureaucratic barriers to them coming forward.”

Hancock said he would examine the details, noting there was a need to make sure people were capable of doing the required work.

The coronavirus bill currently going through parliament provides for the emergency registration of health and social care professionals including nurses, midwives, paramedics and social workers.

Owl thinks that Heart of the South West will be pleased to see that the mainstay of our local economy will continue to forge ahead.They have a target of doubling our 2018 economy over the next twenty years to meet.  Owl doesn’t think it will have any impact locally, one way or the other. We live in different times if not on a different planet. There are serious issues for the workforce.

Rob Davies  www.theguardian.com

Thousands of workers from across the country will continue to gather on the Hinkley Point C nuclear site – but work on the £106bn HS2 project could be halted – amid differing approaches in the construction industry to physical distancing aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.

Some of the 4,000-strong workforce at Hinkley, Britain’s biggest construction project, have raised concerns over an outbreak of coronavirus at the Somerset site after the government shut down restaurants, pubs and schools to contain the outbreak elsewhere.

Around 1,500 workers helping to build Britain’s first new nuclear plant in decades live in temporary shared accommodation, either on the site or nearby, returning to their homes across the country at the end of each rota pattern.

Almost all the remaining staff use bus services from nearby train stations to travel to the site, raising fears that the close proximity of staff working on the project could allow the virus to spread within the workforce and across the country.

The company behind the project, EDF Energy, said on Monday that it plans to take “extra steps” to safeguard the health of workers on the site after workers raised concerns over crowded buses and close proximity of the workers in the local press.

One Hinkley Point worker reportedly told Somerset Live: “When we get to the site, we have to clock in for our shift and there’s 600 of us who clock in and out at the same time. At this point, there are no hand sanitiser dispensers so you cannot wash your hands. There are also areas where people touch. You don’t know what germs are being spread as a result.”

The company said it plans to conduct body temperature checks on all workers entering the site to check for a fever and has banned handshakes to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. It also agreed to provide extra buses to halve the number of people travelling in each vehicle so that they can be seated at least two metres apart.

 Bosses in charge of the HS2 high-speed rail project are keeping work under review in line with government advice. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

Work on the HS2 high-speed rail project is continuing for now but a spokesperson said that may have to change.

“Over the course of this week and into next, we will be reviewing the majority of works on our construction sites in line with government advice on dealing with Covid-19.”

Other major construction projects such as Crossrail and two major hospitals that were delayed after the collapse of Carillion, have set out plans to prevent the spread of coronavirus and will remain open for now.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) said Britain’s construction industry was in an “unenviable position” between safeguarding workers’ health and averting an industry collapse similar to the 2008 financial crisis.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Our industry does not want to stop working. Until we are told by the government to down tools, we will be doing everything we can to support the safest possible working environment.”

The government is understood to be wary about imposing restrictions on the construction industry, which is a major driver for Britain’s economic growth, at a time when the economy risks slipping into recession.

The construction sector contributes £117bn to the UK economy, or 6% of the total economic output, according to government data. The sector is also responsible for 2.4 million jobs or 7% of all jobs in the UK.

The Hinkley Point project alone is expected to generate £200m of value for the south-west’s economy every year by contracting local businesses – almost £4bn over the life of the project.

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Dan Dobson, a Unite member, said workers on sites across the country feared speaking out or turning their back on a job because they were self-employed and had limited employment rights or protections.

“Workers turned up at their sites this morning and expected to be told to go straight home. Instead, they were told it’s business as usual,” he said.

“The government needs to close the non-critical sites and extend the wage support scheme to the registered self-employed, and they need to take those actions immediately. Construction workers cannot afford to miss out.”

Planners from the government are preparing to ask some of the 2.5 million people who have signed up to community groups set up to help people in coronavirus self-isolation to start delivering emergency food aid within days.

Gregory Robinson  www.theguardian.com 

Planners from the government are preparing to ask some of the 2.5 million people who have signed up to community groups set up to help people in coronavirus self-isolation to start delivering emergency food aid within days.

Whitehall and council planners want to harness the enthusiasm of 2,700 grassroots groups that have formed in streets, villages and towns across the UK since the start of the crisis under the Covid-19 Mutual Aid umbrella.

Ian Hudspeth, chair of the Local Government Association’s wellbeing board and leader of Oxfordshire county council, said the volunteers would be asked to help deliver basic food and hygiene supplies to extremely vulnerable people, up to 1.5 million of whom the government has ordered to stay at home for 12 weeks.

Councils, supermarkets, members of the armed forces and community volunteers will be formed into a supply chain to deliver parcels to citizens being told by the NHS to go into lockdown for three months because of their underlying medical conditions. They will be asked to register online and request food and other supplies only if they lack family or friends who could otherwise help.

“It will be days rather than weeks for the first parcel,” said Hudspeth. “It is important to make sure it happens as quickly as possible. If people aren’t responding [about whether they need a parcel], they will be chased up.”

He said the first deliveries would contain the same basic range of products, but that people would later be able to select from a menu of items to reduce waste.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed it was working with “the grocery industry, local government, local resilience and emergency partners and voluntary groups to ensure that essential items can start to be delivered as soon as possible to those who need it”.

It said the military was not likely to be used in doorstep deliveries, but that councils would be expected to “draw on the voluntary sector and emergency services”.

Based on an analysis of the membership of 100 of its groups, Covid-19 Mutual Aid estimates that as many as 2.5 million people have signed up, mostly through Facebook pages. The figure includes people offering to help and those seeking assistance for themselves or family members.

“This is people stepping up to do what they can,” said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for the umbrella organisation. “But this is not necessarily the answer. In terms of most food deliveries, this is not a replacement for an institutional response that is going to be needed.”

Some Covid-19 Mutual Aid volunteers have told the Guardian it has sometimes been a struggle to persuade the elderly to accept offers of help. Some have said they would also like to see more centralised coordination of volunteering, including criminal records checks.

“The biggest challenge has been making the older members of the community know they are vulnerable and need extra assistance,” said John Bownas, part of the Hastings and St Leonards group in East Sussex, where the population includes one of the highest proportions of people over 80 in England. “British people don’t like to impose. [But] if help is offered, take it.”

Steve Nuttall, part of the support group in Semer, a village in Suffolk, said it took him five minutes to convince his 80-year-old neighbour to stay at home and let him go shopping for him.

“Convincing older people to stay at home and that they are in a vulnerable situation is how I see the next few weeks going,” he said. “The government needs to do an awful lot more to help volunteer groups in terms of clear direction, resources and helping local support groups and to encourage people to help set up groups in their communities.”

The Poole group in Dorset attracted 400 volunteers in just over a week, although just five are currently completing errands, said Sarah Ward, one of its organisers. “We get a lot of phone calls from people elsewhere in the country who have elderly relatives in Poole who want us to contact them and make sure they’re okay in self-isolation,” she said.

The group takes food orders over the phone, places them with shops and asks customers to call the shops to pay by card. The volunteer then delivers the package, maintaining physical distancing at the drop-off.

An Axminster-based healthy-eating charity is appealing for urgent help to continue its work in supporting vulnerable people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Carson  www.midweekherald.co.uk

HALFF says its team of volunteers is already 50 per cent down because of self-isolation.

And its main source of income – an annual fundraisng dinner at River Cottage due to be held last week – had to be cancelled.

Founder Tiggy Parry said they are facing a fight to survive.

She said: “Literally every day I have one or two of my staff or volunteers telling me they have to self-isolate. “We are looking for people to answer the phones, sort vegetables and help in the shop, and at this moment we also urgently need financial support to help cover our costs.”

For the last ten years, the HALFF Food Hub in South Street, Axminster, has been supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to the local community and beyond.

Now, more than ever, the shop is proving a life-line for those who are particularly vulnerable.

Said Ms Parry: “We’ve been completely overwhelmed by the number of people asking for deliveries.

“More and more people are having to self-isolate and, of course, we’ve still got our regulars who’ve been using us for years – including many who are in their seventies and eighties.

“Audrey O’Shaughnessy is a typical example of one of our customers who’s been a regular in the shop since she lost her husband a few years ago.

“We know that being isolated would be particularly hard for her, along with many thousands of people like her. Being on your own right now is very, very hard.”

The charity was originally created to help people produce healthy meals at home and has, to date, helped more than 5,000 people in Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Now it is having to re-think the support it gives.

Said Ms Parry: “Our free delivery services is one of the best ways we can help people in these very difficult times.

“We’re also regularly phoning our customers, giving them that all-important social contact, as well as making sure they’re still eating properly.

“As a small charity we have been able to respond quickly to the situation and are already in touch with hundreds of people across East Devon, many of whom will struggle to look after themselves.”

To help this vital community organisation in any way, call 01297 631782, e-mail info@halff.org.uk or go to http://www.localgiving.org/halff

A Devon council leader has warned that hotels advertising “self-isolation” breaks are putting others at risk.

Torbay Council leader Steve Darling (Lib Dem) said he was aware of premises in South Devon staying open for visitors from elsewhere in the country.

(Nothing from EDDC on caravan and holiday parks, which have been closed in Wales – though this silence may have been overtaken when last night’s statement from Boris Johnson is clarified.)

Edward Oldfield  www.devonlive.com

He said that the approach was “reckless” and put staff, guests and the local population at risk.

On Sunday night, the Government warned people to stay at home and not to travel to holiday destinations.

It followed concerns raised by MPs and communities that an influx of visitors to Devon and Cornwall could overwhelm health and other services.

Mr Darling, Torbay Council’s Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Social distancing has to be taken extremely seriously.

“Putting themselves into a hotel where staff or customers could become affected is just recklessness in the extreme.

“I am aware of hotels in South Devon that are advertising as come here and self-isolate. 

“People are putting themselves more in harm’s way, and local residents more in harm’s way.”

Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat leader of Torbay Council (Image: Ed Oldfield)

The Government issued advice on Sunday that people should not travel to holiday premises for any reason.

A statement said: “This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays.

“People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.”

Devon and Cornwall is understandably proud of its renowned stunning coastlines, wide open spaces and gallons of fresh air and thrive from the millions of visitors who come to enjoy our part of the world each year.

However, the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK has changed our day to day lives while the government is calling for the nation to stop all non essential travel in a bid to stop the spread of the disease that has so tragically already claimed 240 lives in the UK, four in Cornwall and two in Devon.

In the South West not only do we have a proportion of elderly people living here, those who are some of the most vulnerable to coronavirus, but we also have NHS trusts that are stretched to capacity without any extra pressure.

We want to help saves lives and help bring an end to the outbreak as soon as we possibly can.

Therefore we are aiming to spread the message of come back later as far and as wide as possible through a campaign launching today – #comebacklater.

Mr Darling said Torbay Council was focussed on protecting the most vulnerable and was working with community support hubs covering Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

He urged people to follow guidance on social distancing and hand-washing and avoid meeting others.

Mr Darling said: “The only way we are going to beat this virus is by having less human contact and following the advice on washing hands.”

The council has suspended its normal democratic processes and cancelled or postponed public decision-making meetings as it focuses on responding to the pandemic.

Council decisions will be made by the leader or officers in consultation with councillors under temporary powers.

Mr Darling said the new arrangements would be regularly reviewed.

Matt Hancock is under fire after claiming “the biggest public health campaign in history” is telling people how to defeat coronavirus – despite no adverts being placed on Facebook or Instagram.

Rob Merrick Deputy Political Editor @Rob_Merrick www.independent.co.uk 

The heath secretary rejected growing warnings that much of the public is in the dark about official advice on ‘social distancing’, insisting no government had ever done so much.

However, the claim was immediately undermined by research showing not a single advert about the pandemic has run from the government’s official Facebook or Instagram accounts.

The failure is despite the fact that the UK has been offered “millions” in free ad credits to use on two of the world’s largest digital advertising platforms.

In the Commons, Caroline Lucas, the Green MP implored Mr Hancock to launch a “much bigger, wider, louder, more comprehensive public health campaign”, telling him: “Right now, it is clearly not getting through.”

But a visibly frustrated health secretary replied: “There is the most comprehensive public health campaign, probably in the history of government peacetime communications”.

And, turning to Ms Lucas, he added sarcastically: “Maybe I will send a poster to the honourable lady.”

But neither the official ‘UK prime minister’ Facebook account, nor Boris Johnson’s personal account, have run ads on any of the measures introduced to delay the spread of coronavirus, data seen by Sky News showed.

The official NHS account has run six ads on Facebook and Instagram since the start of the pandemic, advising anyone with symptoms to stay at home for 14 days.

But the messages – which were last updated on 19 March – do not mention the tougher guidelines announced since, including those urging people to stay home and for the most vulnerable people to isolate themselves.

The latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox

Ms Lucas added: “It’s not being heard. We need to do be doing an awful lot more in order to catch up and get ahead of this.”

Sian Berry, the Green candidate for London mayor, said: “Two weeks ago, the external electronic advert board in my local chemist was still showing ‘Get ready for Brexit’ ads.”

And Yvette Cooper, the former Labour leadership candidate, said she had watched the prime minister’s Sunday night press conference “in despair”.

“The only ‘social distancing’ advice I can find on the NHS or government websites is very gentle,” she tweeted.

“No instructions to do this, just advice if you want it, no reference to staying more than 2m away from others.”

In South Korea and The Netherlands, aggressive use of emergency alerts, sent directly to mobile phones, is keeping people in touch with changing advice.

But the UK government does not have the ability to do the same, The Guardian reported, despite carrying out successful trials seven years ago.

Care home workers in East Devon ‘struggling’ to feed their residents have faced abuse from supermarket customers for bulk buying amid the coronavirus crisis.

Becca Gliddon  eastdevonnews.co.uk 

East Devon MP Simon Jupp stepped in to help when he learned care staff were facing public anger for buying quantities of meat and fresh food to feed the elderly and disabled.

He said workers in care homes have been forced to venture into supermarkets to buy multiple supplies because their regular food distributers have had to stop delivering – becoming so overwhelmed by the demand from supermarkets.

Care staff have been accused of being ‘greedy’ for buying up fresh food and meat to feed their residents, said Mr Jupp.

Mr Jupp said some care homes in East Devon were ‘struggling to get food’ for residents because regular distributors were cancelling or delaying deliveries to prioritise supplies to supermarkets.

In a bid to help, the MP for East Devon has liaised with farm shops and local producers to supply their own fresh food and home-reared meat to wanting care homes..

He urged shoppers to consider why customers were bulk buying before passing judgement.

He said: “I want to flag this up as an issue. I spoke to a couple of care homes recently. Some are really struggling to get food.

“Staff in one particular care home trying to get more than one chicken were told by other customers they were hoarding food, but they weren’t. They were trying to get food for the care home.

“People that pick up more food in shops than it looks like they need, they might be doing it for other reasons.

“If they are picking up three chickens, or three packs of mince, they might be getting food for another care home.”

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, the MP for East Devon has compiled a rolling list of help available to residents, the vulnerable, and those self-isolating, through volunteer groups, town and parish councils.

The list of coronavirus help available in East Devon can be seen here.

Libraries in East Devon and Exeter have shut due to the coronavirus outbreak – after an idea to keep self-service facilities open was scrapped.

East Devon Reporter  eastdevonnews.co.uk 

It had been hoped facilities in Exmouth, Honiton, Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary and Seaton could be accessible so residents could still borrow books between 10am and noon on certain days.

However, Libraries Unlimited announced today (Monday, March 23) it had reconsidered its position over the weekend.

Temporary closures across the county, implemented on Friday (March 20), will now remain in place ‘until further notice’.

Staff say they are trying to continue to provide services ‘in different ways’.

A ‘books by post’ trial be taking place in Exeter, while others will provide online sessions such as Bounce and Rhyme, reading groups, and story times.

IT assistance will be provided remotely and workers will be checking in by telephone with vulnerable customers.

The teams will be taking telephone calls, helping with renewals and aiding people online to access eBooks.

However, the mobile and home library services have also been suspended.

From tomorrow (Monday, March 23), some libraries with self-service facilities will open for up to two hours.

Up-to-date information is available from the Libraries Unlimited  website.

Restrictions relaxed for bus pass holders in Devon – to help elderly get to shops early

Advice that even Owl needs to heed.

@scfgallagher www.independent.co.uk

[Editor’s note: All advice was correct at the time of publication; the government now requires people stay at home where possible, avoid socialising and travel].

Boris Johnson has told the public to avoid all non-essential travel, including working from home where possible and avoiding pubs and restaurants to curb the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Those with underlying health conditions, over the age of 70 and pregnant women have also been told to minimise social contact for the next 12 weeks.

Despite the obvious seriousness of the situation it is important to keep the threat in perspective (during the 2017-2018 UK flu season there were 26,408 deaths and 1,692 in 2018-2019). The UK’s chief medical officer Chris Witty estimates a mortality rate for coronavirus of 1 per cent. [Other earlier estimates have been higher at between 2 to 3.4 per cent]. 

In comparison SARS had a mortality rate of more than 10 per cent.

The World Health Organisation and Public Health England have also warned there is no need to panic-buy face masks, latex gloves or other extreme protective gear if you practice good basic hygiene like regularly washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose if you cough.

Of course for many it is still hard to not worry about what is going on and what the future holds.

Dr Michael Sinclair, a consultant psychologist, tells The Independent: “It is understandable there should be a level of concern. Our minds evolved from cave ancestors to worry: we focus on doom and gloom, we chew it over in our brain and we learn new survival skills. That is our mind just doing what it is meant to do.”

Psychotherapist Silva Neves agrees but warns “panic, too, is contagious”.

So what do you do if health-related anxiety has become overwhelming? 

Don’t always listen to your mind

“Listen to what your mind says is there and then look at the evidence for what is really there,” says Dr Sinclair. “We need to recognise that it is often a story our mind is telling us, not the reality.

“Try to do this by, for example, instead of saying ‘I’m going to get ill’ say ‘I’m having the thought that I’m going to get ill’ to emphasise this is your mind telling you that not reality.”

Mr Neves adds: “We have control over how much we think about it. We do have control over our thoughts, although it is hard work sometimes to control them. Worrying about it won’t guarantee a better outcome. So try to allocate some brain space for other important things too.”

Don’t try to ignore physical symptoms of stress

“Sometimes we can make ourselves feel unwell (and like we might have something like coronavirus) through panic and anxiety – those signs; shortness of breath and heart racing,” says Dr Sinclair. “But when this happens, instead of trying to immediately eradicate or ignore those feelings, which won’t help, make space for them, describe them as you experience them.”

Mr Neves says in moments of panic you should try to take a few breaths; sit down and count your breath in and out for 10 seconds. Then repeat. 

Keep a record of your worries

Elizabeth Turp from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) says you can do something practical – something you can control – to help express anxiety. She suggests writing a journal or notebook.

“Allow yourself to worry, put it down in writing in a notebook, and then put that away. Once you’ve written it down, let it go,” she says.

You can also try drawing two circles – a circle of control and a circle of no influence – and fill them with things in your life that you worry about. This helps you to remember what things you can impact and those that, no matter how much you worry, you can do nothing about.  

Only consume what you can handle

Mr Neves says if you’re struggling to cope you don’t have to keep watching live news, have notifications turned on or use social media, instead limit your exposure to the new information. “You can be strict with yourself, decide to only watch the news and read an update on the virus once a day,” he says.

“I’m not suggesting you [totally] ignore it, it is serious. By all means, keep track of the development. But you can reduce your anxiety by reducing the amount of time you think about it.”

Take some practical steps 

As well as managing your mind, there are simple physical steps you can take to make yourself feel reassured, like following the advice from WHO and PHE. “Do wash your hands with soap and water often, especially before you eat. Or wash your hands with alcohol gel. Follow the medical advice,” says Mr Neves. 

Stay connected to your support network (digitally)

Gerard Barnes, CEO of mental health specialists Smart TMS, says that in times of stress it can be easy to want to isolate ourselves but it is crucial to maintain human interaction online or on the phone to reduce anxiety levels. “Maintaining strong connections will help you to feel supported and surrounded by positivity and good energy. 

“You are also more likely to be able to have an open conversation about the virus with those close to you – being able to discuss the issue and perhaps make jokes about it, will help you to feel more comfortable and overcome any anxiety you may have over the threat.”

Avoid speculation and focus on facts

In a world of 24/7 rolling news and social media updates, it can be easy to get drawn into speculation and hype. But Mr Barnes says: “Try to avoid being caught up in the media storm and avoid reading excessive speculative reports. Stick to respected health-first websites, such as the NHS, to get clear, simple instructions and facts on the coronavirus and how to handle it.”

The pressure on food banks is one of the first holes opening up in British society’s defences against the economic firestorm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As the Independent reports today in an editorial, charities are warning that food banks are running low because of increased demand and dwindling supplies.

@IndyVoices  www.independent.co.uk

If Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are to make good on their fine words about our “capacity for compassion” in our “collective national effort”, this is something they need to act on urgently. 

There are, of course, other urgent priorities: income protection for freelance and casual workers is needed to put them on the same footing as employees, for example, to prevent them falling through the cracks and needing food banks. 

But there are already too many people turning to food banks, and many charities report that the supply of donations from the public on which they rely is drying up. 

The same message that George Eustice, the food and rural affairs secretary, delivered to shoppers against stockpiling needs to go out loud and clear: please continue to donate to food banks – other people need food too. 

Many individuals, charities and companies are stepping up. The Co-op today announced that it is donating £150,000-worth of food each week to food banks over the next 10 weeks. We need to see other food retailers follow this example. 

As Mr Eustice rightly said, we have enough food as a country to feed everyone, but hoarders and the sudden increase in financial hardship mean that it is not allocated fairly. 

Retailers should be encouraged to try innovative ways of discouraging hoarders. A Danish supermarket tried to deter people from buying more hand sanitisers than they needed by charging higher prices for second and subsequent purchases. A “two for the price of three” policy on goods sought out by panic-buyers might be easier for shops to enforce than simple rationing. 

If the stockpilers can be thwarted, there will be more food for everyone, including the food banks. 

But further action from the government is required. In addition to the increases in universal credit and working tax credit levels the chancellor has announced, the benefits sanctions regime that has driven so many people to food banks in the first place should be suspended for at least as long as the income support measures are in place. 

This is, as the chancellor said on Friday, a test of our decency as a nation. We have to control the coronavirus outbreak; we have to save as much as we can of the economy; but in so doing we have to protect the poorest and most vulnerable first.

(from the Times)

On 20 March Cornwall and North Devon made pleas for tourists to stay away. On 22 March many, but not all, Devon and Cornwall MPs proclaimed that these are not normal times and launched: #comebacklater

(It was North Devon Chief Executive who acted – Owl hasn’t heard a pip squeak from EDDC. We have some very big holiday sites in East Devon)

The BBC have carried the refrain on the news because similar pleas have been made across the country.

Owl fears it may be too late. With infections, currently, doubling every three days in UK – decisions have to be made very, very quickly. This government appears to be behind events, rather than ahead.

It won’t be much fun on a caravan/holiday park in “lock-down”. Nothing to do nowhere to go.

Owl still wonders how a company that makes such a prestigious, quality, product can go bust twice in seven years. Loss of market, no longer fashionable, uncompetitive (unlikely in prestige markets), insufficient investment and saddled with debt as a result of UK businesses’ chronic short termism? The following comment looks hopeful – but it’s only a plan. And all UK businesses will be facing unprecedented problems for years. Good luck.

“There is a plan to implement an employee ownership model so that the local people who have worked so hard over some difficult years can feel part of the resurgence of this proud company.”

By News reporter  www.bridportnews.co.uk

Councillors have welcomed the ‘great news for Axminster’ that the town’s famous carpet company has been saved and will now be owned by its workers.

The company collapsed in February 2020 with the loss of 80 jobs. But now a group of UK private investors, industry leaders and the Dutfield family has rescued it.

A consortium of investors, including the family which restarted the historic business in 1937, has salvaged it from administration and intends to reboot production.

The business, which had amassed debts of nearly £8million, is now well-funded and debt free, the new owners said.

The news has been welcomed by councillors in Axminster, with Cllr Andrew Moulding saying: “It is great news for Axminster, great news for the historic Axminster Carpet industry and great news for those dedicated employees, whose jobs have been saved.”

He added: “It is not likely all the workforce will be re-employed and the council will strive, alongside other partners, to continue to support those who will be seeking new opportunities and alternative employment.”

Cllr Ian Hall added: “This will hopefully go a long way with the excellent support that has been given by East Devon and the Axminster Job Club. This will enable the individuals and their families who have been enduring a difficult journey to come to a healthy decision that must be paramount to their own wellbeing.

“Please remember, there will still be support available on Thursday’s at the Pippins Centre. It is of course excellent news that the future looks far brighter for the Carpet Industry in Axminster.”

 East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the economy, Cllr Kevin Blakey, added: “We were delighted to learn the news that Axminster Carpets has found a new buyer, which will enable an element of re-employment at the factory.

“We’re keen to support a more productive and sustainable future for carpet manufacturing in Axminster, and we look forward to learning how many staff will remain with the firm and in what capacity. This will help us adapt our ongoing redundancy support to employees who continue to need it.

“Our next support session is opened up to anyone who has been made redundant, be it from Axminster Carpets or more recently from Flybe. It will take place at the Pippins Community Centre in Axminster on 12 March, from 9am to 12pm.

“East Devon District Council and our partners will continue to offer one-to-one guidance and practical assistance for anyone in need of our support.”

Axminster Carpets has a long tradition of making the world’s finest carpets for the most discerning clients and is a holder of a Royal Warrant.

It was founded in 1755 by Thomas Whitty, the creator of the now famous Axminster Weave and Harry Dutfield restarted the business in 1937.

Famous customers include King George III and Queen Charlotte, who also visited the factory, and Queen Elizabeth II.

The new owners say Axminster Carpets is well placed for a successful and sustainable future, and Robert Day, who is leading the private investors, said: “The business has never been in a better position to again become a significant player in the sector.

“There is a plan to implement an employee ownership model so that the local people who have worked so hard over some difficult years can feel part of the resurgence of this proud company.”

Joint administrator Benjamin Wiles, of Duff & Phelps, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce today that we have secured the future of Axminster Carpets, one of the best-known British brands, following the successful sale of the business and assets of the company.

“The swift conclusion of this process has enabled Duff & Phelps to secure the future of the business. This deal will provide a stable financial platform, ensuring its long-term viability.”

Seaton Town Council’s by-election scheduled for Thursday, March 26, has been cancelled following Government guidance about Coronavirus.

The authority will now decide whether to co-opt the two candidates who put themselves forward for election.

Owl sees from the Town Council web site that there are currently five vacancies.

http://www.seaton.gov.uk/Seaton-Town-Council/Councillor_Vacancies_12070.aspx

Chris Carson www.midweekherald.co.uk

East Devon Returning Officer Mark Williams said: “My priority is to ensure the wellbeing of the public who were due to vote and the staff running the polling stations.

“In light of the current exceptional circumstances and on the advice of the Association of Electoral Administrators the right decision is to cancel the election.

“I have written to Seaton Town Council and suggested that the council may wish to consider co-opting the two candidates who were standing for the election.”

Any postal votes received by the returning officer will remain unopened and will be confidentially destroyed.

The town council will not be charged for any administration costs in preparation for the election.

For further information, contact the electoral services team on 01395 517402.

The Government has given its full support to returning officers to cancel or suspend elections to prevent the spread of the virus.

The UK expects thousands of deaths, and dangerously mixed messages risk making an already grave situation worse – Guardian Leader

Editorial  www.theguardian.com 

Data shows that the UK’s coronavirus outbreak is following a similar trajectory to Italy’s, with around a two-week delay. While panic will not help anyone, the only rational reaction to this information is serious alarm. On Saturday, 793 fatalities took Italy’s death toll, already higher than China’s, to 4,825. The pattern of exponential growth is repeated in other western countries including Spain.

If the disease advances in the UK as scientists expect, the number of people killed will increase from 281 to around 5,000 in about two weeks’ time. These are the brute facts that led to last week’s switch in government policy, with an approach focused on “mitigation” partially replaced with a more aggressive policy of “suppression”.

Having closed schools, bars and restaurants, the government on Sunday declined to go further – for example, forcing non-essential businesses to close. Instead, the prime minister announced a new programme to “shield” the 1.5 million people at highest risk – who will be asked to stay at home for 12 weeks. The danger is that the policy, which stops short of measures taken by other European governments, does not go far enough, particularly in London where cases are most concentrated.

Those who are able to should take steps beyond what the government has advised. That means working from home, unless this is impossible, or because your job is essential to the coronavirus effort (or the allied effort to support those who are unable to cope on their own). It means shopping rarely, keeping a safe distance of at least six feet from others, and following strict hygiene rules.

It also means being aware that the restrictions do not affect everyone equally. Families in overcrowded housing, for example, face far greater hardship as a result of school and other closures. Single people and those in unhappy or abusive family situations will suffer disproportionately from quarantining. Individuals as well as voluntary organisations and councils can help (for example, by leaving parks to those without gardens, and by checking on friends by telephone and online).

After wasting vital weeks that should have been devoted to preparations, the government has been playing catch-up. The lack of support for the UK’s 5 million self-employed workers in the package of measures announced by the chancellor last week is extremely concerning in light of survey findings that around half of those who are self-employed, or in irregular work, would continue working despite having the virus. Finding a mechanism to enable these people to stop work is a task that should already have been done, along with the ordering of ventilators, testing equipment and protective clothing for medical staff and others on the frontline.

Images of crowded streets and parks over the weekend were disturbing proof that the public has not grasped the fundamental importance of social distancing. Even more disturbing is the extent to which Boris Johnson is to blame. Last week’s suggestion that we could “send coronavirus packing in this country”, and the timescale of 12 weeks, was grossly irresponsible when scientists are clear that policies to limit transmission will be needed for at least a year. On Sunday, he again struck the wrong tone. Lacking the gravity and clarity of his own cabinet colleagues, as well as foreign leaders, he instead conveyed palpable resistance to the stronger measures that may be required to protect people’s lives.

Given expert predictions that the total number of UK deaths could be 250,000, the priority is to save lives. Saturday’s announcement of a partnership between the NHS and the private sector was a rare note of encouragement. A thorough investigation of the government’s decision to aim for mitigation and herd immunity, when the international consensus pointed to suppression, will have to wait.

But questions about Mr Johnson’s judgment and leadership cannot be brushed off. Weekend reports of a policymaking process in which the views of his adviser, Dominic Cummings, appear to have been given greater weight than scientists’, are deeply worrying. In a democracy of 70 million people, this is not how policy should be made. As we career into highly dangerous and uncharted waters, it is right to ask whether our ship’s captain is up to the job.