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    Coronavirus - 11th April 2021

    Kitkat
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    • Post n°1

    Coronavirus - 11th April 2021 Empty Coronavirus - 11th April 2021

    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 17:39

    Summary for Sunday, 11th April

    • Non-essential shops are preparing to open their doors on Monday in England and Wales
    • England's gyms, zoos and hairdressers will also reopen, while restaurants and pubs will welcome customers outdoors
    • The public have been urged to respect staff and follow Covid guidelines - with retail sales predicted to surge
    • Buckingham Palace repeats appeal for public not to go there to pay tribute to Prince Philip
    • Covid rules mean UK PM Boris Johnson is to miss the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, allowing family to attend
    • A further 2,589 coronavirus cases are reported across the UK on Saturday alongside another 40 deaths

    Hello and welcome to today’s live page. We will be bringing you the latest coronavirus news from the UK and around the world.
    Here are the main headlines this morning:


    PM will not attend royal funeral amid coronavirus restrictions

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in order to allow "as many family members as possible" to go amid coronavirus restrictions.
    The funeral arrangements have been adapted in light of the coronavirus pandemic, following the duke’s death on Friday.
    It means only 30 people can attend the funeral next Saturday at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
    A No 10 spokesman said: "The prime minister has throughout wanted to act in accordance with what is best for the royal household, and so to allow for as many family members as possible will not be attending the funeral on Saturday."
    In accordance with regulations, the public has been asked to stay away - with an online book of condolence available to those wishing to pay tribute to the duke.

    Shoppers 'must respect staff' when retail reopens

    People are being asked to “be considerate and respectful” to fellow shoppers and staff, as thousands of non-essential retail stores prepare to reopen across England and Wales.
    The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling on shoppers to adhere to social-distancing rules and "queue considerately" as restrictions are eased on Monday.
    In England, non-essential retail such as clothes and technology shops will reopen, alongside hairdressers, beauty salons and gyms in line with the latest step in the government's roadmap.
    In Wales, all shops will reopen.
    An initial sales surge is anticipated, as people return to the shops for the first time since December.
    The BRC, which represents big chain stores, said the public "have a key part to play in creating a safe and enjoyable retail environment".
    Read more.

    India is 'fastest country in the world' to give 100m jabs

    Meanwhile, India has administered more than 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccines.
    Everyone above the age of 45 is now eligible for jabs, which are available at vaccination centres and hospitals.
    Most of the doses have been given so far to frontline workers and people over the age of 60.
    However, the country has been reporting an average of more than 90,000 cases of Covid-19 every day since 1 April.
    India’s health ministry has said India is the "fastest country in the world" to give 100 million doses.
    However, the vaccination drive appears to be struggling. This week, half a dozen states reported a shortage of doses.
    The government claims the "allegations" of vaccine scarcity are "utterly baseless" and it has more than 40 million doses in stock.
    Read more.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 17:42

    Hospitality 'not viable' until 21 June

    BBC Breakfast
    A "large proportion" of hospitality businesses "won't be able to open" on Monday, despite an easing of lockdown restrictions in England, because they do not have access to sufficient outdoor space.
    In England, from tomorrow, restaurants and pubs are allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors.
    But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, told BBC Breakfast only two in every five venues would reopen.
    "The majority of the industry still has to cling on for five weeks," said Ms Nicholls.
    Nonetheless she said it was a "welcome restart" for those businesses that are able to comply with current coronavirus measures.
    She suggested each site had invested up to £10,000 in order to make their venues suitable for outdoor hospitality - adding "they still aren't going to break even... the best they are going to achieve outdoors is 20% of normal revenues".
    "We are keen to make sure this is the last lockdown, so we under the government's need for caution," she told the BBC.
    "What we need is a clear commitment from the government to stick to those last two dates of the roadmap. Our businesses cannot survive any longer.
    "Until we get to 21 June, hospitality won't be able to be viable."

    What can I do from Monday?

    rom Monday the next stage of lifting lockdown goes ahead in England, with the opening of pub gardens and non-essential shops.
    So, what will you soon be able to do in England, and what's the situation in other parts of the UK?
    Here are some of the key points:
    In England, from 12 April, shops, hairdressers and gyms will be among the businesses allowed to reopen. Restaurants and pubs can serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outside - in groups of six, or two households.
    In Wales, pupils and students return to school, college and other education; all shops and close-contact services can open - and the ban on travelling in and out of Wales ends.
    In Northern Ireland, remaining school year groups 8-11 return on Monday. The stay-at-message is being relaxed. Up to 10 people from two households are allowed to meet in a private garden.
    In Scotland, those pupils whose terms restarts on Monday will go back to school full-time for the summer term. Other restrictions are eased from 26 April.
    For more detail on what is happening and when, read here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 17:45

    Chester Zoo prepares for busy reopening tomorrow

    Chester Zoo is preparing for a big rush when it opens tomorrow, along with some other outdoor attractions in England.
    The zoo's executive, Jamie Christon, says there's been a "great deal of demand" and that most tickets have sold out for the coming days.
    "I expect that we're going to be busy," he says, adding that they hope it can stay open for the rest of the year.
    Christon says it's been "pretty difficult" for the zoo, which is in Cheshire, during the pandemic.
    It costs about £1.6m every month to maintain the zoo, including looking after its 19,000 animals.
    "Even though the gates have been closed to the public, life in the zoo still goes on," he says.
    "We can't furlough the animals, and we've had no assistance from the government at all."
    Read more here about what can reopen in England tomorrow as lockdown rules continue to ease.

    'There aren't enough cottages to go round'

    Providers of self-catering accommodation say they are booking up fast as lockdown rules ease.
    Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation from tomorrow.
    Steve Jarvis, co-founder of Independent Cottages, which promotes about 1,800 self-catering properties, says about 80% of its sites are booked over the next fortnight.
    He says properties in the popular tourist destinations of Devon and Cornwall are 95% booked up, but other areas are "catching up quickly".
    He says people are having to plan UK holidays much earlier than normal as "there aren't enough cottages to go round", while most people are putting off organising foreign trips due to uncertainty over the rules.
    Another provider, Cottages.com, says two-thirds of its properties in coastal destinations or with hot tubs are booked for the first week of reopening.
    Feather Down, which offers luxury camping on farms, says it's "nearly sold out" for the next few weeks, with summer bookings more than double what they were at the same point in 2020.
    Self-contained holiday accommodation has already reopened in Wales, while in Scotland tourist accommodation can open with restrictions in place later this month. In Northern Ireland, self-catering accommodation remains closed, with some very limited exceptions.
    Read more about the rules for holidays in the UK and abroad here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 17:53

    Covid tests don't contain cancer causing chemical

    Jack Goodman and Flora Carmichael - BBC Reality Check

    Coronavirus - 11th April 2021 A2607e10

    Lateral flow tests are widespread in workplaces and schools, but viral Facebook posts are incorrectly claiming they are a cancer risk.
    The videos and photos claim that they contain ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen. The packaging for the NHS test kits says "sterilised in ethylene oxide", but this only tells part of the story.
    The Department of Health and Social Care told the BBC Reality Check team that while the chemical is used in gaseous form to sterilise test swabs, the amounts used are well within safety limits and are "rigorously tested and are safe to use on a regular basis".
    In fact, up to half of all US medical devices are sterilised with ethylene oxide. Further stages in the sterilisation process remove the gas almost entirely.
    The US Centers for Disease Control says that while acute exposure to the chemical - many times greater than any residual chemical that might be left in a test swab - can increase the risk of cancer, these tiny amounts are not harmful.
    Want to know about other false claims? Read on

    What's happening in the UK and around the world?

    Here are the main Covid-19 developments so far today:
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 17:56

    Which rules are changing tomorrow?

    Stage two of England's lockdown easing begins tomorrow. So what's changing?

    • All shops will be allowed to open
    • Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can open
    • Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors
    • Gyms and spas can reopen, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres
    • Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation
    • Non-essential journeys between England and Wales are allowed
    • Weddings - up to 15 people will be allowed
    • Funerals - up to 30 people, with 15 at wakes
    • Children will be able to attend any indoor children's activity
    • Care home visitors will increase to two per resident
    • Driving lessons can resume, with driving tests restarting on 22 April

    Read more about the roadmap for lifting lockdown in England and the rest of the UK here.

    Caution urged ahead of further lockdown easing

    The chairman of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) is urging people to follow the rules ahead of a major easing of lockdown rules in England and Wales tomorrow.
    "The watchword has got to be caution, really," Prof Peter Horby told Times Radio.
    "The modelling, which is now pretty good, does show that we can expect some kind of rebound.
    "It's not clear exactly when or how big it will be but there is, I think, inevitably going to be a bit of a rebound in the number of cases when things are relaxed.
    "Hopefully it won't translate too much into hospitalisations and deaths because of the vaccine programme, but there will be some of that."
    He says the extent of the rebound "really depends on how well we comply with the ongoing restrictions".
    "We really have to take this step by step," he adds.
    "I think we can be joyful and enjoy the freedoms, but we've still got to realise there's still a large number of people who've not been infected or vaccinated and so they will be at risk."
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:01

    'Huge excitement' as pubs prepare to welcome customers back

    BBC Radio 5 Live
    Alex Clarke, who owns the Red Lion pub in Hinxton, Cambridge has told the BBC how much they are looking forward to having people back in their beer garden on Monday
    “Huge excitement, as you can imagine," Mr Clarke told Chris Warburton on 5 Live Breakfast. "I'm not sure who’s more excited - the staff or the customers," he added.
    Mr Clarke spoke about the challenges posed by previous Covid restrictions, particularly when people were only allowed to go to with people in their household, as most people want to “go to the pub with their friends”.
    “What we’ve found throughout is that, understandably, the rules have had to be changed quite a lot at different stages - and each time it’s a new untested business model.”

    Palace repeats plea for duke well-wishers to stay away


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    People wishing to pay tribute to Prince Philip have been urged not to come to Buckingham Palace and lay flowers because of current Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.
    Buckingham Palace has repeated its request, and is asking people to make donations to charities in the duke's name instead.
    A few dozen members of the public are currently milling around.
    Prince Philip died, aged 99, on Friday.
    A period of national mourning will end after 17 April, when Prince Philip's funeral takes place at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:10

    India registers another record increase in cases

    Earlier, we reported that India has now administered more than 100 million vaccine doses. However the country has also registered another record increase in coronavirus infections.
    More than 150,000 cases and more than 800 deaths have been recorded.
    The state of Maharashtra, home to the country's financial centre Mumbai, is the worst affected.
    The state's chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, is pushing for a period of strict restrictions.
    The capital, Delhi, is also seeing a rapid increase in cases.
    In response, it is banning social, political, and religious gatherings and reducing capacity in restaurants and cinemas.
    India has the third highest number of reported cases worldwide, behind the US and Brazil.

    Who can I go to the pub with?

    From tomorrow, more lockdown restrictions are being eased in England, including the long-awaited reopening of pubs.
    We answer some of our readers' questions on what happens now:
    When pubs and restaurants open outside in England, can I only go with people I live with or does the rule of six apply?
    The rule of six will apply at cafes, pubs and restaurants in England from tomorrow. So you can meet up outside with five other people, and you don’t have to live with any of them. Or you can meet up with any number of people from two households.
    When pubs open, will bar staff have to wear face masks and or visors when serving?
    Yes, they will. By law, staff working in venues that provide food and drink are required to wear face coverings (similar to masks), unless they have an exemption.
    The government guidance for the hospitality sector in England says a face visor or shield may be worn in addition to a face covering - but not instead of one.
    Have another question? It may be answered here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:16

    Pubs reopening but some 'may not survive'

    From Monday pubs and restaurants can open in England, with customers ordering food and drink while remaining seated outside.
    Despite this, Bath Pub Company managing director Joe Cussens fears some pubs will not be able to stay open following lockdown.
    "Every pub has had to take on a mountain of debt," he says.
    "Some pubs will not survive. Pubs that were on the edge before Covid will not think it's worth reopening - this will have accelerated their demise.
    "The market will come out strongly but there will be some casualties."
    Graham Anderson and Sharon Stanton have decided not to reopen one of their two pubs in Bristol - the Eastfield Inn, which they ran for nine years.
    "From our customers' point of view it's hard to believe because we had the footfall, but the costs were astronomical and there's a fine margin of error," Graham says.
    "Covid was the nail in the coffin."
    Read more here

    Final preparations ahead of next lockdown easing steps

    Final preparations are being made for the next step out of lockdown tomorrow.
    Thousands of non-essential retail stores will reopen in England and Wales.
    Shoppers are being reminded to be respectful to staff, as one shop manager told BBC Radio 5Live of the abuse she's experienced during the pandemic.
    Pubs and restaurants in England can serve customers outdoors from midnight.
    But there are fears that won't be enough for some pubs hit by huge losses due to lockdown.
    Managing director of the Bath Pub Company Joe Cussens says its four pubs have been refitted with outside bars and seating areas in preparation for outdoor dining.
    "We are spending now hoping we will recoup over the summer," he says.
    Gyms and spas can reopen in England, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres.
    Those who are raring to get back to the gym are urged to "take it slow" to avoid injury.
    Hairdressers and beauty salons can reopen in England.
    The manager of Combers Inside-Out hairdressing in Taunton says he feels fortunate to be reopening.
    Simon Willetts says: "I'm aware we are very lucky in that we have a business to go back to. Not everyone is in that position, particularly in retail."
    Read more about what's allowed tomorrow in our guide to the roadmap out of lockdown.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:18

    Son of dying man to be released from hotel quarantine


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    The High Court in Dublin directed that there should be an inquiry into Mr Jennings' mandatory quarantine, national media reported

    An Irish man who flew home from Israel to be with his dying father is to be released from quarantine after launching a legal challenge.
    Derek Jennings, 47, had been in mandatory quarantine after flying into Ireland on Friday.
    His father, who was diagnosed with cancer, is in intensive care.
    Earlier on Sunday, the High Court in Dublin had heard his father was in a critical condition and might die at any stage.
    The Republic of Ireland introduced hotel quarantine last month to restrict international travel.
    Currently people travelling from one of more than 30 countries must undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own cost.
    The court directed that there should be an inquiry into Mr Jennings' mandatory quarantine, RTÉ reports.
    However, it is understood he will be released after the state received further documentation from his lawyers.
    Read the full story.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:22

    Vulnerable people should not be forced back into workplaces, charity says

    The government should give greater support to those most at risk of Covid-19 and protection to prevent them being forced back into workplaces, disability charity Scope has said.
    It comes after shielding advice for the most clinically vulnerable in England and Wales ended at the beginning of the month.
    Executive director James Taylor said: "Nobody should be forced to choose between their life and their livelihood.
    "Without proper protections in place for those most at risk, that's exactly what's going to happen."

    Covid-19 restrictions easing in Jersey

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    Lockdown restrictions in Jersey are also to be eased from tomorrow, paving the way for more people to meet up.
    Events such as weddings will also see larger numbers as the island moves to stage five of its lockdown roadmap.
    Testing is being made available free for all office workers and employees in various sectors.
    The 2m social distancing rule is also changing from law to guidance.
    But Minister for Health and Social Services Richard Renouf says people "should still make every effort to maintain distance from those they don't live with wherever possible".
    He says he hopes islanders "enjoy meeting again and respect the subtle but important measures that remain".
    Find out more about the key changes here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:26

    .
    Breaking News 

    UK deaths rise by seven, cases by 1,730

    A further seven people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, according to the latest government figures.
    There were also a further 1,730 cases reported.

    UK deaths and cases hit lowest number since early September

    The number of deaths recorded in today's figures is the lowest since 13 September, when five were reported.
    It is the lowest number of cases since 2 September, when 1,508 were reported.
    We look at the trends in the numbers in the following charts.

    Coronavirus - 11th April 2021 9c66d910

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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:31

    'If we can't satisfy demand then we've got it wrong'


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    The Alma Inn near Halifax, West Yorkshire, has invested heavily in converting an overflow area by the car park

    Pubs have been upgrading their outdoor areas ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased in England.
    From Monday, venues with outdoor seating will reopen for the first time since the beginning of January.
    Half of Britons are planning to visit a pub or restaurant when the rules ease, a recent poll by investment bank Jefferies found.
    The Alma Inn near Halifax, West Yorkshire, has invested heavily in converting an overflow area by the car park to make what its Instagram account dubbed a "second pub".
    The new area includes a mobile bar, food truck and new benches, while the land also had to be levelled.
    John Priest, 38, one of the pub's managers, said: "We have to be ready for the demand.
    "If we get to a point next week or the week after where we didn't have anywhere for people to sit, then we would have failed as a business in our eyes.
    "If we can't satisfy the demand that's there, then we've got it wrong."

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    The Cornubia Inn in Hayle, West Cornwall, has added wi-fi and a new payment system for its outdoor area

    In Hayle, Cornwall, Damian Knight, 45, who runs the Cornubia Inn with his wife Miranda, said the pandemic has changed the "traditional" pub model.
    While they have spent money on a covered shelter, heating and updated furniture, the addition of wi-fi and a new ordering and payment system are important updates that customers may not notice at a glance.
    "If you open your doors with what you had before, you're going to get left behind."
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 11 Apr 2021, 18:35

    England lockdown: Countdown to freedom

    Coronavirus restrictions in England are slowly being lifted.
    From tomorrow, non-essential shops, gyms and libraries will reopen; family groups will be able to rent holiday accommodation.
    All the lockdown easing steps in England are dependent on four key tests being met at each stage. These tests include whether the vaccine rollout is going as planned and whether deaths and cases are coming down.
    We've created a countdown to freedom to keep you going - and guide you along that roadmap:
    For example:

    • One day to go before you can go to the pub (at least outside)
    • One day to go before you can have your haircut (goodbye mullet)
    • 36 days until you can sit indoors in a restaurant

    See for yourself!

    What happened today?

    We’ll soon be bringing our coronavirus live page to a pause for the day. But before we do, here is a round-up of the main stories from today.

    • People are being asked to be respectful to shop workers as thousands of non-essential retail stores prepare to reopen across England and Wales. The British Retail Consortium called on shoppers to adhere to social-distancing rules and "queue considerately" as curbs ease on Monday
    • England's gyms, zoos and hairdressers will also reopen, while restaurants and pubs will welcome customers outdoors
    • Buckingham Palace repeated its appeal for the public not to go there to pay tribute to Prince Philip, instead urging well-wishers to donate to charities in his name
    • Covid rules mean UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to miss the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral to allow "as many family members as possible" to go
    • The UK recorded a further seven deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test and 1,730 cases. It also carried out another 111,109 first dose vaccinations and 475,230 second dose jabs
    • India says it has become the "fastest country in the world" to administer more than 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, amid a deadly second wave of infections. It achieved the feat in 85 days, whereas the US took 89 days and China 102 days, the health ministry said
    • But the country also saw a record rise in infections - more than 150,000 cases, along with more than 800 deaths


    Goodbye

    That's it from us today - thanks for joining us. Our coronavirus live page will return tomorrow.

    The writers today were Victoria Lindrea, Alex Therrien and Sarah Collerton.
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