Former top civil servant Gus O’Donnell urges ministers to use ‘wellbeing’ analysis to allow a Sweden-style ‘phased’ easing of the coronavirus lockdown by balancing quality of life against the death toll He urged ministers to use quality of life measures balanced against death toll Would allow UK to gradually lift lockdown whil ekeeping most vulnerable … Read more
Ministers should not tell the public to wear face masks until they are certain it will not lead to shortages for NHS workers, a senior government adviser said last night. Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said government scientists were ready to change advice to the public on masks if the evidence supported it. But … Read more
Ministers were last night accused of ignoring offers of equipment and letting hundreds of thousands of items go abroad despite the urgent need for PPE in the UK. The government is facing an onslaught of questions over the shortage of the vital equipment desperately needed by frontline healthcare workers. A number of businesses have come … Read more
Boris Johnson‘s ministers deliberately snubbed EU efforts to buy equipment to help the fight against coronavirus – despite claiming it had been an accident, a senior civil servant revealed today. Sir Simon McDonald told MPs it had been a ‘political decision’ by the Government not to take part in Brussels-orchestrated efforts to bulk-buy protective equipment. … Read more
Something seems… underhand! Boris Johnson’s ‘Stay safe. Stay at home’ tweet raises eyebrows as social media users spot glaring Photoshop FAIL An arm wearing a black sleeve was spotted in the government’s ‘Stay Safe’ Tweet The post urging people to stay indoors garnered the wrong kind of attention People have joked the image resembles scenes … Read more
Ministers were under mounting pressure on Friday night to encourage Britons to wear face masks as part of a staged plan to get the country back to work. London mayor Sadiq Khan urged the Government to change its advice on masks to combat the spread of the virus. He was supported by former Health Secretary … Read more
Ministers in lockdown war: Frustration grows in the Cabinet over whether to lift the lockdown in May or wait until summer A timeframe on the UK’s window of lockdown is now being contested Ministers are to decide whether restrictions should be lifted in May or in summer Lockdown could be lifted after the most recent … Read more
Office staff could be asked to wear masks to allow a widespread return to work. Ministers are discussing ordering the use of protective equipment in the workplace and on public transport, the Daily Mail can reveal. They believe it could be the only way to allow a widespread return to normality once the home lockdown ends. … Read more
Nicola Sturgeon gazumped ministers again today by declaring that the lockdown will stay in place for ‘at least’ another three weeks – and an ‘exit strategy’ will be revealed next week. The Scottish First Minister announced measures will stay in place hours before a crunch meeting of Cobra, where the official decision will be taken. … Read more