Coronavirus Europe: France and Spain start to ease lockdown

France has announced plans to begin easing its coronavirus lockdown within two weeks – with schools and non-essential businesses set to reopen starting on May 11.   Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said permits will no longer be required to leave the house from that date and small museums will also be allowed to start readmitting guests. … Read more

Private contact-tracing apps could help ease coronavirus lockdown

Businesses could track the spread of coronavirus when they re-open through using contact-tracing apps currently in development.  At least three companies are creating surveillance apps for private firms, which may allow employers to retrace the steps of an infected worker. Employers would be able to track how many people the infected staff member interacted with … Read more

UK coronavirus cases are still too high to ease lockdown, member of secretive SAGE committee warns

The UK has taken three weeks to reduce the daily coronavirus cases by around a third in a ‘disappointingly’ slow decline, an infectious disease expert has said. Professor Keith Neal of Nottingham University said it has taken too long to decrease the daily number of hospitalised patients from 5,903 on April 5 to 3,583 yesterday. The … Read more

UK coronavirus cases are still too high to ease lockdown, member of secretive SAGE committee warns

The UK has taken three weeks to reduce the daily coronavirus cases by around a third in a ‘disappointingly’ slow decline, an infectious disease expert has said. Professor Kieth Neal of Nottingham University said it had taken too long to decrease the daily number of hospitalised patients from 5,903 on April 5 to 3,583 yesterday. It … Read more

Six Tory donors urge Boris Johnson to ease coronavirus lockdown

Boris Johnson is facing mounting calls to ease the lockdown from multiple flanks of his own party including donors, cabinet ministers and rebellious MPs. The Prime Minister will return to work in Downing Street on Monday to find restlessness brewing in the Tory ranks for restrictions to be relaxed.  Wealthy backers who have poured millions … Read more

Six Tory donors urge Boris Johnson to ease coronavirus lockdown

Boris Johnson is facing mounting calls to ease the lockdown from multiple flanks of his own party including donors, cabinet ministers and rebellious MPs. The Prime Minister will return to work in Downing Street on Monday to find restlessness brewing in the Tory ranks for restrictions to be relaxed.  Wealthy backers who have poured millions … Read more

Former top civil servant Gus O’Donnell urges ministers to use ‘wellbeing’ analysis to ease lockdown

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

Matt Hancock refuses to set out how UK government will ease coronavirus lockdown

Nicola Sturgeon’s plan to get out of lockdown The Scottish First Minister today set out some of the restrictions which could soon be lifted or modified north of the border. They include:  Businesses: Certain businesses could be allowed to reopen but only if they can guarantee that social distancing will be adhered to.  Schools: Ms … Read more

Matt Hancock refuses to set out how UK government will ease coronavirus lockdown

Nicola Sturgeon’s plan to get out of lockdown The Scottish First Minister today set out some of the restrictions which could soon be lifted or modified north of the border. They include:  Businesses: Certain businesses could be allowed to reopen but only if they can guarantee that social distancing will be adhered to.  Schools: Ms … Read more

Royal Society to launch urgent probe into how Britain can ease its way out of its draconian lockdown

What is the coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more