Glastonbury

The Somerset Coronavirus Support Helpline number, 0300 790 6275, is now live and will make it easier for people access any local authority help they may need, including emotional support, in the current crisis. The new number won’t cover medical advice, for which people will need to continue to use the 111 NHS online service and only ring 111 if they cannot get help online. More Info

Clap for our Carers. Every Thursday from 20.00 until 20.05. Show your support for those supporting us. Healthcare workers, emergency services, armed services, delivery drivers, shop workers, teachers, waste collectors, manufacturers, postal workers, cleaners, vets, engineers and all those who are out there making an unbelievable difference to our lives in these challenging times… bravo, you are amazing!

 

National

• It is too early to lift the lockdown, the first secretary of state Dominic Raab said. The measures will need to stay in place until the UK has passed the peak – the government will not give an update on the measures until the end of next week, he said.
• People are being implored to stay at home this bank holiday weekend as the evidence suggests that physical distancing measures are indeed working. Sir Patrick Vallance said the number of cases was beginning to flatten somewhat and there were signs the number being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms was showing signs of “levelling off”, as were the number of patients in intensive care. He said this illustrates how crucial it is that everyone continue to follow the advice.
• The prime minister, Boris Johnson, was said to be still in intensive care (his fourth day there) but his condition “continues to improve” and he is “in good spirits”. He continues to receive standard oxygen treatment.
• The UK hospital death toll for patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 rose by 881 from 7,097 to 7,978.
• The Bank of England will temporarily directly finance the extra spending the government needs to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
• Thousands of public sector workers are concerned about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in their place of work, Unison said. Staff from across the NHS, social care and local services told the union they were scared that without the right PPE, they risked contracting coronavirus and passing it on to their families, or the elderly and vulnerable people they work with and care for. Unison has urged the government to ensure workers get the necessary protective kit to prevent more tragic deaths from occurring.
• The University of St Andrews said it has lost £25m in research, conference and rental income due to the coronavirus crisis and now faces having to make significant spending cuts.
• Airbnb halted all bookings in the UK, other than those for key workers and other types of essential stays.