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Liverpool reverse decision to furlough staff after fierce criticism Club had said they would furlough around 200 staffChief executive says Liverpool ‘truly sorry’ for mistake Liverpool have reversed a controversial decision to put around 200 non-playing staff on furlough following widespread criticism of their plans to use the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.The world’s seventh-richest football club announced on Saturday that it was to follow Newcastle, Tottenham, Norwich and Bournemouth in furloughing non-playing staff during the coronavirus crisis, with the taxpayer effectively paying 80% of the wages of those affected and the club paying the remaining 20%. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK ministers accused of prioritising careers over lives of coronavirus victims FDA union says ‘cowardly’ briefings show some in government putting self-preservation firstWhy are some in government wasting time briefing against the civil service?Coronavirus – latest updatesMinisters have been accused of focusing on saving their careers instead of the lives of coronavirus victims by authorising “cowardly and shameful” anonymous briefings against some of the UK’s most senior public officials.Smears by unnamed Downing Street sources against Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, and Public Health England (PHE) executives show that “some within government are still putting self-preservation first”, according to t...

What are the UK's options for exiting the coronavirus lockdown? Strategies could include mass testing, rolling on-off lockdowns and immunity passportsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFour days ago, Boris Johnson was heralding a ramp-up of testing as “the way through the coronavirus puzzle”. His health secretary, Matt Hancock, was even floating the idea of immunity passports for people who could be confirmed as having recovered from the virus, so that they could return to work.But on Monday the government’s message was very different, following multiple reports that antibody tests were showing poor reliability. One government adviser, Prof Sir John Bell of Oxford University, said testing was at least a month away. Continue reading... ...

UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson could spend second night in hospital, minister says Communities secretary does not rule out PM spending more nights in hospital as cabinet meeting on Tuesday postponedLatest developments: at a glanceThe medical tests Boris Johnson is likely to have in hospital Global coronavirus - live updatesStudents share stories of a future snatched by coronavirusSee all our coronavirus coverage 12.58pm BSTThe Duchess of Cornwall has been reunited with the Prince of Wales after coming out of self isolation, PA reports. 12.43pm BSTScotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is holding her first coronavirus briefing since the resignation of Catherine Calderwood as Scotland’s chief medical officer.She says a home care worker has died of coronavirus in West...

Coronavirus live news: Spain deaths lower for fourth day in a row as Germany sees further case drop Japan prepares for state of emergency; US faces ‘hardest and saddest week’; UK PM Boris Johnson in hospital; Bronx Zoo tiger tests positiveLatest developments: at a glanceEurope’s numbers offer hope as US nears peak momentBoris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirusUK coronavirus - liveSee all of our coronavirus coverage 12.57pm BSTCoronavirus-related deaths in Spain have dropped for the fourth consecutive day in a row, according to the latest figures released on Monday, showing 637 deaths in the past 24 hours, the lowest number in nearly two weeksFatalities, which were sharply down on the record 950 on Thursday, brought the total deaths in the country to 13,055, ...

Debenhams prepares to bring in administrators as Covid-19 hits – business live Rolling live coverage of business, economics and markets as stock markets gain on hopes coronavirus lockdowns are slowing disease’s spreadDebenhams files notice of intent to appoint administrators British construction activity, employment and outlook all fall steeply UK car sales slump by 44.4%; but battery sales continue surgeFTSE 100 up by 2.2% at midday; German shares gain 4.5% Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 12.33pm BSTLooking ahead to the US open at 14:30 BST, US stock markets are set to rise strongly, following the lead set by their European counterparts.S&P 500 futures are up by 3.6%, while Dow Jones industrial average futures have gained 3.5%. 12.27pm BSTDe...

Japan poised to declare state of emergency over coronavirus Country had avoided large number of cases and deaths but there is growing alarm over rise in infections in capitalCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJapan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is poised to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday in an attempt to stem a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the capital and other major cities.The measure, to go into effect for about a month, will enable local authorities to urge people to stay at home except to shop for food, seek medical care, go to work if necessary, and take daily exercise. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus Move follows rumours that prime minister’s condition had been worseningCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson has been admitted to hospital due to coronavirus after suffering 10 days of symptoms including a high fever, bringing doubts about his capability to lead the response to the pandemic despite No 10 insisting it was purely precautionary.Johnson was taken to an unnamed London hospital on Sunday after days of persistent symptoms, during which time he has been self-isolating. Last week No 10 had denied the prime minister was more seriously ill than claimed. Continue reading... Go to Source

US coronavirus live: Trump begins Sunday night White House briefing Fauci: ‘This is going to be a bad week … just buckle down’Trump warns of ‘one of toughest weeks’ as deaths pass 8,000312,085 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in USLive global updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSupport the Guardian’s independent journalism. Make a contribution 12.45am BSTWhen asked why he is promoting hydroxychloroquine, an unproven treatment for coronavirus, Trump said again, “What do they have to lose?”“We don’t have time to take a couple years to test it out,” he said. 12.44am BSTDespite saying there is a “glimmer of hope” in the fight against coronavirus, Trump agreed with warnings from the US surgeon general who said Amer...

Coronavirus 'game changer' testing kits could be unreliable, UK scientists say Concern continues over whether government’s virus pledges stand up to scrutinyThe huge stock of 17.5m antibody home testing kits ordered by the government after Boris Johnson said they could be a “game changer” could in fact be unreliable, scientists have said, saying that they may fail to detect up to half of coronavirus cases.After the prospect of the pregnancy test-style kits was first raised, it was suggested the tests would be made available “within days” on Amazon and via Boots, to allow people who have had the virus to return to the workplace confident in the knowledge that they are safe. Continue reading... Go to Source

Scotland's chief medical officer quits over second home row Catherine Calderwood steps down after visiting second home twice despite advice to stay inCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, has quit after facing intense criticism for breaking her own rules to twice visit her second home during the coronavirus outbreak.In a statement issued on Sunday night, more than seven hours after insisting she would carry on, Calderwood said she had again discussed the controversy with Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon and concluded her position was untenable. Continue reading... Go to Source

Scientists ask: could summer heat help beat Covid-19? Experts are watching carefully to see if this virus will follow the seasonal pattern of flu, but warn differences may be minorCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBalmy days are coming, with temperatures forecast to reach 20C in some regions. The warm weather will bring welcome respite to lockdown Britain - and put pressure on authorities trying to control crowds and gatherings.However, scientists also believe warm weather could bring new insights into the virus by showing whether it reacts to the onset of spring. Flu epidemics tend to die out as winter ends; could sunshine, similarly, affect the behaviour of the coronavirus and its spread? It is a key question, and epidemiologists will be watching for ch...

Hertfordshire hospital forced to consider who should be refused oxygen Watford general hospital declared a critical incident on Saturday over pressure to vital suppliesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCoronavirus latest: at a glanceOxygen supplies at a Hertfordshire hospital inundated with coronavirus patients became so precarious last week that officials considered how to decide who should receive the gas and who should miss out and likely die, the Guardian understands.The oxygen system at Watford general hospital came close to breaking point on Saturday, when a critical incident was declared and staff had to tell the public not to come to the hospital. Some patients were moved out to prevent the vital system failing. Continue reading... Go to Source

Scotland's chief medical officer steps back from public briefings Catherine Calderwood apologises after visiting second home despite issuing advice to stay inCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScotland’s chief medical officer has been forced to step back from public briefings after a furious reaction to news she broke her own rules to twice visit her second home during the coronavirus outbreak.But despite mounting calls for Catherine Calderwood to resign from her position, Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday insisted that she would continue to play a key role in guiding the Scottish government’s response to the crisis. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus live news: Italy reports lowest increase in deaths in two weeks Spain records smallest rate of increase in infections; Trump tells Americans to expect ‘a lot of death’; Global deaths approach 65,000Latest developments: at a glanceUK coronavirus – latestSweden prepares for possible tighter measuresSpanish PM: survival of EU rests on response to crisisSee all of our coronavirus coverage 6.52pm BSTTurkey’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 73 on Saturday to a total of 574. New confirmed cases rose by 3,135 to 27,069, health minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.He added that 20,065 tests for the virus had been carried out in Turkey over the last 24 hours.Test sayısında 20.000’i aştık. İyileşen toplam hasta say&...