Yahoo News Coronavirus: The 15 major developments that happened on Monday
Here’s what you need to know on 18 May. This article was updated at 3pm.
Deaths: The number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK after contracting coronavirus has risen by 134 in 24 hours. The increase consists of 122 hospital patients in England, two people in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland, and four hospital patients and care home residents in Wales. Read more here.
Policy: Policing was stepped up at railway stations as services increased to 70% capacity. Network Rail warned it will close stations if there are too many commuters and safe social distancing isn’t possible. Read more here.
Everyone in the UK with symptoms of COVID-19 can get a test if they are aged five or over, Matt Hancock has announced. The health secretary unveiled the expansion of the government’s testing programme in the Commons on Monday amid growing concern over plans to reopen schools to some children on 1 June. Read more here.
Care homes: More than a third of care homes in England have reported outbreaks of coronavirus, Downing Street confirmed on Monday. The prime minister’s official spokesman said 5,889 care homes had seen a suspected outbreak of symptomatic or confirmed COVID-19 as of 17 May. Read more here.
Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon has announced Scotland will begin to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions from 28 May. The first minister said she would publish a “route-map” out of lockdown on Thursday, with “phased” changes to the guidelines to take place “carefully and gradually” later in the year. Read more here.
Wales: A family of 11 people were stopped by police after making a 120-mile journey in three cars during the coronavirus lockdown. Officers intercepted the family on Sunday after they made the two-and-a-half hour trip from Manchester in England to Anglesey in Wales. Read more here.
Sport: Premier League clubs have unanimously approved plans to restart training in small groups from Tuesday. Players must be two metres apart from each other at all times, with no contact training allowed yet. Read more here.
Celtic have been declared winners of the Scottish Premiership for the ninth year in a row as bosses decided to put an end to the season with a points per game average system. Hearts were relegated. Read more here.
Science: Loss of smell and taste have been officially added as symptoms of coronavirus. It means anyone experiencing anosmia will be asked to self-isolate. Read more here.
Test and trace: The government has recruited 21,000 people in England to work on its test, track and trace programme. The figure includes 7,500 health care professionals who will provide our call handlers with expert clinical advice. Read more here.
Education: The government will make its decision on the reopening of schools just four days before the planned starting date, a teaching union has claimed. However on Monday, Downing Street insisted a decision on whether schools will return next month will be made this week. Read more here.
Poorer families are less likely to want to send their children back to school, a survey suggests. That’s despite children from more affluent families spending an extra 75 minutes a day on educational activities. Read more here.
Rest of the world
Spain’s transport minister says it hopes to kickstart its travel economy by the end of June by welcoming tourists again. The country has got a temporary two-week quarantine policy in place for all arriving in the country. Read more here.
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Positive news
A businessman has devised a plan to help garment workers hit by the coronavirus pandemic and prevent clothing waste. Cally Russell, 32, from Edinburgh, is selling half-price boxes of spring 2020 clothing after retail companies pulled out of contracts they had with factories in Bangladesh. Read more here.
Italy is returning to work after months of lockdown. Customers having coffee may still have to be two metres away from others, but travel is now permitted within regions. Read more here.
