Month: May 2020

Which? reports holiday letting companies to regulator

Which? has reported some of Britain’s biggest holiday lettings companies to the competition regulator after an investigation by the consumer champion raised concerns that they could be using unfair contract terms to deny customers refunds for coronavirus cancellations.

Frustrated customers of companies including Sykes Holiday Cottages and Hoseasons have complained to Which? about problems in securing a refund for holidays cancelled as a result of the UK lockdown.

Some have complained about terms and conditions that make the refund claims process difficult, if not impossible. Others describe being unable to contact the company they booked through or being passed between the company and property owner as neither accepts responsibility.

Which? checked the terms and conditions of five of the UK’s biggest holiday letting companies – Sykes Holiday Cottages, Holidaycottages.co.uk, Hoseasons, Cottages.com and English Country Cottages – to understand consumers’ entitlement to a refund for cancellations under these circumstances, and found terms that could potentially be challenged as unfair under the Consumer Rights Act.

In four of the five companies’ contracts, the terms set out how owners of properties rented through the sites are allowed to cancel the holiday if circumstances outside of their control prevent them from being able to provide the property, but do not explain what the consumer’s right to a refund would be in these circumstances.

Which? is concerned that if the right to a refund isn’t provided by additional terms between the property owner and the customer this term gives property owners too much leeway to keep a customer’s money if a booking is cancelled – making it potentially unfair according to the law. The Holidaycottages.co.uk contract was the only one to not contain this potentially unfair cancellation clause.

Hoseasons, Cottages.com and English Country Cottages also tell customers that bookings are subject to the additional terms and conditions of the property owner and that these are “available from the suppliers if you ask”.

While the booking terms say other information may be provided to the consumer during the booking process, if this doesn’t include these additional terms and they are only available on request, Which? believes this could also potentially be challenged as legally unfair.

Jessica Tappin has been waiting for over a month for a full refund from Sykes Holiday Cottages, after receiving a partial refund and being told the remaining balance would be credited to her account.

When she still had not received the outstanding sum and heard of other customers getting full refunds, she tried sending a letter from a solicitor – but she told  Which? that she has still not received the remaining payment.

Adam Kemp is also waiting for a refund from Hoseasons, who told him he cannot claim a refund without cancellation insurance, despite not cancelling the holiday himself. The company sent him a voucher for the value of the holiday instead.

Adam told Which? that Hoseasons pointed him to its terms and conditions about compensation in the event of circumstances beyond its control, which state that the company doesn’t cover additional losses. But Hoseasons did not point to any terms around refunds for cancellations made by the owner of the property.

Which? has reported its findings with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which this week launched an investigation into unfair terms and bad practice in the UK holiday lettings sector.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “With the coronavirus outbreak wreaking havoc on holiday plans, it’s extremely concerning to hear of so many people being refused refunds from some of the UK’s biggest players in the holiday lettings market.

“The CMA must investigate, and where terms are unfair, take action to ensure that companies act fairly so that holidaymakers are not left out of pocket for their cancelled holidays.”

The A Word: Series three returns on Tuesday

Two years on and things have changed for our A Word family. Joe is 10 years old and living in two places at once, processing the seismic change in his life through the filter of his autism.

His parents Alison and Paul are divorced and live 100 miles apart. Nicola has moved to London, Eddie lives with his dad. Only Maurice is holding it together. And if Maurice is the one holding it together, you know you are in trouble.

A family is always a puzzle and this one needs piecing back together, albeit in a different shape.

New faces joining this series include Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sarah Gordy and David Gyasi.

Filming for the new series of The A Word took place in the Lake District and Manchester.

The A Word series three returns on Tuesday 5 May at 9pm on BBC One and the full boxset will be available on BBC iPlayer.

You can catch up on series one and two on BBC iPlayer right now.

Council support for young people at home

Advice and support for young people and their families in Edinburgh who may be struggling at home during the pandemic is available from thr city council’s team of educational psychologists.

We understand that this is a worrying time for everyone and that with the current school closures, children and young people may feel particularly unsettled.

Although we’ve all had a few weeks to make some adjustments and try to cope with the changes in our lives there will be young people and families who are struggling.

Our team from Psychological Services are offering advice and support to:

  • parents and carers
  • school staff and other professionals who would like support or advice in supporting the learning and wellbeing of our children and young people
  • older children and young people who would like advice on how they manage their home learning and wellbeing

They have produced a guide which provides key messages and recommended resources which you might find helpful.

Some of the key ways to help you cope with the situation include: talk to each other, create routines, keep learning, keep active and plan regular movement time, stay connected virtually with friends and families and take care of yourself the best you can.

The advice from Psychological Services is part of a package of support measures for families in lockdown that we have published on our website. Other online resources focus on parents/carers, early learning and childcare, school age children, digital learning and our own set of handy activities for families to do at home.

In addition the Council – along with third sector partners, wider community and voluntary sector – has been supporting vulnerable families across the city with deliveries of emergency food parcels, overnight respite care for children with special needs, specialist day services and opening two special school hubs for key worker children.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “These are very unusual and uncertain times for everyone especially for our young people whose regular daily routines that they are so familiar with have changed dramatically.

“There might be times when they are feeling safe and happy, or other times when they feel overwhelmed, anxious or low. For many of us feelings can change from day to day, hour to hour, or minute to minute. So it’s important we do all we can to support young people and their families when they are staying safe at home so they can cope with this unprecedented situation.

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “There’s lots of information out there just now so it can all feel a bit overwhelming knowing what’s the best advice for you to follow. The most important thing is to look after yourself, and those around you, and support each other through these uncertain times.

“Whether you’re a young person, or an adult providing support, our team of educational psychologists are happy to speak to you if you want support or advice – please don’t hesitate to contact them if you need help.”

There are a range of ways you can contact our Psychological Services team:

  • Call 0131 469 2800 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) and leave a message with your name, number and child’s school and one of our educational psychologists will call you back as soon as they can
  • Email us at psychologicalservices@ea.edin.sch.uk and include your name and child’s school. One of the team will email you back as soon as they can
  • Follow us on Twitter @CEC_EPS where we are sharing advice and resources that you may find helpful
  • Visit our website where you can access guides to help young people and parents/carers cope with home learning and being at home

VE Day 75th anniversary commemorations in Scotland

Public commemorations to be held online

An online service of remembrance and a two-minute silence will lead Scotland’s public commemorations of the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May.

The ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has meant that plans for the landmark anniversary – which were to include a parade, public concert and reception – will now take place online, with a video message of thanks from the First Minister and a concert in addition to the service and silence.

Led by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland in partnership with the Scottish Government, the commemorations will include children and families currently learning at home.

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey said: “As the 75th anniversary of VE Day approaches, it is only right we pay tribute to the determination and the sacrifices made by the men and women who lived through the Second World War.

“Despite the difficult circumstances we are currently in, Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland are doing outstanding work in helping people across Scotland come together virtually on the 8 May to give thanks to our World War Two generation.

“I hope the whole nation can join with me online in honouring a generation whose contribution continues to impact on us all in many ways.”

Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “The 75th anniversary of VE Day is an important milestone in the nation’s history and we are excited to launch our virtual programme.

“While the lockdown restrictions have forced us to postpone the planned physical events, we are confident that our virtual events will bring people across Scotland together in a memorable, shared moment of commemoration and celebration.”

Poppyscotland Chief Executive Mark Bibbey said: “We had just issued VE Day learning resources to every school in Scotland when the lockdown came into effect. Nevertheless, these have been amended and are now an excellent way for young people to find out more about the significance of VE Day while learning at home.

“We’ve had incredibly positive feedback from the parents who have already made use of them and would encourage anyone home schooling utilise this comprehensive digital resource.”

The Legion Scotland Service of Remembrance will be broadcast  on Legion Scotland and Poppy Scotland’s social media channels from 10.40 a.m. until 11.15 a.m. The online concert will then begin at 11.45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Police issue vehicle crime prevention advice

There has been a slight rise in thefts from motor vehicles and theft of motor vehicles in Edinburgh. Here’s some advice on how to prevent these:

Despite modern locking systems on vehicles, some criminals do manage to overcome them by using devices bought legally and relatively cheaply on the internet. All of which work by affecting the radio frequency imitated by the key fob / device, enabling vehicles to be stolen despite owners having possession of the key(s).

Key and Fob

The majority of vehicles are accessed by a combination of traditional key and fob remote. The fob tending to be used more frequently than the key, due to the convenience of simply pushing a button. However, criminals can block the radio signal between the fob and vehicle, using a signal blocker.

You press your fob and walk away as normal thinking the vehicle is locked. But it isn’t!
Once inside your vehicle, thieves can remove any items they like or drive it away by plugging a re-programing device into the on board diagnostics port and program a key, which may only take seconds.
Preventative measures:
• Physically checking the vehicle is locked and checking ALL the doors
• Using the traditional key to lock up
• Make sure the key and any spares are stored securely and safely
• Consider using a steering lockKeyless Vehicles
Keyless vehicles automatically lock / unlock depending on the proximity of a key device, which is usually no bigger than a bank card. The system operates via radio signals passed between vehicle and key device. These signals can be intercepted by criminals.

Keys constantly emit a signal, (at times even detectable from within a building), which can be picked up by anyone with an appropriate transmitter relay device.
The signal is relayed back to the vehicle, which unlocks and allows the start button to work and once away from the scene of the crime, a new key can be programmed via the OBD port.

Preventative measures:

• Keep your key device in a Faraday pouch (see picture above ), which has a lining that prevents the items inside from receiving or transmitting radio frequency signals.
• Check vehicle doors are locked before walking away
• Do not store keys near windows or doors
• If you buy a second hand keyless car, get the key reprogrammed
• Make sure the key and any spares are stored securely and safely
• Consider using a steering lockGeneral advice:

• Do not leave any valuable items in the vehicle- if left on show they will encourage thieves to break in. Please note areas such as glove boxes and under seats are not secure and not suitable for the storage of valuables.
• Consider using a steering locks a visible deterrent to thieves – someone who is so obviously conscious of security is less likely to leave valuable in a vehicle.
• Avoid parking in dark, secluded areas, choose locations that are well lit and over looked by houses, passers-by and covered by CCTV if possible.

Latest images revealed for capital’s new New Town

Homes, Ofices and Hotel Planned for Former RBS Site Creating 700+ Jobs for Local Economy

New images have been published of New Town North – one of the largest regeneration projects to take place in Edinburgh for a generation.

The images have been revealed as part of an online public consultation event, launched in April, illustrating the latest design phase of the development to the local community.

The ambitious New Town North development is one of Scotland’s largest brownfield regeneration projects. It is set to transform the 5.9-acre former Royal Bank of Scotland site in Edinburgh’s New Town and is being delivered by property company Ediston on behalf of Orion Capital Managers, whose fund bought the site in May 2019.

Ediston is currently leading a major public consultation programme for the site, which sits between Dundas Street and King George V Park, prior to submitting a planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council later this year.

The developer launched the online interactive consultation following the cancellation of the previously planned public event following the coronavirus outbreak. The consultation can be viewed by logging on to the New Town North website: www.newtownnorth.co.uk.

Proposals include a mixed-use development replacing existing buildings with new homes, build-to-rent apartments, premium ofice space and a high-class hotel. Also planned are retail outlets, gym and health facilities together with extensive landscaping and new public realm.

Ross McNulty, Development Director at Ediston, reaffirmed the developer’s commitment to delivering a high-quality scheme. “Now, more than ever, we are 100% committed to progressing with our planning application this year,” he said.

“New Town North will provide a significant boost for the local area which will have a positive impact on local businesses -who are in desperate need of some good news right now.

“This is our third consultation event and provides an opportunity for the local community to have a clearer idea on how the development will look – even if they can’t attend an exhibition in person. Our team is working hard to be ready for significant engagement with residents to make sure they all have their say in our proposals.

“We are aware that this is a complex and large brownfield site with important links to some of Edinburgh’s finest streets and green spaces, and we are making sure we consult properly with local people to deliver a high-quality development.”

Research shows the New Town North development is poised to bring significant economic benefit to the local area and wider Edinburgh economy, following the closure of the RBS building in 2017 which employed more than 2,500 employees on the site.

The report, by UK planning and engineering consultancy The Waterman Group and commissioned by Ediston, reveals that the operational phase of the development would create more than 700 full-time jobs whilst generating an annual GVA (Gross Added Value) economic uplift of £34.4 million to the regional economy.

The construction phase alone would create a further £27.7 million GVA at a regional level, creating a further 60 full time jobs.

The site today

Mr McNulty added: “From our discussions with the local business community, we are aware of the impact that a large redundant site can have on the local area – and the huge potential of creating a new attractive destination and focal point for the area.

“Our research highlights the significant investment benefits that this high-quality development would bring to the Edinburgh economy, as well as helping to meet the pressing need for high quality new homes and ofice space.”

The New Town North development site was formerly the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland. RBS first developed the site in 1978 to house ofices and a data centre. Before then, the site was home to St Bernard’s Football Club which disbanded in 1947.

Hancock: “I can announce that we have met our goal”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock gave the 1 May 2020 daily press briefing on the UK government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Good afternoon and welcome once again to Downing Street for the daily coronavirus briefing. I’m joined today by Professor John Newton, who co-ordinates our work on testing, and Professor Stephen Powis, who is the Medical Director of the NHS.

Every day we are working through our plan to protect life and protect the NHS by slowing the spread and building the capacity so that, at all times, the NHS has got the capacity to give can offer the very best care to everyone who needs it.

In today’s briefing, after setting out the daily statistics, I want to talk about testing.

But beforehand I would like to share some really good news. Earlier this week, I said that we are now able to begin the restoration of NHS services. Now that we are past the peak, I can tell you about the next step ‒ the restoration of fertility services.

Few families have been untouched by the amazing advances in fertility treatment over the past generation, and I know just how time-sensitive fertility treatment can be. And I know how important it is to the families affected. And I know that this treatment can change lives for the better, forever.

So when I say thank you to all of you everybody watching for staying at home to protect the NHS, of course I’m saying thank you on behalf of the lives you are saving. But I’m also saying thanks on behalf of the lives that the NHS can now once again, help to create.

Because, together, we have protected the NHS, and now we are now restoring the NHS, and restoring the chance for so many couples to start a family.

Daily statistics

Turning to the figures, 177,454 people have tested positive for coronavirus, an increase of 6,201 since yesterday. 15,111 people are currently in hospital with coronavirus and 27,510 people have now sadly died across all settings, an increase of 739. As one, we will remember them and treasure their memories.

This is a virus that has a devastating impact on families, friends, on local communities. And right across government, we are working day and night to defeat it.

At the beginning of last month, at this podium, I set a goal that anyone who needs a test should get a test. And that as a nation, we should achieve 100,000 tests per day by the end of the month. I knew that it was an audacious goal, but we needed an audacious goal because testing is so important for getting Britain back on her feet.

I can announce that we have met our goal. The number of tests, yesterday, on the last day of April, was 122,347. This unprecedented expansion in British testing capability is an incredible achievement. But it is not my achievement. It is a national achievement, achieved by a huge team of people working together.

And I tell you this: the testing capacity that we built, together, will help every single person in this country. Testing is crucial to suppress the virus.

I know from personal experience, too, just how much people with symptoms want to know if they have got the disease. I know that I did. It helps remove the worry, it helps keep people safe, and it will help us to unlock the lockdown.

So many people have tragically died and the challenge that we still face is so huge, but we are making real progress.

I want to take a moment to thank and pay tribute to the incredible team who did this together and who joined together in one of the greatest national mobilisations that we’ve seen.

We brought together the best civil servants, the best minds from the private sector, the best scientists, the best lab technicians and the best of the best in the armed forces.

Setting stretching, ambitious goals in a crisis has a galvanising effect on everyone involved. It’s a mission. If we hadn’t been so bold, if we had chosen a safer, easier path, I just can’t see how we would have built the capacity that we need.

In a short few weeks, we’ve:

  • created a new test for the virus
  • built a network of regional testing centres
  • put a fleet of mobile testing units on the road.
  • and created home testing kits, so if you can’t get to a test, we can get the test to you

We’ve more than doubled the capacity of NHS and Public Health England labs, and created 3 brand new mega-labs to analyse the results.

So many people have played a part in this work. British diagnostic companies like Randox and Oxford Nanopore and Medical Wire and DNANudge and Samba. Logistics companies like the Royal Mail and Yodel, who were brilliant and got us out of a real hole this week. Academics like Professor Derek Crook and Sir John Bell from Oxford, and Professor Ara Darzi from Imperial.

Deloitte and Boots who have delivered our drive-through centres, AstroZeneca, GSK and Novacyte, whose lab goes on stream next week, Public Health England and the NHS, of course, who pulled out all the stops. Professor Sharon Peacock, Professor John Newton And UK Biocentre and the Crick, who set up high-tech laboratories.

And also it wasn’t just a national effort. People from across the world ‒ including ThermoFisher, Hologic, Abbott and Amazon from the US, Qiagen from Germany and Roche from Switzerland.

And this is how we did it. Because everybody everyone worked together with grit and determination to reach a shared goal, and they thrived because the team contained a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and, critically, a diversity of thought.

And when things went wrong, which they did every single day, believe me, we didn’t ask who we could blame – we asked how we could fix it.

So, to my team, I want to say: you toiled tirelessly, night and day, and I am so proud of what you have achieved. To all of you, on behalf of the government and on behalf of the whole country, thank you.

As the Prime Minister has said, a big increase in testing provides a way to unlock the puzzle of coronavirus, and testing forms the first element of our plan to test, track and trace.

By mid-May we will have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place. That work is underway as we speak. And if it needs to be bigger, we will scale it as required.

The combination of contact tracers and new technology, through our new COVID-19 NHS app will help tell us where the virus is spreading and help everyone to control new infections.

People will be able to know if they have been in close contact with someone who is transmitting the disease, and take the action that they need to. Our full-scale test, track and trace model will drive the infection rate down and the lower the R, and the lower the number of new infections, the more effective the track and trace system will be.

Tracking and tracing will allow us to get R down, and hold R down, and so it will allow us to lift lockdown measures.

Now this disease affects us all indiscriminately, we’ve seen that. In recent weeks, we have had to impinge on historic liberties to protect our NHS and our loved ones, and yet our goal must be freedom. Freedom from the virus, yes – and we will not lift measures until it is safe to do so.

But also we care about the restoration of social freedom and economic freedom too. Each citizen’s right to do as they please. For now, we are working together to stay home. We are impinging on the freedom of all, for the safety of all.

With this next mission, of test, track and trace, I am seeking a solution that allows us – by each of us participating – to target the measures that are needed with much more precision, and so to reassert as much as is safely possible, the liberty of us all.

That is our next mission. But for now, the most important thing for everyone to do, to keep R down and to get us all through this, is to maintain the spirit and the resolve that has had such an impact thus far.

So, please, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

First Minister: testing target exceeded but lockdown vigilance remains vital

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh, on Friday, 1 May:

Good afternoon. Thanks for joining us for today’s briefing.

I’ll start with an update on some of the key statistics in relation to Covid-19 in Scotland.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 11,654 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 301 from yesterday.

A total of 1809 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – that is an increase of 61 from yesterday.

A total of 110 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is an increase of one since yesterday.

I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 2,659 patients who had tested positive for the virus have been able to leave hospital. I wish all of them well.

However I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 40 deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 1,515.

I stress this every day, but it is important – I never think of these numbers as statistics. They represent individuals whose loss is a source of sorrow to many. So once again, I send my deepest condolences to everyone who is grieving.

I also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers. The entire country deeply appreciates everything you are doing for us.

As I indicated yesterday, I want to use today’s briefing to give a progress report on Coronavirus testing.

I’ll say more next week about the longer-term strategy for testing. I’ll set out then how what’s called a ‘Test, Trace and Isolate’ approach will play a part in helping us emerge gradually from lockdown, and I’ll set out what we are doing to prepare for such an approach.

Today, though, I will look at where we are now, and report progress on two separate but obviously related matters.

Firstly, the laboratory capacity we now have in Scotland to process tests and secondly, the number of tests per day that were carried out as of yesterday.

Please, in advance, forgive me for the number of statistics that I am about to cite.

Finally, I will set out the next steps we will take to expand testing in this phase, to help our efforts to suppress the virus, especially in care homes.

So let me start with the daily capacity to process tests.

At the beginning of April, I said that by the end of the month I wanted us to have testing capacity within our NHS labs of 3,500 tests a day.

For context, at the start of the Coronavirus outbreak, we had two NHS labs, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh, that between them could do 350 tests a day.

I can confirm that we now have NHS labs operating in all 14 health board areas.

And yesterday, we met our target of having the capacity to process 3,500 tests per day, In fact, we exceeded it. As of now, we have active lab capacity for 4350 tests a day to be carried out within the NHS.

And by the end of next week, the capacity within the NHS will increase further to around 6,500 tests per day, and we are aiming to reach 8,000 by the middle of this month.

I also promised that we would work to ensure that Scotland benefited from UK wide efforts to reach capacity of 100,000 tests per day.

We are doing that. The Lighthouse Laboratory based at Glasgow University – which became operational last week – is one of three Lighthouse Centres across the UK.

The majority of the samples tested there are taken from the regional drive through testing centres in Scotland – in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Perth – and the new mobile testing sites that are being established, all as part of the UK government network.

The Glasgow University lab has a current testing capacity of 4,000 tests a day, though that will reduce to 2,000 a day for the next four days as they move to a new shift system, before increasing to 4,000 again from Tuesday.

So in summary on capacity – between the 4350 tests that can now be processed in our NHS labs and the 4,000 in the Lighthouse Lab, the total normal daily capacity for Coronovirus testing in Scotland is now 8,350.

And with the further projected increases in NHS capacity that I mentioned a moment ago, I expect that to be at least 10,500 by this time next week and 12,000 by the middle of the month.

That is a significant increase in capacity and I pay tribute to all those who have worked so hard to achieve it – both in our NHS Scotland labs and in the UK government testing network.

But of course laboratory capacity is one thing. What matters is the volume of testing we do and the clinical objectives we set for that. So we are also working to increase the number of tests that are carried out and extend categories for testing to better equip us to suppress the virus.

It is really important to stress that fluctuations in demand mean that we will never perfectly match number of tests to capacity. It is also the case that for good clinical reasons, many people need more than one test, so the number of tests carried out will never equal the number of people tested. But our aim is to use as much of our capacity each day as possible.

Given that our capacity has now expanded significantly, that means we can further extend eligibility for testing – which I will come on to shortly.

But, firstly, let me report on the numbers we reached yesterday for tests carried out.

Between tests in hospitals, care homes and the community, I can confirm that there were 2,537 NHS tests carried out yesterday.

In total since the start of this outbreak, 74,984 NHS tests have been carried out.

In addition, 2,124 tests were carried out yesterday at the regional drive through testing centres. These figures have not previously been included in our daily figures – they will be from now on, though because this is data coming to us from the UK wide system, it will be a few more days until we can break it down into positive and negative tests.

In total, therefore, I can confirm that 4,661 tests were carried out across Scotland yesterday, with 4,187 people tested.

The final statistic I want to give you relates to key workers. 22,400 keyworkers or their family members have now been tested within the NHS system, over 4000 of those in the last week alone.

Given the increases in capacity we have seen in the last week – and to ensure that we are fully utilising that capacity – it is clear that we can now extend eligibility for testing further, so I want now to turn to those next steps.

It is important to stress, though, that this should not simply be an exercise in driving up numbers. Tests, particularly for frail, older people, can be invasive and unpleasant, so our decisions must always be clinically driven.

As we know, tackling the spread of the virus is an urgent priority everywhere, but particularly in our care homes.

Currently around 40% of our care homes have cases of coronavirus within them.  We already test care home residents with symptoms, those being admitted to care homes and symptomatic care home staff.  I can confirm that we will now expand that approach.

We now intend to undertake enhanced outbreak investigation in all care homes where there are any cases of COVID – this will involve testing, subject to individuals’ consent, all residents and staff, whether or not they have symptoms.

In addition, where a care home with an outbreak is part of a group or chain and staff might still be moving between homes, we will also carry out urgent testing in any linked homes.

We will also begin sampling testing in care homes where there are no cases. By definition this will also include testing residents and staff who are not symptomatic.

This is a significant expansion and we do not underestimate the logistical and workforce requirements.

Now we have the increasing testing capacity, we will make it happen as swiftly as practicable.

I am delighted to say that Jill Young, Chief Executive of the Louisa Jordan Hospital, has agreed to lead the team tasked with delivery of this and NHS Boards and their partners will put this into effect from next week.

I am also able to confirm today an extension of eligibility for testing through the UK wide booking system and drive through and mobile testing centres.

As of now, we are expanding eligibility to include all those over the age of 65 with symptoms and their households, and in addition to keyworkers, anyone – although there should not be many people in this group – who is not a keyworker, but who has to leave home to go to work.

We will take steps over the coming days to increase public awareness of the ability of eligible groups to book tests through this system.

If there is high demand there may be a need for an online queuing system, and if capacity is insufficient we will work with the UK government on further expansion. We will also work flexibly between the two testing systems to ensure we make the most of the total capacity we have.

So in summary, over the past month we have made significant strides in our testing capacity in Scotland.

We have not just met the target of having the capacity for 3,500 tests a day within the NHS but exceeded it. That, coupled with our participation in the UK wide system means there is current capacity for more than 8,000 tests per day in Scotland. And through further NHS work, that will expand further in the next week.

Over 4,000 tests were carried out yesterday, and now that we have that increased and increasing capacity we have been able to announce a further expansion of testing within care homes and also extend those within the general public who can access a test.

As I said at the outset, the expansion of testing that I set out today is separate and distinct from our move to establish a Test, Trace, Isolate system as part of our approach to changing, and hopefully alleviating, the lockdown measures while continuing to suppress the virus.

We will set out more detail on that next week but I should stress that will require us to increase our capacity even further than the levels I have been able to report today.

In a moment, the Health Secretary will set out one final piece of information about testing – our use of antibody testing.

Before that, though, I want to stress this.

Testing is a really important of our efforts to tackle this virus. It is important now and will be important in the next phase.

But it remains the case that, right now, the most important thing we are all doing is staying at home and following the lockdown rules.

As I said yesterday, that is making a difference and allowing us to see some light at the end of the tunnel. But that progress is fragile and if we ease up now, that light could be extinguished.

So please, especially as we head into another weekend, please stick with it. Thank you again for your compliance and for doing the right thing in the interests of the whole country.

Aldi provides face masks for all store colleagues

Aldi will be providing the option of face masks to all its store-based colleagues to further support their safety as they continue to feed the nation.

This move is in addition to the previously announced provision of gloves and clear screens that are being installed at more than 7,000 checkouts. Colleagues can also now access the Government’s Covid-19 testing programme for critical workers.

Support for vulnerable and self-isolating customers

Aldi has also introduced a voucher scheme to make it easier for volunteers to buy food on behalf of the vulnerable and those self-isolating. The vouchers are available to buy on a new Aldi voucher website vouchers.aldi.co.uk.

Once purchased, the vouchers can be posted to any address in the UK so they can be given to volunteers, friends or family members to shop on behalf of vulnerable people.

Vouchers are available in denominations of £5.00 and £10.00 with no additional costs to customers for postage.

Additional support for British producers

Aldi has agreed to buy additional volumes of British beef to support farmers faced with surplus product due to closures of restaurants and catering businesses.

It is selling 21-day matured British rump steak (£8.99, 900g) as a Specialbuy across its 877 UK stores.

Aldi is the UK’s fastest-growing fresh meat retailer and has reaffirmed its commitment to support the beef farming sector by spot buying additional volume where possible. The current Specialbuy alone consists of over 130,000 British rump steaks.

It is also helping horticultural suppliers by increasing orders of Spring plants that would otherwise be disposed of because of the closure of their normal routes to market.

Aldi has agreed to sell over 200,000 Spring Perennials from its long-term partner Lovania Nurseries, who have worked with Aldi for over 20 years.

Lovania have also benefitted from Aldi’s small supplier payment scheme, which was recently extended to guarantee immediate payments for all suppliers with a turnover of less than £1m. This is benefitting over 3,000 Aldi suppliers during this difficult period.

New online support hub launched for people with post-COVID breathlessness

Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation have launched an online Post-COVID HUB and dedicated helpline to support people affected by breathing difficulties after COVID-19.

While evidence on the long-term health effects of COVID-19 is still emerging, a range of early studies have suggested that people hospitalised with severe symptoms from the virus are developing chronic respiratory symptoms.[1]

Post-Covid.org.uk, is a site for patients, healthcare professionals and researchers. It aims to bring experts together to lead ground-breaking research, to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on respiratory health and provide a central point for health information and advice for patients.

Joseph, Head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Scotland, said: “As a respiratory charity, we support the thousands of people across Scotland who have breathing difficulties. We understand the toll it can have on people’s lives and the concern many have about the long-term effects COVID-19 will have on their lung health.

“At a time when the NHS is under immense pressure, we want to ensure anyone who’s respiratory health is affected post-COVID can get the help and support they need. That is why we are proud to be launching our Post-COVID HUB.

“The HUB is the first of its kind in the UK. It brings together patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals to provide the latest information on the impact of COVID-19.  We also want to ensure that research and clinical services develop so we can effectively treat any new chronic breathlessness emerging from this crisis.”

The hub is also supported by academics, professional bodies, and respiratory experts:

Professor Jon Bennett, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the British Thoracic Society, said: “We support the launch of the Post-COVID HUB, which will be critical in assessing what care people need post-COVID. Many people are suffering an acute severe lung injury with some ending up in intensive care, and we know that this can have an impact on people long term. 

“We urgently need post-COVID care research and guidelines, to ensure we know what the best treatments are ongoing, and that people can access appropriate support and maximise their recovery.”

Carol Stonham MBE, Chair of the Primary Care Respiratory Society & Senior NHS Nurse Practitioner (respiratory) said: “We welcome the introduction of the Post-COVID HUB. These are times of rapid change with many people recovering from sudden episodes of severe illness requiring critical care, then returning to community or primary care for ongoing management.

“Some will sustain ongoing lung damage, others psychological trauma. The sharing of resources allows clinicians to care for people safely and effectively wherever care needs to be delivered.”