Welcome, everyone, to the governments daily briefing. Im joined by the chief of the nhs and the chief medical officer. Id like to update you all on the facts of this bright of covid19 and the steps we are taking in the battle against the coronavirus. 113,077 people have now been tested for the virus. 14,543 have tested positive, an increase in the last day. The best analysis now is that the rate of infection has been doubling every three to four days. And of those who have contracted the virus, 759 have sadly died. Our thoughts and prayers of the families of those who have passed away. These figures are a powerful reminder of the need for all of us to act. We need to slow the spread of the virus and strengthen the all. Ability to protect as strict us all. Strict social distancing measures have been put in place so if your people should need hospital treatment at any one time. The measures we put in place follow scientific and medical advice, and are designed to reduce the rate of infection. And as well as acting to slow the spread of the virus, were also acting this to strengthen the nhs. Re increasing the number expanding the number of beds, increasing the number of staff, to give people the care they need when they need it most. Id like to thank all those involved in this effort to reinforce the front line in the battle against the virus. Werelitary personnel hoping to fit out a new hospital in london and test out new equipment. Doctors, nurses, and support staff. Those in manufacturing. And the hundreds of thousands who volunteered to help. And this helps us all. The premised or has coronavirus. He was tested the Prime Minister has coronavirus. He was tested. He plans to lead the government response, sharing meetings and communicating with key members of his team through conferencing. Earlier, he led the effort on wanting the latest front against covid19. I can and as the Prime Minister brought together businesses, research institutes, and university in a new alliance to test capacity for frontline workers. Increasing our Testing Capacity is crucial in our response to an hour fight against coronavirus. This is a particular priority for those in the sector that are working so hard to keep a safe. Testing whether people currently have the disease so our health and social care workers can have security in the knowledge they are safe to return to work if their test is negative. These will be trial for people on the frontline starting immediately, with hundreds to take place by the end of the weekend, scaling up next week. Of course, protecting frontline workers is at the forefront of everyones mind at the moment. Last night, millions of people paid a fantastic tribute to heroes of the nhs when they stepped outside their front doors and clapped. Along side those, i also want to thank those who work in Food Production and retail, those who work for the royal mail and transport, teachers and our social workers. They all deserve our gratitude. Having talked to trade unions and business leaders, Civil Servants and volunteers, and ministers in scotland, wales, and northern ireland, i want to record my admiration for the National Solidarity being shown in the fight against this disease. All of us can support our nhs by continuing to follow the guidance, to stay at home, to protect our nhs, and to save lives. I will now turn to the chief executive of the neches, simon stevens. Simon . Simon thank you, michael. 00 coronavirus2 patients are in hospital across england. Those numbers are bound to rise in the coming days. Thats why, as michael says, it is so important that everybody follows the medical advice to stayathome and in so doing, save lives. Makinglso why the nhs is an extraordinary effort run across this country to ensure that we have care for those patients who need the looking after from coronavirus. Thats why nhs staff are pulling out all the stops in an unprecedented response to this emergency. Across and would, with test england, we hit across england, we have made sure 3000 beds are able to treat coronavirus patients. Its also why we are taking the action to build new hospitals in very short order, starting with the nhs Nightingale Hospital in east london. And today, because this is a problem not confined to london but the whole country, i have given the goahead to the building of two further of these hospitals, beginning with the Birmingham Center and the Manchester Central convention center, with such hospitals to follow. In doing that, i went to pay tribute to the contribution not just of staff, but the support were getting from volunteers, the armed forces, social care, all of our partners. It is remarkable that in just the last two weeks weve seen 18,000 doctors and nurses returned to practice on the General Medical Council and Nursing Medical Council registers answering the call to arms. And it was therefore very gratifying for our staff across the nhs to see this remarkable outpouring last night. For many nurses coming home from a day at a hospital, other staff returning to start again for the night shift, it will have meant an in a missed amount enormous amount to know the whole country is behind them. The best thing is doing what it takes to reduce the rate of infection. Because even simple actions following this advice will save lives. Simon. Very much, thank you very much, simon. Ill now take time to take questions. Vicki from bbc. The Prime Minister has coronavirus. People will be looking at this and may be wondering whether you havent been taking your own advice or you may be acted too slowly when it comes to stopping the spread of coronavirus. Another question to simon stevens. We have Cancer Patients getting in touch with the bbc worried about the cancellation of their treatment or operations, many of them worried their own lives may be being put at risk, and the question to dr. Harris, can you be more precise about the peak of this outbreak . You. Ank i will turn to simon and jenny in a second. I think they have both contracted the virus and its a reminder that the virus does not discriminate. We are all at risk and that is why it is so important that we practice social distancing measures. Those are in place in government. Ministers are working remotely and from home, using videoconferencing, to make sure we follow the strict advice all of us should be following to help protect the nhs. Simon . Simon on the question of cancer care, weve been clear we do want essential and urgent treatments to continue. But that cancer specialist should have the opportunity with their patients to decide whether it is more risky for somebody to embark on treatment at this particular time given your more vulnerable to infection if you begin a treatment, perhaps chemo, or become immunocompromised as a result. Those are decisions that need to be taken. Weve also agreed a landmark gmail with the deals across the nation, which has given us the ability to look at the busy hospitals treating coronavirus. Example, they for are coordinating cancer care across capital so even if patients arent looked after at their local hospital, they will get the care they need. These are difficult and sensitive judgments that need to be made with the full involvement of cancer clinicians, as well as patients. Michael michael thank you, simon. Im going to be a little bit repetitive, but the same question was asked yesterday. It would be foolish of me, i think, to predict precisely when this will be, not least of which we have put in social distancing interventions and were looking to see how well they work. As i said yesterday, there was an indication the public are not heeding that advice, and we thank them for that. It is really important they continue to do that. A do not expect them to see specific change in two or three weeks, so we need them to stick with us and stick to those for that period. We are monitoring that data daily, and we will, when we have a firm prediction, we will be happy to share that with you. Michael thank you. I now turn to carl devon of idv. Thank you. Obviously, its good news we heard that the per minister is only experiencing mild symptoms. But what is the plan should the Prime Minister not be able to continue his work . And also, given that there does seem to be a limit to the number of tests that can be done, what is the system for testing people like yourself, the top of governments, who are dealing with this crisis . The promised are only has mild symptoms. Chaired a videoconference earlier today and was able to marshal the different governments and the private sector to bring forward the testing we have done today. But its more about the testing protocols that guide the way in people are tested. Say a bitto simon to more about our ambitions to support frontline nhs staff. The primary objective from all of our testing is to ensure we manage clinical cases safely. So those patients who are admitted to intensive care with the disease since room or pneumonia disease syndrome or pneumonia, or hospitals with those conditions, we test routinely in some very specific areas. So, care homes for example, where we know there are critical patients at higher risk, and whether there are higher risk spread. The basis of all of this is firstly, you must have clinical symptoms. Wouldfault position, you not be tested. The other criteria would be your centrality in the role to the covid19 response. Sure yourse, im viewers would understand the Prime Minister plays a Critical Role in that. And thats the basis for our testing. Michael thanks, jenny. Simon . Simon we think its important to test frontline staff who are sick or otherwise isolating. Publicts why the work of anyone has been leading is so important because we been able to double by this time next week the number of tests compared to the number weve been doing this week. So i can say that today we are announcing we will be rolling out staff testing across the nhs beginning next week, starting with the Critical Care nurses, other staff in intensive care, emergency departments, gps, and as the testing values increase, we want to expand that to a larger range of workers, including social care, as well as continuing with patient testing. Michael thank you, simon. We now turn to beth rigby from sky. Hi. Hi, can you hear me . Sorry. Just a couple of questions please. You say the Prime Minister getting the health first doesnt discriminate. Unfortunately and fortunately, they only have mild symptoms. But you can guarantee they wont become more cawley. Thistwo people watching will be asking why the Prime Minister and the health chiefary and now the medical officer wasnt better protected . Wasnt this careless or negligent . In the new lines in hospital have 500 intensive care beds by next week. How much capacity is there in londons Critical Care today . How do you expect that to change over the weekend . Do you anticipate youll be overcapacity by next week . Great news that youre going to be rolling out testing, but how much nhs staff are currently unable to work because theyre either unwell or selfisolating . Thank you. Michael thank you, beth. The fact that the virus is no individuals, whoever they are, is one of the reasons we do need to have strict social distancing measures so we can reduce the rate of infection and reduce the pressure on the nhs. There have been various testaments about the number of people who may become infected over a period of time. We aim to, as the prime mr. Himself pointed out, flatten the curve, reduce the rate of reinfection so that nhs can be protected. I think many people will reflect on the fact the Prime Minister succumbing to the virus is a reminder of how serious we all need to take the advice the nhs has been giving us. Simon . Simon on the question of London Hospital beds, yaz as of yesterday, the most recent victors, we had 3000 empty and available hospital beds. As you say, we are bringing on additional beds next week at the new Nightingale Hospital. That is being configured initially to look after 500 patients. There the physical capacity to take that to up to 4000 if it were required. So there is obviously an enormous effort going on, not just london, but the midlands, as well. Thats white, as well as for thats why, as well as freeing up the additional hospital beds, we are also taking unprecedented steps to free up in days what would normally take years. Michael thank you very much. We turn now to Andrew Woodcock from the independent. There are large numbers of people around the u. K. Reliant on Food Distribution through food banks. These charities are still working, but many closed and donations are down. Many volunteers have been advised to stay home. The help the hungry appeal supported food lion. Food lion. Is there Logistical Support . Have they volunteered to help the nhs . Youve been head of the nhs since 2013. Inyou regret bid reductions failing to recruit nurse Training Numbers in your the worstear, amongst in europe, with italy having twice as many ecu beds and the u. K. Having the lowest . Isnt the lesson that the nhs needs more capacity at all times if its going to be ready to deal with this surge in demand . And it cant be made to operate with no slack. Michael thank you for this question. On food and helping the vulnerable, let me say a few things. I want to thank those who work and Food Production and supermarkets for rising to the challenge of making sure our shelves can be refilled and people who need it are able to get the food they need. Need more than to simply have effective food reduction chain. We need to make sure those most in need, though selfisolating, get the food and other support they need. Thats why the nhs has identified up to 1. 5 Million People who are shielded, who have been advised to selfisolate for 12 weeks. Its why government apartments working together are ensuring there will be food distributed direct to those individuals, with Community Pharmacies providing prescription medicines they need. Now, there are people beyond that 1. 5 million who are not safe selfisolating, but who are vulnerable, people who have used food banks, people who we need to support now. It is the case the volunteer networks set up across country are ensuring we can match volunteers willing to go shopping to those volunteer people who are staying at home or who may not themselves have a social network to get the food that they need. Of course, the tremendous response to the Good Initiative that matt hancock and asked earlier this week, with hundreds of thousands stepping up, is an amazing example of volunteerism and action in National Solidarity, and will be doing everything we can to support them. And my colleague is looking at a specific fund to support cherries in the work support charities in in the work they do. Welll be seeing more of this. Well also be seeing more from the hospitality sector to step up and support the vulnerable. John vincent is making sure his doors remain open as takeaway in order to support the images. That sort of collaboration between citizen, the voluntary sector, backing from government, and enlightened Business People will help us beat this virus. And im thankful for you to the opportunity to think those who make the contribution. Im going to hand this over to simon. Simon the nhs does need more staff. And it does need more hospital beds. Weve been saying that for some time and thats what is going to be happening for the next 5, 10 years. Though we have freed up the equivalent of 50 hospitals across england, ready and waiting for coronavirus patients. Under normal circumstances, he would not keep 50 hospitals fully staffed not actually looking after patients, which is why no Health Service in the world anywhere in europe, anywhere internationally, would be able to withstand a coronavirus epidemic unless the sort of measures the public is involved with are put into place. Thats why its so important the public support the work of our, frontline were nurses doctors, and other members of the nhs, in saving lives. Michael thank you. Well turn now to tamron from bloomberg. Thank you. Theael, we were told before decision monday to impose stricter rules on peoples movements that that decision will be based on the data around footfall and government activity and transport. Yet despite asking every day this week, the government has not provided any of that dated to justify the most sweeping restrictions the country has ever seen. Would you now promise the public the data and could you explain why it hasnt been published so far . Thatmon, can you guarantee the nhs is ready for what its about to come . And if not, what is the one thing you still need from the government to prepare yourself . Simon thank you, michael thank you, tim. We have followed the scientific and medical device advice weve been given. The evidence shows since the measures we took monday, the British Public responded in a fantastic way. And weve seen a germanic decline in the use of public transport, allowing public transport to be increasing the reserve of key workers, and people, the overwhelming majority of bridge people are following the strong advice that has been given in order to protect nhs. We will share that data with you. One of the features of todays briefing was the set of numbers that i and simon shared with you, and, of course, we will share figures, share data in transparency, so people can see we are doing everything we can. Simon on ther to additional help and support we can give the nhs. Simon i honestly believe that everybody across the nhs is doing everything that can possibly be done to ensure w ere able to best luck after patients in our care during this pandemic. One of the points i think is particularly remarkable the last several weeks is the way not only the nhs, the all public services, have come together. Thats true for local councils, care homes, the voluntary sector, and across government we have had the support of the ministry of defense, the other parts of government helping us prepare in different communities. Because as michael said a moment ago, we, earlier this week, wrote up to 1. 5 Million People, asking them this to take special care, and for them to stay at home in that selfcontained weight requires people who can help with shopping, who can help collect medicines from the pharmacy. Thats an enormous team effort the nhs by itself cannot do. Michael i might ask jenny to stay a little bit about measures and the appropriateness of the steps we take. Dr. Harries thank you. So, as weve said, weve been trying to be transparent with this, but very confident that all stages of government has acted on science. It is an unprecedented event as we are all recognizing, and there is some degree with uncertainty. With the data, as you require the data, your data changes. The earlier conversation about when will the peak be, it depends on how successful we are. Theres a bit of a moving agenda on some of the data, but absolutely clear we have acted. We have looked at the modeling. We have taken those in order, which we notice which we know will produce the biggest impact and have implemented those. In the last, in relation district social distancing and the shielding of very clinically anlnerable people is appropriate step to time appropriately, not because the least of which with coronavirus, but because they have multiple things, other problems, and need lots of social support. So anytime to make sure those support systems are around to maintain them through the period of isolation. Michael thank you. Ill turn now to hugo guy. Your sounds like you and colleagues are not going to be automatically detected for coronavirus despite the fact the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have tested positive. Can you confirm that thats the case, that theres no plans to test all of you . And if so, explain exactly why. And i think this is a question for dr. Harries. Weve heard a lot about getting a kit to test wherever if anyone has ever had coronavirus. Can you clarify, have those kids already been manufactured . And if so, i assume theyve been manufactured, what company is producing those . Michael well, thank you, hugo. People are tested if they are symptomatic. And those members of the central effort in helping to defeat the virus who do show symptoms are appropriately tested. I think you can tell by the fact that the three of us are here demonstrates there are three of us who have not demonstrated any symptoms. But it is rib it is important thensure wish we slow spread of the virus that everyone practices the social disciplines. I will hand over to jenny and to simon for a final word, as well. Earlier,es as i said we had very clear testing criteria. We would not, in the early phases, at the outbreak have strong containment. That is not appropriate at this point in the epidemic in the u. K. , but we will test appropriately for political management. The appropriate thing for do is to selfisolate and remove yourself from the environment so you cant transmit this to anyone us. That applies as much to cabinet members as it does to any other part of the population. Thats exactly why simon highlighted the importance of testing of a workforce and other responders, as well, who were keeping the response going. In relation to the 3. 5 million testing, have you got it test, they are coming from a variety of manufacturers. They are coming from a variety of manufacturers. It is important we test the sensitivity and specificity of the test. How sure we are it is a true positive test. Each of the different types of those testing kits will be evaluated. Thank you. Think it is simply to say that unfortunately, pressure on the nhs will intensify over the coming weeks, no doubt about that, before things begin to improve. This is going to be a time when a lot of our frontline staff are going to be in a highly stressful and pressurized circumstances. I think what they would want me to say to the rest of the country is know, that everybody is pulling out all of the stops to do the right thing. If you can help by following the measures that have been set out, staying at home, you will save lives. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Cspans washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. This morning, someone from Yahoo Finance will be on to discuss the coronavirus pandemics impacts on jobs and the u. S. Economy. The political education reporter educationt how k12 is changing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Watch cspans washington journal, live at 7 00 eastern this morning. Join discussion. Calvin coolidge president ial foundation chair, author, and economic historian on the u. S. Government response to Economic Crises from the Great Depression through the coronavirus. The crash in the great gatsby, that was the crash of the early 20s, not the crash of 1929. People thought america would never come back from the big upheaval of world war i. Thats what was going on. At that time, there was inflation. Theere getting over a flu, spanish influenza, all this was going on. At that time, the government took a policy. The policy was, lets pull out of the way. The government response was so counterintuitive, it is so almost impossible to utter it right now. Several governors held briefings yesterday on the coronavirus. Among them, new jerseys phil murphy. He provided new numbers on deaths and positive cases in his stay and continued to urge people to stay home and practice social distancing. Good afternoon, everyone. Im joined by the commissioner of health. Ofher right, Department HealthCommunicable Disease medical director dr. Ed lipschiftz. Callahan. Director of the office of homeland security, jarrett with us. Well get right to the numbers and we have a lot of ground to cover. Yesterday, wefing have had