Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At One 20200625

Its another hot day for many of us theres a warning to take extra precautions in the sun. And that is because the strength of the sun, the uv radiation reaching us the sun, the uv radiation reaching us could be at record levels for the uk. I will be explaining why and how we can stay safe if we are outside today. One month after the death of george floyd, we ask three generations of one family whether anything is changing in the us. It started. To take its toll. Im sorry. And thats the problem i have now. I have that emotional thing stirred in me, because ive seen it all of my life. And, socially distanced cinema we see the preparations under way to get us back to the movies. And coming up on bbc news. On the verge of glory liverpool could be crowned premier League Champions tonight, if Manchester City drop points at chelsea. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. A group of senior scientists and doctors are criticising the decision to roll out covid i9 Antibody Testing in england. They fear the tests, which establish whether someone has had the illness, are being launched too soon, without adequate assessment, and will be a waste of scarce resources. Borisjohnson has described Antibody Tests as a potential game changer in the fight against coronavirus. Our Health Correspondent Richard Galpin reports. The Richard Galpin reports. Roll out of testing for antibodies the roll out of testing for antibodies has so far been mainly for nhs staff. Described by the government as a game changer, it has brought 10 million of these tests to find out if people have had coronavirus and if they have developed antibodies, which in theory could mean immunity from the disease. But now all of this is being questioned. Medical and scientific experts saying the government has got it wrong. In a letter to the british medical journal, the experts argue there is currently no valid clinical reason for large scale testing, and that has performance has not yet been adequately assessed, and that testing risked inefficient use of scarce resources. This, a view backed up by one of the countrys leading immunologist. There is no question we dont really know what the implications of having a positive test actually are, and as a result you couldnt safely use it as a way of telling people whether they could be exposed or not. It usually follows that if you have antibodies you will be protected, but i think you will be protected, but i think you need evidence to demonstrate that and we havent got evidence yet. While Antibody Tests are useful for finding yet. While Antibody Tests are useful forfinding out yet. While Antibody Tests are useful for finding out how many people in the country have had the disease, the country have had the disease, the lack of certainty about whether they provide any immunity and how long any immunity would last is a major issue. For example, for those hoping to get back into work. And there are other problems. Mark was severely ill with coronavirus, but when he recently got an Antibody Test it was negative. He thinks that result was inaccurate. Given the messaging around Antibody Testing, that this was meant to be a game changer and so on, and the accuracy of the tests being purported, i think we were confident we would come back positive from that Antibody Test. Obviously they are expensive so you dont do it light heartedly. And so yeah, really surprised and i suppose disappointed really, that they would come back negative. Public Health England defended the accuracy of the tests and said. Meanwhile, the latest figures on the test and trace system, a key means of reducing the spread of the disease, have been released. They show the system is still failing to contact more than a quarter of people. Richard galpin, bbc news. Our medical correspondent fergus walsh is here. Really striking listening to that because people might remember Boris Johnson in the past has described this as a game changer. Yes, that was i think back in march when we thought, reasonable assumption to make, that if you had antibodies to coronavirus, as with other viruses, it would mean had protection. That may well be the case, but there are several things we dont know. We dont know, if you have a positive antibody results, whether that will protect you, how long for, and so thatis protect you, how long for, and so that is the reason why a positive Antibody Test doesnt individually really tell you anything. The criticism in the bmj is that, given that, why did we buy 10 million of these tests . In the long term, i think it will be useful for the several hundred thousand nhs staff and more care staff to know, coming to the winter, where they positive oi to the winter, where they positive or negative. Not because they would then change the way they put on their ppe or anything like that, but as we go through a potential second wave we will find out whether those who had positive antibodies were protected. So in the long term it could be useful, but in the short term and individually it doesnt tell you much. Thank you very much. Fergus walsh. People will soon be able to holiday in much of europe and wont have to go into quarantine when they return to the uk. The government is in the process of finalising a series of travel corridors, and an announcement is due in the coming days. Lets get more details from our transport correspondent, tom burridge. Tell us more. Most countries in western europe are likely to be on the list, so countries like france, italy, spain, the netherlands are almost certain to be on the list of exemptions from the travel quarantine. Other countries like turkey, norway and finland are likely to be on the list. Sweden is not likely to be on the list because the infection rate of covid i9 there is higher than in the uk, and im also told portugal is probably not also on the list because in recent days there has been a rise in the number of new cases reported in and around lisbon. The portuguese government has expressed its desire that british tourists were to come back. You could go on holiday in theory if that is the case but you may have to self isolating the future. Ministers will meet to finalise the detail of this, so its not impossible some of the detail will change before a possible announcement this weekend, and then probably another announcement on monday when the government is expected to set out its criteria by which other countries could qualify for a travel corridor with the uk in the future. At the broader travel quarantine for those arriving from the rest of the world could remain in place throughout the summer. Tom, thank you. Tom burridge. 22 Police Officers were injured after a street party turned violent in south london. Police were called to brixton last night, after complaints from residents about noise and violence. Four people were arrested, and two officers were taken to hospital. Our correspondent Chi Chi Izundu is here. What more do we know about what was going on . Police said they attended the area because they had numerous reports of a street party, and when they attended they tried to clear they attended they tried to clear the crowd but the party went on. More officers attended and that is when the crowd became hostile towards police. There is a lot of footage on social media of things being thrown at Police Officers, some vehicles being smashed. As you said 22 officers were injured, and metropolitan police have confirmed a small number of vehicles were damaged. This happened in and around the angel state area, and the party was finally cleared in the early hours of this morning under section 60 has been imposed which gives police the power to stop and search anyone without any kind of reasonable suspicion. The borough commander has said the violence towards police is unacceptable, words backed up by the metropolitan Police Federation of england and wales, who say that actually, over the last couple of months, quite a number of officers have been injured. In london alone, we have seen about 250 Police Officers injured over recent weeks. Thats just unimaginable, 250 Police Officers in one force. But last night, the scale of disorder and the targeting of my colleagues is an absolute disgrace. The home secretary priti patel has said this is utterly disgraceful and says she will be speaking to the metropolitan police commissioner, cressida dick. Thank you very much for now. Chi chi izundu. Labour says the housing secretary, robertjenrick, still has serious questions to answer about his approval of a controversial planning application in east london. Documents show the cabinet minister was in text contact with the developer, richard desmond, while making the decision. Our assistant Political Editor norman smith is in westminster. What do you make of the ministers position . When it comes to cabinet ministers surviving the chop, there are two ministers surviving the chop, there a re two rules. Ministers surviving the chop, there are two rules. The confidence rule, do they seek out the confidence of their Prime Minister and fellow mps, and broadly robertjenrick passes that test. But there is also what i call the public aroma test, how does it smell to ordinary people . And there he had already started noses twitching. We had the tory minister in charge of planning giving the go ahead to a controversial housing development, bitterly opposed, to a developer who happens to be a tory donor. That smell has been made worse by the release of these documents which suggests that two men had a convivial relationship. They had each others mobile number, they shared texts, discussed going ona they shared texts, discussed going on a site visit together. And we learned robertjenrick overrode the advice of his officials who were saying no to the project. He also fast track to the scheme, thereby ensuring the developer didnt get hit with a huge tax bill. None of this is proof of wrongdoing, it is not smoke curling lazily from the barrel of us smith wesson, but it leaves an almighty political smell. Norman, thank norman smith. Its another sweltering day across much of the uk, with forecasters saying this may be the hottest day of the year so far. Thousands of people have crammed on to some beaches, making social distancing difficult. A Level Three Health alert is in place for parts of england, urging people to take care in the sun. Sean dilley reports. Its another lockdown summer scorcher, with temperatures up to the mid 30s in many parts of the uk. Good news for many, who are making the most of these restrictions, but medical professionals are concerned about older people and those with existing conditions. Some people are particularly vulnerable this year and they are people who may be shielding and staying indoors or people who are isolated and staying indoors, because they are either concerned about infection or theyve just had an infection with covid, so we just want to make sure that everyone looks out for people who are isolated in the heat. Sometimes homes can get very hot. So, just to ensure people dont get overheated. Those who do decide to enjoy the weather are being warned by authorities to be aware of the dangers of open water swimming. Yesterday, police in berkshire recovered the body of a man who they believe got into trouble whilst swimming in water off of the thames. In scotland a ten year old boy died after finding himself in difficulty in loch lubnaig, in the highlands. Our recommendation would be to go to a life guarded beach. By this weekend, well have 112 beaches around the coast with rnli lifeguards on there. You can go to rnli. Org. Uk and find out where your nearest beach is thats got a lifeguard. Thats exactly the place you should be going, really, to keep safe. Many beaches have been packed throughout lockdown, including here in bournemouth yesterday. But these hot weather seekers in whitby showed how social distancing can work. This family in Weston Super Mare also took precautions. We thought, well bring the kids out there, they havent been out in three months, and we heard the beach was really busy yesterday, but we didnt want to come out when it was busy so we thought well come out quite early. Uv levels are expected to be unusually high, meaning a greater risk of sunburn. But in contrast to the governments stay at home message in recent weeks, people across the uk are now free to enjoy the hot weather. We are just asked to take precautions and respect social distancing. Sean dilley, bbc news. Our correspondent sian lloyd is in staffordshire. How is it there . It is absolutely boiling here this lunchtime. You dont really get much more synonymous with summer than british strawberries, and at this fruit farm just outside tamworth, it has been really busy with people enjoying the sizzling temperatures but also making the most of the easing of those lockdown restrictions certainly in england which is allowing people to come to places like this at the moment. But this is strawberry picking socially distanced style, because manor farm has introduced a booking system, which means only a certain number of people can be doing pick your own at a time, and also they have introduced a strawberry drive through for people who dont want to leave their cars. They say these restrictions, introduced because of coronavirus, have been proving so successful that they are going to keep them in place into next year. So the sunshine is certainly good for strawberries, its bringing out a feel good factor here, but of course theres warnings too to cover up, course theres warnings too to cover up, apply course theres warnings too to cover up, apply sunscreen and choose wisely the activities you are undertaking, particularly if they involve water. Thank you. Our weather presenter nick miller is in londons regents park. It looks beautiful but there are challenges. Its hot and sunny but there is Something Else remarkable going on with the weather this afternoon and thats the strength of the sun, the uv radiation reaching us, which could be at record levels for the uk quite widely across the uk as well. And thats dangerous when it comes to how quickly our skin will burn exposed to that sun and there are several factors feeding into this. One is the summer solstice, the sun is directly above us solstice, the sun is directly above us at this time of day, its taking its most direct route with its uv radiation to us here and whilst we normally expect ozone much higher in the atmosphere to absorb a lot of this uv radiation there is let off that ozone around, depleted in the winter and spring mainly due to natural levels but there is less absorption going on and thirdly the lockdown, we all know theres less pollution around them if less traffic, and pollution can actually scatter some of this radiation before it gets to us. So all of these factors combined mean that uv out here today is more akin to something that you would get on a really hot day on a mediterranean beach and we know thats dangerous in terms of how quickly our skin can burn. So, right afterthis in terms of how quickly our skin can burn. So, right after this ill be backin burn. So, right after this ill be back in the shade, putting the hat back in the shade, putting the hat back on, sunscreen, dont head out and think ill put sunscreen on, thats the wrong way round, just wait for the deviation radiation to go down. I call british summer weather its about come to a thundery end nick miller in regenfs thundery end nick miller in regents park. Our top story this lunchtime. Senior medics and Scientists Say coronavirus Antibody Tests are being rolled out too soon in england. Coming up getting the best seat in the house. We look at how social distancing will change a trip to the cinema when they reopen. Coming up on bbc news olympic champion adam peaty criticises the governments decision to delay opening gyms and swimming pools in the latest round of lockdown changes. New york state, for a long time the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, has announced it will quarantine people arriving from other states experiencing a surge in infections. New jersey and connecticut are taking the same measures. Some southern and western states, including texas and florida, have been reporting record numbers of cases of the virus. Our north america correspondent david willis reports. New york, newjersey and connecticut were initially among the worst hit by the coronavirus, but recent weeks have seen a fall in the number of covid i9 cases there, and in an effort to keep the virus at bay, the three states are imposing a two week quarantine on travellers arriving from some other parts of the country. Eight states are included in the quarantine order, some of which, like texas, arizona and florida, have seen a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases in recent days after lifting lockdown restrictions. This virus is risky enough on its own, in terms of the potential to flare back up, so doing something common sense, as this is, to say to folks, listen, its time for personal responsibility. If youve been in a state that has a high infection rate, do the right thing, and that is taking 14 days and self quarantining. Its the right thing to do, its the common sense thing to do, its the responsible thing to do. New cases of covid i9 in the us have risen to their highest levels since april. Some Southern States that were swift to lift their lockdowns have since seen massive spikes, with thousands of new cases being reported every day. What were seeing in florida is really Rapid Transmission in that 18 to 34 age group, and youre seeing a lot of cases come up. And granted, they werent being tested at this level a couple of months ago, but i also think theyre testing positive at a higher and higher rate, so clearly you have a lot of spread there. I stand before you today. President trump says coronavirus cases are on the increase because america is doing so much testing, and although some state governors are saying they may be forced to introduce new measures to combat the spread, the white house continues to insist the virus is going away. Nobody is talking in some of these states about going into another economic lockdown and creating a pandemic within a pandemic, but we are in a much better situation now than we were previously in terms of dealing with the pandemic. Meanwhile, the university of washington is forecasting that the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in the us could reach 180,000 by october. Currently that figure stands at around 122,000. David willis, bbc news, los angeles. Our correspondent Gary Odonoghue is in washington. And of course still a lot of focus in the us on coronavirus, but today specifically a lot of attention as well again on the death of george floyd . Yes, the well again on the death of george floyd . Yes, the house of representatives coming back to washington, dc today, to vote on a package of reforms put forward by the democrats that would ban those infamous chokehold is, like the one that killed george floyd, that would also allow Police Officers to be prosecuted more easily in the civil courts. Thats expected to pass the house of representatives where the democrats have a majority. The white house has already indicated that the president would veto such a bill and the Republican Controlled Senate wouldnt pass it either. In the last couple of days the republicans have tried to push their own version of Police Reform dealing much more with incentives for Police Departments rather than ordering them to do the things democrats want them to do, but that has also been blocked by democrats in the senate, so we are at something of a stalemate in terms of the legislation. Frankly i think the chances of anything happening on the chances of anything happening on the legislative front now before an election are vanishingly small and there will be many, many people out there will be many, many people out there who were, will be thinking what has been achieved in the last month since the death of george floyd . Month since the death of george floyd . Gary odonoghue, thank you. Lets reflect on that. Its been a month since the death of george floyd in police custody. There have been global protests and colonial symbols have been brought down. So, are things changing in the United States . Weve asked three generations of one family. My name is leonard, im 73 years old and im the uncle of dwayne. My name is dwayne, im 49 years old and im nigels father. My name is nigel, im 16 years old and i live in las vegas, nevada. When i saw this happen with george floyd i started to have flashbacks about the things that were happening when i was growing up, when i was old enough to realise what was happening, and i got extremely emotional. It started. To take its toll. Im sorry. And thats the problem i have now. I have that emotional thing stirred in me, because ive seen it all of my life. 73 years old. You say, wow. My first reaction to it, just like you, uncle, was i was in shock, just because of that situation could potentially happen to me, you or my dad considering that you guys look exactly like him. Itjust made me very cautious and more aware of my surroundings to try and prevent getting in those type of situations. He and i have had the talk many times, the talk that every black parent has with their children about what to do when youre approached by the police. I struggle with that because itjust makes me wonder how can you tell your son to cower down and submit and cover up, and submit in a way that i think is unnecessary, without filling him with rage. Thats a hard thing for me to see my nephew having the same conversation with his son. I never had it, you know, because of the time i grew up. You had your separate water fountain to drink from, you had your front and back door entrances, you had places you werent allowed to go because the law was set in place to keep you out. They teach a small portion of it in history class, but you have a better connection and you can understand better. Me personally i can consider that my uncle had to go through it and honestly it wasnt really that long ago that all of this type of stuff was happening. Ive been a fire captain for the last 15 years. Ive been called the n word by people that i was there to help and only now since george floyd there are conversations that are going on. Crowd im waiting. For change. For change. My generation isjust a little bit more open to change, because i know many of my personal white friends, they are all in, they are posting on their instagram pages explaining the inequality thats going on in this world. White people are listening to us based on what they saw happen with floyd. People are listening to you and handed things that weve been saying for 400 years, weve been crying for freedom, weve been crying forjustice, because our lives do matter. I look at young people like nigel, this is where the change is going to take place. People are standing up to injustice and making change as far as legislation with politics. Its going to take things like that, exercising our right to vote. I feel like as my generation this needs to all come together. Im hopeful, i hope that this movement continues, i hope it doesnt let up until change comes. Some of the uks largest councils say they may have to declare themselves effectively bankrupt, because of the financial pressures of the pandemic. A bbc investigation has found at least five local authorities may need to implement emergency spending controls. Paul barltrop is at Wiltshire Councils headquarters. How bad is it . Well, theyve been doing some projections, looking at this Financial Year they reckoned that their expenditure will be £15 million higher, the income they get m, million higher, the income they get in, £37 million lower. Along the way the government have given them about £30 million extra. That leaves them with a shortfall of £50 million. That led to Senior Officers warning ofa that led to Senior Officers warning of a significant risk and threat to the continuation of the council in its current form. No one here in reality think theres any threat of ba n kru ptcy reality think theres any threat of bankruptcy at Wiltshire Council but they want to put a message across to they want to put a message across to the government. This is a conservative run authority. They reckon they are really streamlined. They became a single tier Unitary Authority more than a decade ago. Thats brought savings they save, really theres not a lot else they can make savings on. If they had to make cuts it would be things like leisure centres and libraries. Its not just wiltshire that are talking about this. Down the road in bass, a smaller authority, the shortfall projected £42 million, next door bristol, £86 million, really big sums of money. The government is saying there will be more money, they havent said when it will come but from what im hearing you might expect an announcement in the next week or two. Whether that will be enough for councils, its unlikely at this point. Theyve got an awfully big financial crisis facing them. Paul barltrop, thank you. Film fans will have to get used to socially distanced seating when cinemas start to reopen in england next month. Guidance has just been released by the uk cinema association, so lizo mzimba has been to see how one of the countrys biggest chains is preparing to reopen. Cinemas, empty for weeks, are slowly preparing to reopen. A lot will be the same, a lot will be different. From the wide array of floor level social distancing signs, to the Hand Sanitisers scattered around the lobby, and from the perspex screens, to the staff in protective equipment working behind them, the impression cinemas really want to give the public is one of safety. Like so many other big businesses, the cinema chains have been losing huge amounts because of the pandemic. They are of course desperate to reopen, but the question is, will the public think it is safe to come back . Cinemas have been losing huge amounts of money, they want to open again. Are you satisfied that youre not sacrificing safety for economics . No, i think its absolutely clear that if cinemas arent able to meet the guidelines agreed with the government, they wont be able to open. But weve worked very hard in ensuring that the guidelines reflect the fact that cinema is a unique leisure experience and were confident that all cinemas, when they open, will be able to deliver something which offers that reassurance to customers, but still remains relaxing and something that people want to come back to. So, what kind of films will audiences, who will be carefully spaced apart because of social distancing guidelines, be watching in the next few weeks . Until new movies start coming through, cinemas are hoping to attract the public with the chance to see past favourites up on the big screen. The films will include golden oldies, like singing in the rain. What a glorious feeling, im happy again. Family favourites, like back to the future. And much loved british comedies, like four weddings and a funeral. I think i love you. Before a sprinkling of new releases start to hit cinemas injuly. But, over the past few weeks, with cinemas still shut, another kind of movie going has been making a bit of a comeback. Stranded at the drive in. Yes, the humble drive in has been doing its bit for filmgoers. Youre the one that i want. Across the uk, fans have been enjoying movies while they socially distance in their cars. But oh, oh, summer nights. Just one more way cinema says its trying to be as safe as it can