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Wednesday 17 June 2020 17:46
US doctors have expressed caution over the UK’s dexamethasone “breakthrough”, calling for the full results of the trial to be published and warning of potential side effects. Meanwhile, Germany’s health ministry declined to comment on the Recovery Trial study, but a spokesperson said there was no need to stockpile the drug.
Elsewhere, China has cancelled hundreds of flights to and from Beijing because of the capital’s new Covid-19 outbreak, linked to a wholesale food market. The city reported 31 new infections on Wednesday, up from 27 the day before.
And in New Zealand, the military has been tasked with overseeing the country’s border quarantine after two people infected with coronavirus were released early. Jacinda Ardern said the pair’s release on compassionate grounds was “unacceptable”. They had flown from London to visit a dying relative and authorities are now trying to trace more than 300 people they may have come into contact with.
Is the £900,000 spent on repainting the RAF Voyager a good use of taxpayers’ money?
Mr Dowden says the repainting is part of the promotion of the UK across the world.
Mr Dowden says he thinks statues have “huge symbolic value” particularly the Cenotaph.
He says he has been in touch with English Heritage and is pleased they have removed the hoarding around the Cenotaph.
The culture secretary has also spoken to London mayor Sadiq Khan about removing the hoarding around the Winston Churchill statue before French president Emmanuel Macron’s visit.
Is the government looking at a one-metre rule, rather than two metres, or face masks to reopen theatres and cinemas?
Mr Dowden said a one-metre rule would benefit cinemas, but it would still be “immensely challenging” for theatres.
He says he has been in touch with Andrew Lloyd Webber about what he has been doing in Seoul.
Mr Dowden says the steps for fans to return to stadiums will be similar to those taken for the return of live sport behind closed doors.
He says the government will not only look at the positioning of fans, but also how they will enter and leave stadiums.
Asked if footballer Marcus Rashford will be formally recognised in any way for his school meals campaign, such as through a knighthood, Mr Dowden says he has been “very impressed at his lobbying skills” and that “we’ll see what happens on that front”.
What can police do if fans congregate outside stadiums?
Mr Dowden says: “We’ve been very clear from the beginning that this is one of the risks.
“Police have appropriate powers and they will be able to use them as necessary but I really hope this situation won’t arise in the first place.”
Asked if there are any security implications, given the incident involving the prime minister’s car and a protester earlier today, Mr Dowden provided an update, saying Boris Johnson is “wholly unscathed” and he believes “everyone else escaped safely” from the situation.
On a completely different note, Mr Dowden says Royal Parks are beginning to reopen their toilet facilities.
Is there any chance we will back in stadiums theatres entertainment venues within a year? What will you do about redundancies?
He says outdoor stadiums are much bigger and allow for more social distancing so there could be some scope there, but there is more risk in performing arts theatres because of the space.
He says he is continuing to work with people across the industry to look at what support the government can give them.
Mr Dowden says it is really important for people to stay at home and not congregate outside stadiums.
He says the fourth stage of reopening will be international matches and the fifth will be fans returning to stadiums.
Asked about getting children back to school, Mr Dowden said it is “vitally important”.
Mr Dowden says from September the government wants to make sure all schools are back.
He says it is important to reassure parents that it’s safe for their children to go back to school and that it is “a bit of a shame” that teaching unions the leader of the Labour party, are “not providing them with that kind of backing and support”.
Asked how people can visit relatives in care homes whose mental health has been severely impacted, while at the same time protecting vulnerable residents, Mr Dowden says he understands how difficult the situation is and that the government is still looking into it.
Asked about how theatre jobs will be protected, Mr Dowden says the government’s job retention scheme has meant people in theatres have so far been able to keep their jobs.
However he acknowledged it is going to be “exceptionally difficult” for theatres to reopen while respecting social distancing measures.
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 184 to 42,153
Mr Dowden says he is looking “hard” at how live arts venues, including performing arts and music venues, can get back up and running.
Andrew Woodcock reports.
The NHSX was initially slated to play a central role in the government’s test and trace system to track down contacts and ask them to self-isolate, with its nationwide launch pencilled in for the end of May.
Mr Dowden says Premier League matches will return tonight, in a “symbolic moment”.
He says it marks “another important milestone” and extended highlights of the matches will be available to air for free from home.
The total number of coronavirus-related deaths across all settings in the UK now stands at 42,153 after an increase of 184.
Mr Dowden says there have been 1,115 more cases of coronavirus since yesterday, raising the UK total to 299,251.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is leading today’s daily coronavirus briefing alone.
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