UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak leads today’s coronavirus briefing
Chancellor Rishi Sunak begins with a few words on today’s economic outlook from the UK Office for Budget Responsibility.
He says “these are tough times” and it will be impossible to protect every household and business.
He adds that the prediction “may not even be the most likely scenario”.
He says the OBR has been “clear” that the situation would have been “much worse” without government action announced so far.
Rishi Sunak adds that the UK’s strategy is not about “choosing” between people’s health, and the health of the economy.
It would be “self-defeating” from an economic point of view, he adds, not to take action to protect people’s health.
He says the latest death figures for the UK are a “powerful reminder” of the need for people to follow social distancing advice.
“The single most important thing we can do for the health of our economy is to protect the health of our people.” Mr Sunak went on to say
Total UK deaths
Prof Yvonne Doyle, from Public Health England, says recording deaths in the care sector is a “bit more complicated”.
But she adds that they are “working towards” getting daily data on all deaths in the UK.
PPE in Scotland
There’s a question about claims that suppliers of protective kit for healthcare workers were asked to prioritise England over Scotland.
The claim has been made by the head of Scottish Care, the body representing private care homes in Scotland.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says there is “no truth in those stories”.
He adds that the Scottish government’s clinical director has dismissed the claims as “rubbish”.
Care homes
Chancellor Rishi Sunak insists care home residents and workers have not been forgotten.
Work is under way to get accurate data from care homes but there is a “logistical challenge”.
Yvonne Roberts, director of health protection for Public Health England, says care homes are a “very dispersed sector”.
Mr Sunak says there are far more care homes than hospitals, and that makes it difficult to collect reliable data.
The Economy
Asked if he really believes the UK economy can quickly get back to normal after the coronavirus emergency, with predicted record levels of debt, Chancellor Rishi Sunak says it is “possible”.
The aim is to “keep as much of the productive capacity of our economy as possible,” says the chancellor.
He adds that the government’s plan to boost regional growth, set out in the Budget, will help it “bounce back”.
Furlough scheme
Firms should be able to apply for money to help pay furloughed staff “on or around” 20 April, Chancellor Rishi Sunak says.
“That is the working assumption”, he adds, with testing of the new system currently being carried out.
There will be a gap of “several days” between applying for help and getting the cash, he says, to allow for fraud checks and the BACS payment process.
Use our handy Live global stats tool top do your own research on COVID-19 around the globe:
- Government’s press conference 14th April
- 99 year old Army veteran Tom Moore, raises £2m for NHS
- Nine Residents Die From Coronavirus at Nottinghamshire Care Home
- Unrealistic expectations can be catching – how to make progress without pressure.
- The ONS: ‘One in 10’ virus deaths taking place outside hospitals
