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Day 30: Key points from today's conference

Posted on April 2020 By Aaron Liffen

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With Prime Minister Boris Johnson still recovering from Coronavirus , Chancellor Rishi Sunak headed todays update on the government's response to coronavirus alongside NHS England's Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis and Public Health England's Yvonne Doyle.

As of 9am 14 April, 382,650 tests have concluded, with 14,982 tests on 13 April. 302,599 people have been tested of which 93,873 tested positive.  As of 5pm on 13 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 12,107 have sadly died."

Key points to take away from today's speech are:

  • Sunak: "The government will not be able to protect every UK business and every household during the COVID-19 pandemic."

  • 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 adds the latest death figures for the UK are a "powerful reminder" of the need for people to follow social distancing advice.

  • Number of deaths continues to rise - Prof Powis

  • Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director and director of health protection for Public Health England, says "we are working with the ONS to get quicker information on all deaths".

  • Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England, says there is evidence that hospital admissions in London and the Midlands are "plateauing".

  • Professor Stephen Powis, from NHS England, urged the public not to become complacent over the restrictions

  • "The single most important thing we can do for the health of our economy is to protect the health of our people." says Chancellor Rishi Sunak

  • Today, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the UK economy could plunge by 35% in the three months to June with unemployment more than doubling to 10%, before bouncing back if restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus are lifted.

  • ​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".

  • Chancellor says the furlough scheme will open on 20 April for applications and the cash should be paid by the end of the month.

The overall amount of cases in the UK has now risen to 93,8731, with that being 5,252 new cases since yesterday. Total number of deaths is now at 12,107.

To read a brief summary of last night's points and important measures click here.