The same image of Boris Johnson delivering his Easter message after leaving hospital is on many front pages. The nurses named by the prime minister in his statement praising the care he received in hospital is the subject of much focus. "Bojo's Angels," is the headline in the Sun accompanying pictures of Jenny McGee and Luis Pitarma - who were initially referred to as "Jenny from New Zealand" and "Luis from Portugal". Both the Times and the Daily Telegraph highlight the prime minister's quote that "things could have gone either way". Writing in the Daily Express, Leo McKinistry says Mr Johnson's personal battle with coronavirus has become "an epic symbol of our national ordeal". PM's 'Messiah moment' Sarah Vine - in the Daily Mail - describes Mr Johnson as looking "as pale as a ghost". She suggests that not many people will begrudge him his "Messiah moment"- even if, under normal circumstances, a prime minister rising miraculously from his sickbed on Easter Sunday would be considered the work of an "over-imaginative spin doctor". The Daily Mirror reports that the cabinet is split over when to begin lifting the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. It says that there is a "chilling fear" about damaging the economy "beyond repair" and whether the NHS can cope if there is an easing of measures introduced last month. The decision may also be complicated by whether a recovering Boris Johnson wants to have any input. Sources with knowledge of No 10 are quoted in the Guardian as saying that any review of the lockdown was "very unlikely" without "at least some input from the prime minister".
The Financial Times has seen a chart which has been circulated to clinicians - which will ask them to "score" thousands of patients to decide who is suitable for intensive care treatment. The categories used to judge people are reportedly someone's age, frailty and if they have any underlying conditions. The paper says that although clinical discretion could come into play - any patient over the age of 70 will be considered "borderline" for treatment. "Spreading like wildfire" and the "hidden front line" are two stark assessments of the coronavirus pandemic's impact on care homes. The Sun reports that Covid-19 was so contagious at one home in Essex family members were not allowed to take jewellery from their dead relative and corpses are no longer being washed. The owner of 15 care homes has told the Times the sector is bracing itself for a "tsunami" of cases. The paper also says that there is a perception among care staff that they play "second fiddle" to the NHS. "Unforgiveable" is the Daily Mirror's view of delays in getting personal protective equipment to doctors and nurses. The paper says government ministers reciting numbers of items is "meaningless" when health care workers in hospitals "know the terrible truth". The Sun is more sympathetic to the government's plight - saying that while it appreciates getting more PPE is "easier said than done" - ministers should "strain every sinew" to resolve the situation. Moss a 'true sportsman'
Sir Stirling Moss was the first British driver to win a home grand prix Away from coverage of coronavirus, tributes are paid to the racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss, who has died at the age of 90. The Daily Telegraph's Oliver Brown considers whether Sir Stirling was the "perhaps the greatest racer of them all" - pointing out that he won 40% of the races he entered. Writing in the Guardian, former F1 World Champion Damon Hill describes Sir Stirling as a "true sportsman" and someone who was a throwback to an era that understood what it meant to be generous in defeat, chivalrous and a fair winner.
Comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor was best known as one third of the popular 1970s show The Goodies, and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
"Covid kills a Goodie," is the Daily Star's headline as it pays tribute to Tim Brooke-Taylor, who died yesterday aged 79. In a similar play on words, the i describes him as "Always a Goodie".
Several of Thursday's newspapers carry hope the UK is reaching the peak of the coronavirus epidemic. Quoting Prof Chris Whitty on the number of cases "flattening out", the Times says the news means the UK will soon be able to finalise plans for lifting lockdown measures. The Daily Mail, meanwhile, has a stark account of the impact coronavirus is having on care homes. It describes how six of the 18 residents at Philia Lodge care home in Peterborough have died in just 10 days. Some 85% of carers there have either been sick or had to self-isolate after coming into contact with infected residents.
The Daily Mirror believes Health Secretary Matt Hancock has woken up to the crisis in care homes far too late. It asks why the testing of residents and their support staff was not done earlier - and writes it is impossible to see how the government can meet its promises to achieve this. The Daily Telegraph highlights concerns that hospital patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 will continue to be discharged into care homes. Charities and local authority leaders say the approach is "madness" because many homes do not have the resources to keep vulnerable and elderly residents safe. The Daily Mail welcomes the government's decision to recognise care home staff for their work. But the Mirror is scathing about the idea of awarding staff a badge - dismissing it as "unbelievable".
The newspapers give a mixed reaction to the health secretary's "badge of honour" for carers The Sun suggests an alternative way to recognise the work of NHS staff. It calls for the entire service to be awarded the George Cross for bravery. Their courage in risking their health on every shift must not be forgotten when the disease is defeated, the paper says. "Day after day these men and women make Britain proud." Several papers carry praise for Tom Moore, the Army veteran who has raised well over £10m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden. The Daily Express says the country is "in awe" of the fundraising "hero", while the Daily Star says a knighthood would be an apt way to thank the 99-year-old for his efforts. The Times expresses concern that the government scheme to help small businesses is not coming to the rescue for enough of them, and the money is not getting through fast enough. It calls for the process to be beefed up - and urges the chancellor to follow Switzerland and Germany by guaranteeing 100% of the loans rather than 80% per cent as at present.
The government's extension of lockdown conditions for another three weeks receives varying degrees of support in the press. The Sun's leader column says the decision "seems fair" while it remains unclear how successful the battle against the pandemic is going, but insists it is important to review the measures "every day". However, it argues it is "vital" that Britain endures what it calls "our virtual house arrest" only once. The Daily Mirror agrees that another few weeks of social distancing "is a price worth paying" if it saves lives, but warns the extension will require more sacrifices for many people. "The country has shown remarkable resilience so far", it says, and "if ministers want that to continue they need to say what the exit strategy entails". And the Guardian's leader column says the decision to extend was "correct", before warning: "We need to start getting used to the idea that parts of the economy, some demographic groups and maybe some regions will be subject to different levels of control."
The Daily Mail says ministers are discussing ordering the use of protective equipment in the workplace and on public transport, to allow what the paper calls "a widespread return to normality". A cabinet source is quoted as saying the UK "won't want to be too far behind" other countries such as Germany which are easing their lockdowns "but everyone accepts, including industry, that social distancing will have to continue for many months".
'United the nation'
Photographs of Captain Tom Moore are featured on most front pages and websites, after the 99-year-old completed 100 laps of his garden yesterday morning to raise more than £17m for the NHS. Huffpost UK says the "heart-lifting moment" has seen the war veteran become "a national hero", while the Daily Express highlights his "inspiring" promise that "the sun will shine again" when the pandemic is over. The Sun says Captain Tom has "united the nation during this new war" and, with a reference to his surname, it demands one "Moore" medal for the former army officer. Testing scenario Hopes that Britain can achieve widespread immunity to the virus by the end of the lockdown "were dealt a devastating blow yesterday", according to the Daily Telegraph. It quotes research suggesting only a small proportion of the population may have acquired resistance to the disease. The paper says a former British director of the World Health Organisation will highlight the study when he delivers a highly critical appraisal of how the government has handled the pandemic to a Commons committee today. Professor Anthony Costello will warn the failure to conduct widespread testing has left Britain facing "eight to 10 waves" of coronavirus, the paper reports. In such a scenario, the Telegraph says, "both the death toll and economic consequences would be catastrophic".
The Independent website says Health Secretary Matt Hancock lost his temper on Thursday morning during a series of fractious interviews about the government's response to the pandemic. It says he was "visibly frustrated" during a "heated clash" on ITV, before taking listeners by surprise by "lashing out" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. The Mirror's leader column says the health secretary felt the questions "were beginning to irritate the public". But it argues that action might not have been taken had the media not highlighted how care homes were "hotbeds" for the virus. A free press, the paper concludes, "means asking hard questions of ministers who stand accused of having failed to protect the people they are there to serve". 'Fig leaf' There are reports that home coronavirus swab tests, delivered by Amazon, are being trialled as a way out of the lockdown. The Times understands a pilot involving key workers is beginning this week, with the aim of completing the process within 48 hours. According to the Mail, Mr Hancock is under mounting pressure over the UK's testing regime, after he claimed there had been lower-than-expected demand for checks over the Easter weekend. The paper quotes healthcare and union sources the health secretary's claim could be a "fig leaf" to cover up testing failures. Finally, the Economist considers whether the pandemic will be remembered as a geopolitical turning-point away from America. It says President Trump seems to have no interest in leading the global response to the virus, giving China a chance to enhance its sway. The Economist argues an unconstrained China "is not a comforting prospect" and warns that "the 1920s showed what happens when great powers turn selfish and rush to take advantage of the troubles of others".
A warning from hospital bosses that supplies of some protective clothing could run out this weekend features on a number of Saturday's front pages. The Guardian reports on what it describes as a "significant U-turn" by Public Health England - which has changed its guidance for NHS workers in light of the shortages. The paper says the changes - which include using plastic aprons - leaves doctors and nurses fearing that more of them could fall ill. The Independent website, meanwhile, has seen a leaked email that warns most trusts will run out of the gowns over the next couple of days - and stocks may not be replaced until the middle of June. The Daily Mirror takes a dim view of Health Secretary Matt Hancock's response to questions about protective clothing supplies yesterday - in which he told MPs he wished he could "wave a magic wand" and have "PPE fall from the sky". It is clear, the paper says, he is "rattled" and "floundering" - while doctors and nurses are left "nearly defenceless". 'Squandered' In its editorial, the Mirror says the UK had time to prepare for the outbreak - but there's "mounting evidence" ministers "squandered" that crucial chance to get ahead of the game. A Whitehall source tells the Times that the shortage of gowns is down to the government failing to stockpile enough equipment as part of its planning for a pandemic. The Daily Telegraph leads on the number of suspected deaths from coronavirus in care homes. The paper says 7,500 residents are now feared to have died. Care England tells the paper it came up with the estimate by "taking a sounding" from the three and a half thousand homes it represents. In its editorial, the Telegraph says the elderly in care homes "deserve protection and treatment - and if they're not getting it, we need to know why".
The Daily Mail, the i Weekend, the Sun and the Daily Express all lead on hopes for a vaccine - claiming British scientists could have one ready by September. The Express says Britain is "spearheading the global race" - with a team of researchers at Oxford University thought to be the country's "best hope". The Times points out that if they are successful, the biggest manufacturing plants for the vaccine would be in China and India. The paper quotes a biologist who says Britain has let its vaccine industry "slip away". If the UK wants to make millions of doses of a vaccine, he says, it is "simply not in the game anymore".
And the Telegraph reports that one of the world's best darts players has been forced to withdraw from a virtual tournament - hailed as the first live sport to be shown in the UK since all events were cancelled due to coronavirus. The former world champion, Gary Anderson, was hoping to compete in the Professional Darts Corporation Home Tournament live from his living room last night - but pulled out when he found the internet connection to his home in rural Somerset was too slow. "I was up for it" he tells the Sun, "it's really frustrating". His broadband provider, BT, did not respond to a request for comment.
Many of Sunday's front pages focus on the UK's possible exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown. The Sunday Times reports that ministers have drawn up a three-phase plan to lift the restrictions, which could see school's reopen as early as 11 May. Under the proposals, it says pupils would return to classes part-time - depending on their age - to aid social distancing. The Sun on Sunday calls it a "traffic-light master plan", which would see non-essential shops reopen within three weeks as part of a "red phase", before some restaurants are allowed to operate a fortnight later in the "amber phase". Both papers say the over-70s and others deemed vulnerable would be asked to continue living under lockdown conditions for more than a year. The plans will reportedly be presented to Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he returns to work.
There is speculation in many papers about just when that may be. The Mail on Sunday says there is growing concern that Mr Johnson's absence from Downing Street is hampering exit planning. In its editorial, the paper says recent figures suggesting a fall in hospital admissions are a cause for optimism. Yet it laments what it calls "a sense of drift from inside government" with Whitehall leaks suggesting senior ministers are reluctant to take any major decisions on ending the lockdown in the prime minister's absence. The paper urges the government to "offer a vision of a way back to a free and normal life".
But, while there are calls to concentrate minds on the future, there is also a continued focus on the predicament of NHS workers dealing with the virus here and now. The Sunday Mirror says 500 doctors - who responded to a survey by the BMA - have warned that oxygen supplies are are running "worryingly low" at a "huge number" of hospitals. The paper says medics have laid bare "a horrifying lack of key supplies" - with hundreds of doctors saying they're short of sedatives, painkillers and anaesthetics and one nurse admitting she has had to reuse syringes. The Sunday People says thousands of health workers have turned to mental health crisis helplines as they struggle to cope with what it describes as "the horrors of the coronavirus frontline". "Suicidal and afraid to hug their kids," is the paper's front page headline. One charity alone says it is being contacted by 50 health workers a day - amid fears that many staff will be affected by post traumatic stress disorder. The Sunday Telegraph reports on emerging research about precisely who is at greater risk of being admitted to hospital with a severe form of the virus. The paper says a study into British patients suggests being overweight is one of the most important risk factors. The research - which has yet to be peer-reviewed - is based on an analysis of more than 15,000 cases and is said to be the biggest study of its kind. Meanwhile, the Observer reports on concerns that so-called "lockdown shaming" is being used as a weapon in long-running neighbourhood feuds. The paper says police chiefs have complained about a rising number of false allegations being made about people breaking social distancing rules. Senior officers are urging the public to use "common sense" and not to exploit the pandemic to settle old scores.
There's still plenty of discussion in Monday's papers about how and when the coronavirus lockdown measures may be relaxed. The Daily Mail says that, with the daily death toll at its lowest level for a fortnight, ministers are under pressure to lay out how restrictions might be eased. The Daily Telegraph columnist Paul Nuki welcomes the government's cautious approach, writing that "a second peak would be an economic tragedy as well as a human one" which would "put UK PLC on a slab". The paper's editorial urges ministers to be more open about the discussions being held, calling the government's refusal to discuss the matter "unacceptable". An editorial in the Sun urges people to "cut the backseat driving" and let ministers get on with making decisions away from public scrutiny. The Telegraph's front page claims two-thirds of children are not taking part in online lessons being provided by schools. The report points out that private school pupils are twice as likely to log on - fuelling fears that educational disparities between the rich and poor could widen.
A Times editorial on the subject urges the government to prioritise the reopening of schools as quickly as possible, calling it a matter of "social justice" - citing a Norwegian scientific study that showed the future income of children from poorer backgrounds was lowered for every week of schooling they missed. The Guardian dedicates its editorial to this week's reopening of Parliament. It calls the move "overdue", saying that "in dark days, parliamentary democracy must shine the strongest possible light on the questions that face us all". The paper, however, makes a plea for more MPs to be involved, with current plans only allowing 50 members to be in the chamber, with another 70 taking part in debates virtually - a situation it says that could allow proceedings to be controlled by party whips. Writing in the Times, the Conservative MP and chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee, Karen Bradley, says that technical hitches are inevitable, as anybody who has attempted to set up a video call with colleagues, friends or family during the lockdown will know all too well.
There's a warning in the Telegraph that some of the UK's best loved seafood is at risk of extinction because of government plans to relax fishing quotas next year to help the industry survive the current crisis. The Marine Conservation Society has told the paper that cod, eels and sea bass are all at risk of dying out. The Daily Express reports that the pandemic is also putting the Great British cuppa at risk. The paper reports that tea production has been severely affected in places like India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, which could cause shortages and sharp prices increases. And the Guardian says that Danish football fans will be given the chance to watch games in a unique way when the season restarts next month. With games set to be played behind closed doors, the Superliga side Midtjylland have installed giant screens in a car park outside their stadium where fans will be able to watch the action from their cars. Screens have also been installed in the ground's stands to broadcast footage of the drive-in cinema's crowd back to the players.
Pictures of coronavirus test centres in Cardiff, Manchester and Brighton lying empty dominate the Daily Mirror's front page. It says the government promised 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month, but less than a fifth of that target is actually being met. The Daily Telegraph suggests that Matt Hancock is being lined up in government as the "fall guy" for mistakes in response to the virus. It says the health secretary's pledge on testing has been criticised by Downing Street sources as arbitrary and irrational. It quotes a Number 10 insider as saying: "He's not had a good crisis." Allies of Mr Hancock tell the paper they believe he's the victim of a blame game sweeping through Whitehall as ministers and advisers try to wash their hands of key decisions, with one eye on the eventual inquiry into the response to the outbreak.
The debate about whether people should wear face masks makes the lead for the Times The debate about whether people should wear face masks makes the lead for the Times. It says NHS bosses have warned ministers that advising the public to do so would risk jeopardising critical supplies to the health service. Government scientists are due to examine the evidence about masks today before making a formal recommendation to ministers. According to the paper, the World Health Organization is understood to be ready to issue fresh guidance on wearing masks in shops, on public transport and in other crowded spaces as part of measures to exit the lockdown. However, the paper says there's concern that any endorsement of masks would encourage people to buy medical versions, which could send prices soaring. While masks aren't in short supply in hospitals, the paper goes on, there are fears that that would change if their use was recommended more widely.
Cabinet splits over how quickly the lockdown measures should be relaxed are the subject of the Guardian's main story. The paper says senior ministers have been at loggerheads over whether the public health and economic impact of the lockdown will soon begin to rival the consequences of the virus itself. According to the Guardian, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Trade Secretary Liz Truss are known to be among those raising concerns about the impact of a lengthy shutdown. But, the paper adds, other ministers appear to have taken on board the latest evidence from government scientists that any easing of restrictions could trigger an exponential rise in coronavirus cases, and have rowed back from their initial support for allowing schools and some businesses to return to normal. The Daily Express gives its backing to a call by MPs - led by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran - for a "coronavirus compensation scheme" for the families of NHS workers who have died of the illness. The paper is also calling for a national monument to be built to honour the sacrifice of what it calls "our health heroes". And finally, Prince Philip's message praising the NHS and other key workers for keeping the country going during the crisis, is the Sun's top story. It says he issued a rallying cry for the UK's coronavirus heroes. But, the paper adds, Prince Philip's statement was in "stark contrast" to a message by what it describes as "some bloke called Harry, from Hollywood", who instead moaned about the press and focused on his and Meghan's personal war against the media.
Comments
The same image of Boris Johnson delivering his Easter message after leaving hospital is on many front pages.
The nurses named by the prime minister in his statement praising the care he received in hospital is the subject of much focus.
"Bojo's Angels," is the headline in the Sun accompanying pictures of Jenny McGee and Luis Pitarma - who were initially referred to as "Jenny from New Zealand" and "Luis from Portugal".
Both the Times and the Daily Telegraph highlight the prime minister's quote that "things could have gone either way".
Writing in the Daily Express, Leo McKinistry says Mr Johnson's personal battle with coronavirus has become "an epic symbol of our national ordeal".
PM's 'Messiah moment'
Sarah Vine - in the Daily Mail - describes Mr Johnson as looking "as pale as a ghost". She suggests that not many people will begrudge him his "Messiah moment"- even if, under normal circumstances, a prime minister rising miraculously from his sickbed on Easter Sunday would be considered the work of an "over-imaginative spin doctor".
The Daily Mirror reports that the cabinet is split over when to begin lifting the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. It says that there is a "chilling fear" about damaging the economy "beyond repair" and whether the NHS can cope if there is an easing of measures introduced last month.
The decision may also be complicated by whether a recovering Boris Johnson wants to have any input. Sources with knowledge of No 10 are quoted in the Guardian as saying that any review of the lockdown was "very unlikely" without "at least some input from the prime minister".
The Financial Times has seen a chart which has been circulated to clinicians - which will ask them to "score" thousands of patients to decide who is suitable for intensive care treatment. The categories used to judge people are reportedly someone's age, frailty and if they have any underlying conditions. The paper says that although clinical discretion could come into play - any patient over the age of 70 will be considered "borderline" for treatment.
"Spreading like wildfire" and the "hidden front line" are two stark assessments of the coronavirus pandemic's impact on care homes.
The Sun reports that Covid-19 was so contagious at one home in Essex family members were not allowed to take jewellery from their dead relative and corpses are no longer being washed.
The owner of 15 care homes has told the Times the sector is bracing itself for a "tsunami" of cases. The paper also says that there is a perception among care staff that they play "second fiddle" to the NHS.
"Unforgiveable" is the Daily Mirror's view of delays in getting personal protective equipment to doctors and nurses. The paper says government ministers reciting numbers of items is "meaningless" when health care workers in hospitals "know the terrible truth".
The Sun is more sympathetic to the government's plight - saying that while it appreciates getting more PPE is "easier said than done" - ministers should "strain every sinew" to resolve the situation.
Moss a 'true sportsman'
Sir Stirling Moss was the first British driver to win a home grand prix
Away from coverage of coronavirus, tributes are paid to the racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss, who has died at the age of 90.
The Daily Telegraph's Oliver Brown considers whether Sir Stirling was the "perhaps the greatest racer of them all" - pointing out that he won 40% of the races he entered.
Writing in the Guardian, former F1 World Champion Damon Hill describes Sir Stirling as a "true sportsman" and someone who was a throwback to an era that understood what it meant to be generous in defeat, chivalrous and a fair winner.
Comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor was best known as one third of the popular 1970s show The Goodies, and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
"Covid kills a Goodie," is the Daily Star's headline as it pays tribute to Tim Brooke-Taylor, who died yesterday aged 79.
In a similar play on words, the i describes him as "Always a Goodie".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52265663
Several of Thursday's newspapers carry hope the UK is reaching the peak of the coronavirus epidemic.
Quoting Prof Chris Whitty on the number of cases "flattening out", the Times says the news means the UK will soon be able to finalise plans for lifting lockdown measures.
The Daily Mail, meanwhile, has a stark account of the impact coronavirus is having on care homes.
It describes how six of the 18 residents at Philia Lodge care home in Peterborough have died in just 10 days. Some 85% of carers there have either been sick or had to self-isolate after coming into contact with infected residents.
The Daily Mirror believes Health Secretary Matt Hancock has woken up to the crisis in care homes far too late.
It asks why the testing of residents and their support staff was not done earlier - and writes it is impossible to see how the government can meet its promises to achieve this.
The Daily Telegraph highlights concerns that hospital patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 will continue to be discharged into care homes.
Charities and local authority leaders say the approach is "madness" because many homes do not have the resources to keep vulnerable and elderly residents safe.
The Daily Mail welcomes the government's decision to recognise care home staff for their work.
But the Mirror is scathing about the idea of awarding staff a badge - dismissing it as "unbelievable".
The newspapers give a mixed reaction to the health secretary's "badge of honour" for carers
The Sun suggests an alternative way to recognise the work of NHS staff. It calls for the entire service to be awarded the George Cross for bravery.
Their courage in risking their health on every shift must not be forgotten when the disease is defeated, the paper says.
"Day after day these men and women make Britain proud."
Several papers carry praise for Tom Moore, the Army veteran who has raised well over £10m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.
The Daily Express says the country is "in awe" of the fundraising "hero", while the Daily Star says a knighthood would be an apt way to thank the 99-year-old for his efforts.
The Times expresses concern that the government scheme to help small businesses is not coming to the rescue for enough of them, and the money is not getting through fast enough.
It calls for the process to be beefed up - and urges the chancellor to follow Switzerland and Germany by guaranteeing 100% of the loans rather than 80% per cent as at present.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52304339
The government's extension of lockdown conditions for another three weeks receives varying degrees of support in the press.
The Sun's leader column says the decision "seems fair" while it remains unclear how successful the battle against the pandemic is going, but insists it is important to review the measures "every day".
However, it argues it is "vital" that Britain endures what it calls "our virtual house arrest" only once.
The Daily Mirror agrees that another few weeks of social distancing "is a price worth paying" if it saves lives, but warns the extension will require more sacrifices for many people.
"The country has shown remarkable resilience so far", it says, and "if ministers want that to continue they need to say what the exit strategy entails".
And the Guardian's leader column says the decision to extend was "correct", before warning: "We need to start getting used to the idea that parts of the economy, some demographic groups and maybe some regions will be subject to different levels of control."
The Daily Mail says ministers are discussing ordering the use of protective equipment in the workplace and on public transport, to allow what the paper calls "a widespread return to normality".
A cabinet source is quoted as saying the UK "won't want to be too far behind" other countries such as Germany which are easing their lockdowns "but everyone accepts, including industry, that social distancing will have to continue for many months".
'United the nation'
Photographs of Captain Tom Moore are featured on most front pages and websites, after the 99-year-old completed 100 laps of his garden yesterday morning to raise more than £17m for the NHS.
Huffpost UK says the "heart-lifting moment" has seen the war veteran become "a national hero", while the Daily Express highlights his "inspiring" promise that "the sun will shine again" when the pandemic is over.
The Sun says Captain Tom has "united the nation during this new war" and, with a reference to his surname, it demands one "Moore" medal for the former army officer.
Testing scenario
Hopes that Britain can achieve widespread immunity to the virus by the end of the lockdown "were dealt a devastating blow yesterday", according to the Daily Telegraph.
It quotes research suggesting only a small proportion of the population may have acquired resistance to the disease. The paper says a former British director of the World Health Organisation will highlight the study when he delivers a highly critical appraisal of how the government has handled the pandemic to a Commons committee today.
Professor Anthony Costello will warn the failure to conduct widespread testing has left Britain facing "eight to 10 waves" of coronavirus, the paper reports.
In such a scenario, the Telegraph says, "both the death toll and economic consequences would be catastrophic".
The Independent website says Health Secretary Matt Hancock lost his temper on Thursday morning during a series of fractious interviews about the government's response to the pandemic.
It says he was "visibly frustrated" during a "heated clash" on ITV, before taking listeners by surprise by "lashing out" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The Mirror's leader column says the health secretary felt the questions "were beginning to irritate the public". But it argues that action might not have been taken had the media not highlighted how care homes were "hotbeds" for the virus.
A free press, the paper concludes, "means asking hard questions of ministers who stand accused of having failed to protect the people they are there to serve".
'Fig leaf'
There are reports that home coronavirus swab tests, delivered by Amazon, are being trialled as a way out of the lockdown.
The Times understands a pilot involving key workers is beginning this week, with the aim of completing the process within 48 hours.
According to the Mail, Mr Hancock is under mounting pressure over the UK's testing regime, after he claimed there had been lower-than-expected demand for checks over the Easter weekend.
The paper quotes healthcare and union sources the health secretary's claim could be a "fig leaf" to cover up testing failures.
Finally, the Economist considers whether the pandemic will be remembered as a geopolitical turning-point away from America.
It says President Trump seems to have no interest in leading the global response to the virus, giving China a chance to enhance its sway.
The Economist argues an unconstrained China "is not a comforting prospect" and warns that "the 1920s showed what happens when great powers turn selfish and rush to take advantage of the troubles of others".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52319301
A warning from hospital bosses that supplies of some protective clothing could run out this weekend features on a number of Saturday's front pages.
The Guardian reports on what it describes as a "significant U-turn" by Public Health England - which has changed its guidance for NHS workers in light of the shortages. The paper says the changes - which include using plastic aprons - leaves doctors and nurses fearing that more of them could fall ill.
The Independent website, meanwhile, has seen a leaked email that warns most trusts will run out of the gowns over the next couple of days - and stocks may not be replaced until the middle of June.
The Daily Mirror takes a dim view of Health Secretary Matt Hancock's response to questions about protective clothing supplies yesterday - in which he told MPs he wished he could "wave a magic wand" and have "PPE fall from the sky". It is clear, the paper says, he is "rattled" and "floundering" - while doctors and nurses are left "nearly defenceless".
'Squandered'
In its editorial, the Mirror says the UK had time to prepare for the outbreak - but there's "mounting evidence" ministers "squandered" that crucial chance to get ahead of the game. A Whitehall source tells the Times that the shortage of gowns is down to the government failing to stockpile enough equipment as part of its planning for a pandemic.
The Daily Telegraph leads on the number of suspected deaths from coronavirus in care homes. The paper says 7,500 residents are now feared to have died. Care England tells the paper it came up with the estimate by "taking a sounding" from the three and a half thousand homes it represents.
In its editorial, the Telegraph says the elderly in care homes "deserve protection and treatment - and if they're not getting it, we need to know why".
The Daily Mail, the i Weekend, the Sun and the Daily Express all lead on hopes for a vaccine - claiming British scientists could have one ready by September.
The Express says Britain is "spearheading the global race" - with a team of researchers at Oxford University thought to be the country's "best hope".
The Times points out that if they are successful, the biggest manufacturing plants for the vaccine would be in China and India. The paper quotes a biologist who says Britain has let its vaccine industry "slip away". If the UK wants to make millions of doses of a vaccine, he says, it is "simply not in the game anymore".
And the Telegraph reports that one of the world's best darts players has been forced to withdraw from a virtual tournament - hailed as the first live sport to be shown in the UK since all events were cancelled due to coronavirus.
The former world champion, Gary Anderson, was hoping to compete in the Professional Darts Corporation Home Tournament live from his living room last night - but pulled out when he found the internet connection to his home in rural Somerset was too slow. "I was up for it" he tells the Sun, "it's really frustrating".
His broadband provider, BT, did not respond to a request for comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52333682
Many of Sunday's front pages focus on the UK's possible exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown.
The Sunday Times reports that ministers have drawn up a three-phase plan to lift the restrictions, which could see school's reopen as early as 11 May. Under the proposals, it says pupils would return to classes part-time - depending on their age - to aid social distancing.
The Sun on Sunday calls it a "traffic-light master plan", which would see non-essential shops reopen within three weeks as part of a "red phase", before some restaurants are allowed to operate a fortnight later in the "amber phase".
Both papers say the over-70s and others deemed vulnerable would be asked to continue living under lockdown conditions for more than a year. The plans will reportedly be presented to Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he returns to work.
There is speculation in many papers about just when that may be. The Mail on Sunday says there is growing concern that Mr Johnson's absence from Downing Street is hampering exit planning. In its editorial, the paper says recent figures suggesting a fall in hospital admissions are a cause for optimism.
Yet it laments what it calls "a sense of drift from inside government" with Whitehall leaks suggesting senior ministers are reluctant to take any major decisions on ending the lockdown in the prime minister's absence. The paper urges the government to "offer a vision of a way back to a free and normal life".
But, while there are calls to concentrate minds on the future, there is also a continued focus on the predicament of NHS workers dealing with the virus here and now.
The Sunday Mirror says 500 doctors - who responded to a survey by the BMA - have warned that oxygen supplies are are running "worryingly low" at a "huge number" of hospitals. The paper says medics have laid bare "a horrifying lack of key supplies" - with hundreds of doctors saying they're short of sedatives, painkillers and anaesthetics and one nurse admitting she has had to reuse syringes.
The Sunday People says thousands of health workers have turned to mental health crisis helplines as they struggle to cope with what it describes as "the horrors of the coronavirus frontline". "Suicidal and afraid to hug their kids," is the paper's front page headline. One charity alone says it is being contacted by 50 health workers a day - amid fears that many staff will be affected by post traumatic stress disorder.
The Sunday Telegraph reports on emerging research about precisely who is at greater risk of being admitted to hospital with a severe form of the virus. The paper says a study into British patients suggests being overweight is one of the most important risk factors. The research - which has yet to be peer-reviewed - is based on an analysis of more than 15,000 cases and is said to be the biggest study of its kind.
Meanwhile, the Observer reports on concerns that so-called "lockdown shaming" is being used as a weapon in long-running neighbourhood feuds. The paper says police chiefs have complained about a rising number of false allegations being made about people breaking social distancing rules. Senior officers are urging the public to use "common sense" and not to exploit the pandemic to settle old scores.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52341750
There's still plenty of discussion in Monday's papers about how and when the coronavirus lockdown measures may be relaxed.
The Daily Mail says that, with the daily death toll at its lowest level for a fortnight, ministers are under pressure to lay out how restrictions might be eased.
The Daily Telegraph columnist Paul Nuki welcomes the government's cautious approach, writing that "a second peak would be an economic tragedy as well as a human one" which would "put UK PLC on a slab".
The paper's editorial urges ministers to be more open about the discussions being held, calling the government's refusal to discuss the matter "unacceptable". An editorial in the Sun urges people to "cut the backseat driving" and let ministers get on with making decisions away from public scrutiny.
The Telegraph's front page claims two-thirds of children are not taking part in online lessons being provided by schools. The report points out that private school pupils are twice as likely to log on - fuelling fears that educational disparities between the rich and poor could widen.
A Times editorial on the subject urges the government to prioritise the reopening of schools as quickly as possible, calling it a matter of "social justice" - citing a Norwegian scientific study that showed the future income of children from poorer backgrounds was lowered for every week of schooling they missed.
The Guardian dedicates its editorial to this week's reopening of Parliament. It calls the move "overdue", saying that "in dark days, parliamentary democracy must shine the strongest possible light on the questions that face us all".
The paper, however, makes a plea for more MPs to be involved, with current plans only allowing 50 members to be in the chamber, with another 70 taking part in debates virtually - a situation it says that could allow proceedings to be controlled by party whips.
Writing in the Times, the Conservative MP and chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee, Karen Bradley, says that technical hitches are inevitable, as anybody who has attempted to set up a video call with colleagues, friends or family during the lockdown will know all too well.
There's a warning in the Telegraph that some of the UK's best loved seafood is at risk of extinction because of government plans to relax fishing quotas next year to help the industry survive the current crisis.
The Marine Conservation Society has told the paper that cod, eels and sea bass are all at risk of dying out. The Daily Express reports that the pandemic is also putting the Great British cuppa at risk. The paper reports that tea production has been severely affected in places like India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, which could cause shortages and sharp prices increases.
And the Guardian says that Danish football fans will be given the chance to watch games in a unique way when the season restarts next month. With games set to be played behind closed doors, the Superliga side Midtjylland have installed giant screens in a car park outside their stadium where fans will be able to watch the action from their cars. Screens have also been installed in the ground's stands to broadcast footage of the drive-in cinema's crowd back to the players.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-52349328
Pictures of coronavirus test centres in Cardiff, Manchester and Brighton lying empty dominate the Daily Mirror's front page.
It says the government promised 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month, but less than a fifth of that target is actually being met.
The Daily Telegraph suggests that Matt Hancock is being lined up in government as the "fall guy" for mistakes in response to the virus.
It says the health secretary's pledge on testing has been criticised by Downing Street sources as arbitrary and irrational.
It quotes a Number 10 insider as saying: "He's not had a good crisis."
Allies of Mr Hancock tell the paper they believe he's the victim of a blame game sweeping through Whitehall as ministers and advisers try to wash their hands of key decisions, with one eye on the eventual inquiry into the response to the outbreak.
The debate about whether people should wear face masks makes the lead for the Times
The debate about whether people should wear face masks makes the lead for the Times.
It says NHS bosses have warned ministers that advising the public to do so would risk jeopardising critical supplies to the health service.
Government scientists are due to examine the evidence about masks today before making a formal recommendation to ministers.
According to the paper, the World Health Organization is understood to be ready to issue fresh guidance on wearing masks in shops, on public transport and in other crowded spaces as part of measures to exit the lockdown.
However, the paper says there's concern that any endorsement of masks would encourage people to buy medical versions, which could send prices soaring.
While masks aren't in short supply in hospitals, the paper goes on, there are fears that that would change if their use was recommended more widely.
Cabinet splits over how quickly the lockdown measures should be relaxed are the subject of the Guardian's main story.
The paper says senior ministers have been at loggerheads over whether the public health and economic impact of the lockdown will soon begin to rival the consequences of the virus itself.
According to the Guardian, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Trade Secretary Liz Truss are known to be among those raising concerns about the impact of a lengthy shutdown.
But, the paper adds, other ministers appear to have taken on board the latest evidence from government scientists that any easing of restrictions could trigger an exponential rise in coronavirus cases, and have rowed back from their initial support for allowing schools and some businesses to return to normal.
The Daily Express gives its backing to a call by MPs - led by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran - for a "coronavirus compensation scheme" for the families of NHS workers who have died of the illness.
The paper is also calling for a national monument to be built to honour the sacrifice of what it calls "our health heroes".
And finally, Prince Philip's message praising the NHS and other key workers for keeping the country going during the crisis, is the Sun's top story.
It says he issued a rallying cry for the UK's coronavirus heroes.
But, the paper adds, Prince Philip's statement was in "stark contrast" to a message by what it describes as "some bloke called Harry, from Hollywood", who instead moaned about the press and focused on his and Meghan's personal war against the media.
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