Trend in hospitalisation in Great Britain confirms flat-lining and significant lowering of daily rate of hospital deaths. Image: Screen-grab from Downing Street media

UK announces 449 more coronavirus deaths – the fewest for a fortnight

The trend in deaths and hospitalisation is now downwards with a ‘flat-lining’ on government graphs.

NHS England announced that the daily figure for people dying in hospitals from COVID-19 has fallen to 429.

However, Oxford University Professor Carl Heneghan is claiming the UK’s outbreak actually peaked back in March.

He said data showed this but ministers had ‘lost sight’ of the scientific evidence and panicked about the need for a lockdown.

Professor Heneghan argues that Sweden should be recognised for ‘holding its nerve’ because the country has stayed open for business as usual.

Sweden’s infection and death rates are so far lower than UK’s and its economy is stable.

Coronavirus: 449 more people die in UK hospitals with COVID-19 https://t.co/y8kZ0SG5eb

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 20, 2020

The danger of advocating compulsory use of face-marks in public

Chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, says the NHS’s supply of face masks could be jeopardised if the Government begins advising the public to wear them.

Scientific advisers for the Government are carrying out a review of the use of face masks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said there is no evidence to support their use by the general population.

NHS providers represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England and has urged the Government to ‘fully assess’ the impact any new advice could have on health service supplies.

NHS face mask supply ‘could be put at risk’ if public advised to wear themhttps://t.co/ocnzLggtY2

— PA Media (@PA) April 21, 2020

More than 140,000 firms have applied to the Government’s employee furlough scheme.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak says government grants now help to cover the wages of more one million people,

He said the furlough scheme has received 17,500 applications an hour since it was launched at 8 a.m. on Monday morning.

The scheme guarantees 80 per cent of wages up to £2,500 a month per employee.

Firms should receive their cash in six working days https://t.co/ErrtUqoh3I

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) April 21, 2020

Spies with medical qualifications switched from fighting terrorism.

MI5 Director General Sir Andrew Parker says that ‘qualified doctors, nurses and other health professionals’ employed by the Security Service had been ‘released back into the NHS’ and were now ‘serving on the frontline’ to help battle the pandemic.

He said that MI5 had also given protective security advice on the design and construction of the new Nightingale hospitals set up in east London and elsewhere.

MI5 chief: Medically trained spies have switched to virus fight https://t.co/x2vyXHuWVh

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) April 20, 2020

Massacre in Nova Scotia Canada by dentist posing as police officer

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says ‘These communities are in mourning, and Canada is in mourning with them.’

He paid tribute to the victims of a mass shooting in Nova Scotia where 19 people lost their lives including a woman Canadian Mountie.

“These communities are in mourning, and Canada is in mourning with them.”

Canada’s Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau has paid tribute to the victims of a mass shooting in Nova Scotia, in which at least 16 people lost their lives.

To read more, click here: https://t.co/lNcGj72Udb pic.twitter.com/qnytYFZwK4

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 20, 2020

Constable Heidi Stevenson was among 16 people tragically killed https://t.co/xGNuEmUs1w

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) April 21, 2020

Israelis just showed the world what a socially distant protest looks like

Thousands of Israelis have gathered at an Anti-Corruption rally under coronavirus restrictions have demonstrated what protest with social distancing can look like.

They are opposed to proposed unity government talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israelis just showed the world what a socially distant protest looks like https://t.co/AKVJeu0mqA

— TIME (@TIME) April 20, 2020

Deer take advantage of deserted streets

Quiet roads in Cornwall as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown have encouraged some normally shy residents to make an appearance.

Deer now walk the white lines rather than diesel and petrol driven motor-vehicles.

Deer walk down deserted streets in Cornwall during coronavirus lockdownhttps://t.co/8vG4S4Py7G pic.twitter.com/VgA6K7c9LS

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 20, 2020