Major coronavirus developments on Wednesday 22 April
Here’s what you need to know on 22 April. This article was updated at 3pm.
Deaths: A further 763 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported in the UK, bringing the nation’s total to 18,100. There are now also 133,495 confirmed coronavirus cases, up 4,451. Read more here.
Britain is projected to have one of the highest coronavirus death tolls in the world in the coming days. A study carried out by a number of institutions, including Imperial College London, found that the UK is one of three countries that will have a “very large” number of deaths from the pandemic in the next week. Read more here.
Politics: The UK is “at the peak” of the coronavirus outbreak, health secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs. Delivering an update on the government’s COVID-19 response in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Hancock thanked the British public for their “steadfast commitment” in following lockdown rules. Read more here.
Tony Blair has said the government is overwhelmed with the coronavirus crisis and called for mass testing. The former prime minister said on Wednesday a vaccine could be “a long way away” and so testing had to be a priority. Read more here.
MPs have held the first ever virtual Prime Minister’s Questions via Zoom, with limited attendence in the Commons to adhere to social distancing rules. The event was struck by connectivity issues after just 17 minutes. Read more here.
Policy: The British public are far more supportive of the coronavirus lockdown “than anyone expected”, according to a pollster. Chris Curtis at survey agency YouGov said new exit strategy data showed people are in no hurry to see the government’s stringent social distancing measures eased. Read more here.
A flight carrying personal protective equipment – urgently needed by front line health workers as they treat COVID-19 patients in the UK – arrived from Turkey following days of delays. The RAF plane arrived at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire from Istanbul just after 3am. Read more here.
Science: Scientists are urging anyone over 60 to consider themselves “high-risk” amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here.
Testing: NHS staff are to be given new coronavirus tests after a minister admitted results from previous ones were inaccurate. Care minister Helen Whately announced on Wednesday morning that those who had received inaccurate tests were being notified. Read more here.
Business: Two retail giants have introduced new “no touch” rules to help curb the spread of coronavirus. Asda and Aldi hope to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 by asking customers to avoid touching items they may not purchase. Read more here.
Rest of the world
Health officials in Germany have warned the public not to be complacent after a rise in the country’s coronavirus infection rate. Germany has been widely seen as a world leader in how to handle the spread of COVID-19, and this week eased lockdown measures. Read more here.
Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice
Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world
Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area
6 charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading
Positive news
The lockdown has led to a surge in neighbourliness, with people checking in on each other and talking more than before, according to a new study. Read more here.
The incredible flora and fauna of the Venetian canals have been caught on video after a lack of boats on the waterways left the water to clear and natural life to thrive. Read more here.
