Inside Politics – Coronavirus special: More NHS volunteers heed the call for help

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Sunak announces measures to protect self-employed

Last night saw windows and doors flung open across the nation, as Britain offered vigorous applause for the NHS. It was a chance to show our love for the health service – and offered some of us a bit of fresh air and exercise too. With experts claiming the lockdown is an opportunity to get fit, TV work-out legend Mr Motivator will be fronting a new BBC programme showing us how to remain in good shape. But enduring the weeks ahead will be a marathon, not a sprint. The government’s health experts say some lockdown measures could be needed for another six months. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing during the coronavirus crisis.

Inside the bubble

Our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan what to look out for today:

With parliament in recess for a month, MPs will be at home and racking their brains on new ways to how to hold the government to account during the pandemic. All eyes will be on the latest Downing Street press conference, now one of the sole opportunities to scrutinise Boris Johnson’s efforts to curb the outbreak. Social care workers were promised access to vital protective equipment by the end of this week, so health secretary Matt Hancock will be under pressure to deliver on his word.

Daily briefing

FLATTEN THAT CURVE: The amazing response to the call for volunteers to help the NHS – more than 650,000 have now signed up – means the government is now extending its target to 750,000 helpers. It’s going to be an incredibly tough time for the health service, with the virus expected to hit its peak in seven to 10 days. The UK’s death toll now stands at 578 after 113 more fatalities were confirmed on Thursday. Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said that within “two to three weeks” we may begin to see the flattening of the curve in new cases. Lockdown measures, however, might have to be in place for quite a while. “Overall we are looking at a scenario of over a six-month period, but not necessarily with a lockdown of this level going on throughout that time,” said Dr Harries. Elsewhere, Boris Johnon’s spokesman said other sites were being considered for “field” hospitals, as London’s ExCeL Centre gets turned into the NHS Nightingale. The Army confirmed the SEC in Glasgow was being considered, while bosses at the NEC in Birmingham have said they “stand ready” if called upon.

FRESH PACKAGE DELIVERED: Rishi Sunak told the self-employed “you have not been forgotten” as he unveiled a scheme handing out grants worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits (up to £2,500 a month). The chancellor described it as “one of the most generous in the world”, but the Treasury later admitted not everyone will benefit. Around 200,000 self-employed people reporting profits above £50,000 a year will not be eligible, along with 1.7 million who earn less than half of their income from self-employment – and an unknown number trading for less than a year. Although business groups largely welcomed the move, Labour warned that the June date for the first payment was too far away. “My worry is … it will simply be too late for millions,” said John McDonnell. “People need support in the coming days and fortnight.” With parliament shut down for a month, how will MPs get the chance to put such concerns to the government? Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has written to Boris Johnson, asking him answer questions from all the select committees chairs twice a week online.

ILL COMMUNICATION: No 10 blamed its failure to join an EU scheme to obtain extra ventilators on an unfortunate admin error, prompting dismay from the opposition. Downing Street initially said on Thursday that the UK would not be joining the bloc-wide, joint procurement scheme because “we are no longer members of the EU”. Lib Dem Layla Moran accused Johnson and his officials of putting “Brexit over breathing”. Changing tack, No 10 then said an “initial communication problem” meant official did not get the correct details about it. As it turns out, the UK can join future schemes to buy the life-saving machines. Labour demanded an “urgent explanation” about the mess. The government has placed orders for another 8,000 ventilators from existing manufacturers. The Dyson company said it has been handed an order for an additional 10,000 ventilators, so long as the entirely new machines pass tests.

A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION: The US now has more than 85,000 cases of the Covid-19, overtaking China’s total and becoming the global centre of the epidemic. New York City – America’s undoubted hotspot – is turning its convention centre into a temporary hospital, while a makeshift morgue has been set up outside Bellevue Hospital. Despite his repeated description of the coronavirus as “the Chinese virus”, Donald Trump said he had a “very good conversation” with president Xi Jinping over the phone – and claimed China now had “a strong understanding of the virus”. Trump appeared most concerned about the huge, shocking spike in unemployment at his latest conference, repeating his desire to lift restrictions as soon as possible. “People want to go back to work, ” he said. “They don’t want to sit around and wait.” The number of jobless claims in the US was around 210,000 only three weeks ago. The latest figures show 3.3 million Americans have registered as out of work.

DOWN UNDER QUARANTINE: Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has announced that all Australians coming home from overseas will be quarantined for 14 days in hotels next to airports – citing the fact two-thirds of coronavirus cases in the country are coming from returning travellers. The government – which has put an international travel ban in place – had previously told returning arrivals to self-isolate at home. Russia announced it would suspend all international flights from Friday. Although Vladimir Putin has played down the idea of any domestic emergency, Russian media are reporting that as many as five members of staff at the Kremlin may have tested positive. South Africa, meanwhile, has begun its three-week, nationwide lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of the virus.

HEADING SOUTH? There are signs Italy’s northern Lombardy region – the worst hit in the country – may be beginning to flatten the curve. Yet there are fears Italy’s south could now see a sharp rise in new cases. Vincenzo De Luca, leader of the Campania region covering Naples, penned an open letter to prime minister Giuseppe Conte complaining the government had not given them enough ventilators and other equipment. “At this point there is the real prospect that Lombardy’s tragedy is about to become the south’s tragedy,” he said. Meanwhile in France, health authorities reported 365 deaths from the virus on Thursday – the highest number yet for a 24-hour period. A French government spokeswoman said the 15-day lockdown put in place last week could soon be extended, with an announcement expected “in the coming days”.

On the record

“We have not left you behind – we all stand together.”

Rishi Sunak offers economic support to the self-employed.

From the Twitterati

“Have to say we thought we’d be the only people in the street. Nothing like it. Neighbourhood sounded like Bowie had just come back.”

Danny Baker loved the 8pm clap for the NHS…

“All across Britain right now there are people with a sheepish look on their face having just discovered they actually know some of the people with whom they share a street … There was also something affirming about all of that. Even if only for a moment, a lot of people were just reminded they are not alone.”

…and it left The Spectator’s Alex Massie moved too.