Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight: Hospitals to run out of PPE, local councils face collapse and Trump stokes right-wing protests

But, amid the crisis, football may be set for a return

(AP)

The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause chaos across the UK and around the world. Here’s your morning briefing of everything you may have missed overnight.

Hospitals to run out of protective equipment this weekend

Hospitals across the country will run out of protective gowns this weekend and will not have a “sustainable level” again until mid-June, a leaked email has revealed.

The warning was sounded by a military liaison officer brought in by the government to help coordinate the country’s ongoing Covid-19 response.

The email – which said “most” NHS trusts would run short – came hours before medics were instructed to treat patients without gowns if necessary, and use plastic aprons as an alternative.

Previous guidance had been to wear full-length waterproof surgical gowns to protect against transfer of the virus. But the shift came as health secretary Matt Hancock said a “global shortage” of equipment was making it difficult to procure.

Fraudsters cashing in on pandemic to tune of £2 million

Scammers are increasingly using the coronavirus pandemic to cash in, experts have warned again – with estimates suggesting they have already creamed at least £2 million off vulnerable people.

Ruses range from crooks selling ineffective face masks door-to-door to emails purporting to be from the government demanding fines for breaking lockdown rules.

At least £2 million has already been lost to such schemes in the UK, Action Fraud said.

But it added the real figure may be far higher because victims often do not report such crimes.

Local councils face financial collapse in face of pandemic, town halls warn

Local authorities across the country are at risk of financial collapse if they do not receive help from central government, town halls have warned.

They say that rising outlays caused by the coronavirus outbreak – such as increasing social care capacity – have been exacerbated by a loss of income from money-making services such as parking and leisure centres.

The Local Government Association has now asked Whitehall – which has promised extra money – to foot the full bill to ensure authorities do not “fail”.

“It is good that the government has moved to provide some financial help to councils [but] additional funding is urgently needed to help councils get through this crisis,” said Richard Watts of the LGA.

Captain Tom Moore raises £21m for NHS

The Second World War veteran has now officially received more than £21m in donations for the NHS Charities Together through his 100th birthday walk.

The 99-year-old veteran, who completed his pledged 100 lengths of his garden on Thursday, originally only aimed to raise £1,000 to donate to healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus.

Now, after completing his challenge, Capt Moore, of Bedfordshire, has offered words of encouragement in the fight against Covid-19.

“At the end of the day we shall all be ok,” he said. “The sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away.”

A petition to have him knighted has now been signed by 500,000 people, while a Spitfire salute has also reportedly been planned for his 100th birthday later this month.

Antibody tests may not show immunity, WHO warns

Coronavirus antibody tests – designed to show if a person has already had coronavirus – may not be proof of immunity, the World Health Organisation has said.

Just because antibodies are present in a person’s blood does not necessarily mean they are no longer at risk from the bug for a second time, epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove told a briefing on Friday.

The growing belief that those who suffer only a mild reaction to Covid-19 may still be susceptible in future comes as a blow to the idea that so-called herd immunity could be built up over time.

Football league games to be resumed

All matches in the English Football League – comprising the Championship, League One and League Two – are set to be resumed behind closed doors, the EFL has suggested.

No date has been given for when the season will continue but fans will be locked out, chairman Rick Parry said in an open letter to supporters.

Instead all games will be broadcast live on TV or online, he added.

It comes as the Premier League continues to discuss if and when it will resume.

Donald Trump posts tweets supporting anti-lockdown protestors

The US president has appeared to stoke demonstrations against life-saving social distancing rules in a series of states by tweeting his support for the protestors.

“LIBERATE MINNESOTA…LIBERATE MICHIGAN…LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” he wrote in a series of missives late on Friday. “And save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!”

The unorthodox intervention came as protesters in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and demanded an end to lockdowns – even though they have been widely credited with saving lives.

Some protesters carried guns, waved Confederate flags and sought to frame the debate as a defence of constitutional freedoms.

State governors who have initiated the lockdowns insist they will not be bullied by the White House if it puts lives at risk.