In a regular news cycle, the appointment of Sir Kier Starmer as the new head of the Labour party might have been given a little more column inches and screen time… but this is no ordinary news cycle.
This weekend also brought with it a historic moment as The Queen delivered an address to the public; describing her gratitude for the hard work of NHS staff and key workers, and how proud she is of how the country is dealing with this crisis.
Also, it will have passed no-one’s attention that the Prime Minister was hospitalised over the weekend, 10 days after testing positive for the virus.
Large groups heading out to communal recreational areas brought with it a stern warning from Health Secretary Matt Hancock – more on him later – who implored the public not to flout lockdown rules. He even went as far as to decry sunbathing as ‘against the rules’ and said that if people contravene these rules, then the government ‘might have to take further action.’
North of the border, Scotland’s chief medical officer received something of a slap on the wrist, after it emerged, she has twice visited her family’s second home in Fife – prompting a police warning. Calderwood stepped down from her post, a mere seven hours after insisting she would continue in the position.
Changes in the Labour party leadership will no doubt bring with it questions for the incumbent. It didn’t take newly appointed deputy leader Angela Rayner long before blasting a warning shot across the virtual commons; lambasting Matt Hancock for not adhering to the World Health Organisation’s two-week isolation procedure. The Health Minister, who had been battling the virus spent seven days in isolation before returning to public service.
Sunday 5 April saw the coronavirus daily death toll rise by 621, a fall on the previous 24 hours of 708. This brings the total number to 4,934. The big question for our industry as with many others is when and how will we lift lockdown regulations. A decision is set to be given on Good Friday, as this is the earliest point the lockdown effects will register on the infection figures.
Until that time, please keep safe.