Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned of “tough times” ahead after government forecasters said the economy could shrink by 35 per cent - the largest quarterly decline in economic activity in at least 100 years – and unemployment could rise to 3.4 million due to strict lockdown measures which have been used to slow the spread of coronavirus . Polling for The Independent has found ethnic minorities and young people in society are the hardest hit by the economic effects of the pandemic, with almost a third of all households seeing their finances cut and more than one in 20 saying they have lost half their income.Meanwhile, more than 2,000 additional Covid-19 deaths have been recorded outside hospitals, according to official statistics, amid growing concern about the vulnerability of care homes during the UK’s epidemic, while the hospital death toll has risen to more than 12,000.Sharing headlines Follow the latest updates The daughter of a nurse who died after contracting coronavirus has said she wants to use funds raised to support her family to buy protective equipment for other health workers.
The mother-of-four Sara Dee Trollope, 51, who worked as matron on the mental health ward at Hillingdon Hospital, was described as "an example to every one of us" for her kindness and hard work.
Her 18-year-old daughter Freya said the unit had to adapt to accommodate coronavirus patients, with her mother stepping up to work longer hours.
A Gofundme fundraising page to support Freya, her siblings and her father, Gary has raised more than £11,000 so far. After sorting out rent and bills, she insisted she wanted to help buy Hillingdon Hospital some more personal protective equipment. Video-link parliament plans under way
Planning for a virtual House of Commons when Parliament is scheduled to return next week "is progressing well", Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said.
MPs will be able to take part in prime minister's questions, urgent questions and statements remotely by video link, under the proposed new arrangements for Commons business.
The proceedings will be broadcast and webcast as live, and once the system is judged "satisfactory and sustainable", the House will consider extending the model to debates on motions and consideration of legislation, Sir Lindsay said. Empty streets in Austria as country reopens shops and eases lockdown
Shops began reopening across Austria on Tuesday after the country started to loosen restrictions after a month of lockdown, but most people seemed to decide to stay at home.
A sign outside the Vienna Candy Store signalled to passerbys that the small business was open, but inside, owner Adnan Sulejmani remained by himself.
“People are still afraid, just look outside,” Sulejmani tells the Independent.
More below:
Please allow a moment for the blog to load
