The Papers: \'Glimmer of light\' but social distancing to continue

Newspaper headlines: 'Glimmer of light' but social distancing to continue

By BBC News Staff
Daily Telegraph front page
Image caption The UK has been told to prepare for another year of "disruptive" social distancing by the chief medical officer, the Daily Telegraph reports. Prof Chris Whitty told the daily coronavirus briefing the lockdown would not come to a quick end. Ministers, he said, would have to consider “trade-offs” to avoid a second wave of infections.
The i front
Image caption The i leads on Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's comments that the UK has reached the peak of the pandemic. The paper quotes Health Secretary Matt Hancock as thanking the public for sticking with social distancing measures.
Daily Mirror front page
Image caption The Daily Mirror focuses on what it calls a “glimmer of light”, also picking up on Mr Raab’s comments that the pandemic has peaked. It came as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took the government to task for shortages of personal protective equipment and virus tests, the paper notes.
Metro front page
Image caption Sir Keir's criticism of the government’s “slow” response to the pandemic makes the lead for the Metro. Speaking at his first Prime Minister’s Questions, the Labour leader accused the government of failing to respond to UK firms who have offered to provide badly-needed protective equipment for NHS staff.
Daily Express front page
Image caption Mr Hancock has vowed to fix the coronavirus care home "crisis", the Daily Express reports, after new figures suggested the death toll was being grossly under-estimated. The paper says it is now believed 2,000 vulnerable residents died over Easter alone – more than double the number initially thought.
Daily Mail front page
Image caption The pandemic is leading to heart attack and stroke victims waiting at least two hours and 20 minutes for an ambulance, according to the Daily Mail. The paper says emergency response times are at their worst on record as paramedics face a surge in demand at a time when many are off sick.
Guardian front page
Image caption The Guardian reports that the government has been urged to take rapid action after new research by the paper showed ethnic minorities in England were dying in disproportionately high numbers from the virus compared to white people. The paper says the findings confirm suspicions raised by local reports, hospital admission rates and evidence from other countries that minority groups face the greatest risk.
Sun front
Image caption Elsewhere, the government is set to recommend that people cover their faces with something as simple as a scarf when at work, in shops or on public transport, the Sun reports. It follows a meeting of government scientists that reviewed the evidence on wearing masks.
FT front page
Image caption A vital source of financing for developing countries is to plummet this year as a result of the pandemic, reports the Financial Times. The paper says remittance flows from around the world will fall by more than £100bn this year – the largest fall in recent history.
Daily Star
Image caption And finally, the Daily Star reports on an unexpected beneficiary of the pandemic - naturist groups. Memberships have soared during the crisis, the paper says.

"Army of thousands to help trace virus victims" is the front-page headline in the Times.

It says that because tracking infections will play a key role in any easing of lockdown restrictions, Public Health England will train civil servants and council workers for the huge scheme.

But its leader asks whether the government is capable of organising them, suggesting that local authorities might be better placed to do so.

The Daily Telegraph agrees that tracing is a key part of efforts to resume normal life, but its opinion column points out that in this area "the UK seems to be behind the curve".

It says a small team of tracers that had been set up was "wound down", although the government now "wants to build it up again".

"Glimmer of light" is the front-page headline in the Daily Mirror.

It's a reference to the foreign secretary's comment, at Wednesday's Downing Street briefing, that there was "light at the end of the tunnel".

Image copyright EPA
Image caption Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Wednesday's Downing Street briefing there was "light at the end of the tunnel"

In its leader, the paper welcomes the suggestion that infections may be reaching a peak. But, it says: "We have to accept there is still a long way to go."

The Guardian claims that Number 10 ignored a warning from the Department of Health, not to mention at last Saturday's Downing Street briefing, that a consignment of protective equipment was due to arrive from Turkey the following day.

The plane landed on Wednesday.

A source close to Health Secretary Matt Hancock is quoted saying that the disclosure about the advice is "categorically not true".

But a cabinet source tells the paper: "Lots of people were clear that we shouldn't be talking about any shipments before they've arrived."

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The Sun's front page headline is "wear a mask".

It reports that, with senior scientists due to meet once again to discuss the issue, the government may be about to change its advice and encourage people to try to stop the infection spreading by wearing masks.

The paper urges readers to make their own, to avoid depriving health workers of supplies, and even provides do-it-yourself designs.

The Guardian has conducted research which suggests a "disproportionately high" number of ethnic minority people are being killed by coronavirus in England.

It reports that there are calls for urgent action from the government to tackle the problem.

In an analysis piece, Prof Nishi Chaturvedi from University College London writes: "Ultimately, this is about health inequalities, about deprivation and affluence, and how important socio-economic status is in determining health outcomes."

In its leader column, the Times argues that once the pandemic is over, governments around the world should try to maintain the cut in greenhouse gas emissions that it's brought about.

The paper's concerned that because of the economic damage countries will be "tempted to conclude that environmental concerns are a luxury they can ill afford".

The paper suggests that lifestyle changes, such as working from home, should become part of the norm in order to reduce pollution.

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images
Image caption Prince Louis appears on many of the front pages

The Financial Times suggests that the government might resist a call by British universities to fill a £2.5bn funding shortfall caused by Covid-19.

The paper says that although Chancellor Rishi Sunak is yet to make a decision on a possible bailout, Treasury officials believe universities should not be treated differently from other hard-pressed industries.

The FT says that has raised fears of "possible bankruptcies" in the sector.

The Sun reports that two thirds of people who responded to a YouGov poll believe a new public holiday should be created to commemorate front-line health workers treating Covid-19 patients.

More than 2,000 people took part in the survey.

The recommendation comes from the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, which also suggests that NHS staff working during the crisis should receive a 10% percent pay bonus and counselling.

And finally, many of the front pages have pictures of Prince Louis, who's turned two, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.

His hands are covered in paint because he's been making rainbow handprints, to show support for NHS workers.

The Express calls the photos "adorable".