UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock test positive for Covid-19

All the day’s developments from the UK Covid-19 crisis, as Scotland death toll rises to 33Coronavirus: latest global updatesBoris Johnson tests positive for Covid-19Coronavirus latest: at a glanceMillions in UK to need food aid in days as virus exposes state of supplySee all our coronavirus coverage 1.57pm GMT Following news that councils in England have been asked to house all rough sleepers by the weekend, both Edinburgh and Glasgow councils are moving rough sleepers off the street into hotel rooms and repurposed student flats where they can self-isolate easily, using extra funding from Scottish government.Street homelessness has been significantly reduced in Scotland since 2001 when the Scottish parliament passed legislation requiring councils to provide a minimum of temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to all applicants assessed as being homeless. 1.56pm GMT More than half of all courts and tribunals will be closed to the public from next week as the Ministry of Justice limits the number of physical hearings to avoid transmission of coronavirus infections.All housing repossession actions are to be suspended immediately and the suspension will last for at least 90 days. () Immigration and asylum cases have also been halted.We are facing an unprecedented challenge and the government’s absolute priority is to save lives and protect the NHS. With each part of our justice system – from police to probation – dependent on one another, it is vital that we keep our courts running.”Balancing safety with the need to keep the wheels of justice turning is incredibly difficult. We recognise that it is impossible for HMCTS to maintain a full complement of courts open to the public at this time; in some courts it is challenging to ensure that people can maintain social distancing. This was already posing health risks that have been of serious concern to the legal professionals trying to help the public in need.”Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, said: “In the face of this extraordinary pandemic, it makes sense to consolidate our constrained resources to keep the justice system on track. It is in the public interest that justice keeps going and….. we welcome the use of remote hearings.” Continue reading…
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