Wednesday morning news briefing: Lightning a bigger risk

Danny Boyle
·5 min read
Children in the playground at L'Ecole des Petits, an independent French bilingual school in Fulham, learn how to stand in socially distanced hoops - KEVIN COOMBS/REUTERS
Children in the playground at L'Ecole des Petits, an independent French bilingual school in Fulham, learn how to stand in socially distanced hoops - KEVIN COOMBS/REUTERS

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Covid-19 poses less risk to children than lightning

The risk is staggeringly small. New figures suggest that schoolchildren under the age of 15 are more likely to be hit by lightning than die from coronavirus. Scientists from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford have called for "rational debate" based on the "tiny" risk to children and suggested that if no vaccine is found it may be better to follow the Swedish model - allowing younger people to continue with their lives while shielding the more vulnerable. MPs and peers demanded to know why the Government appeared to be focused on getting non-essential shops open rather than prioritising schools. Economics Editor Russell Lynch calculates how the latest blow to frazzled parents bears a heavy economic price. And Allison Pearson argues it is a national scandal that children will soon be able to go to Thorpe Park, but not to school.

Meanwhile, the two-metre rule has been left out of draft government guidance on reopening pubs and restaurants. Officials are discussing advising the hospitality sector to focus on "wider spacing" between customers and other safeguarding measures - raising the prospect the Government is preparing to bow to pressure to reduce the distance. In this analysis, Associate Editor Camilla Tominey writes that the Government has shown, once again, that its exit strategy ignores children. And Matt finds comedy in the situation for today's cartoon.

NHS waiting lists 'to hit 10m by end of the year'

Around 10 million people will be on the waiting list for NHS treatment by the end of the year - more than double the current figure, health bosses have warned. Continuing pressure from coronavirus plus reduced patient flow means the health service faces an "uphill battle" to restart normal services, such as those for stroke and heart disease, according to a report from the NHS Confederation. As Health Correspondent Henry Bodkin explains, the backlog of treatments and staffing shortages is expected to exacerbate the waiting list.

Marking a milestone in isolation, the Duke at 99

The Duke of Edinburgh celebrates his 99th birthday in isolation at Windsor Castle today, as Buckingham Palace releases a new official portrait with the Queen. The Duke - who, along with the Queen, has been under strict lockdown since March - will mark his birthday in his customary low-key fashion. But Royal Correspondent Hannah Furness reports he is set to receive video calls from his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Author Philip Eade explains how lockdown has brought the Queen and the Duke closer together than ever.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

War on statues | Black Lives Matter supporters have drawn up a "hit list" of dozens of statues after the Mayor of London said controversial monuments should be torn down to avoid causing offence. Statues of leading historical figures including Sir Francis Drake, Nancy Astor, Christopher Columbus and William Gladstone should be toppled "for celebrating slavery and racism", campaigners said. It came as councils and museums across the UK rushed to remove contentious statues.

You Are Not Alone: Getting you through the crisis

  1. Burnt out by home-schooling? | How to keep going until September (and beyond)

  2. 'Tablescape' style | How it became the summer trend to master in lockdown

  3. Cover up | The six things to consider before buying a face mask

Comment and analysis

Gallery: George Floyd funeral

Family and friends of George Floyd gathered in his hometown of Houston, Texas, to pay their final respects to the 46-year-old, who was killed two weeks ago by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck during his arrest. Read this dispatch from US Correspondent Josie Ensor and view a gallery of the most striking images from the service.

Roxie Washington holds Gianna Floyd, her daughter with George Floyd, as they attend his funeral service at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston - DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP
Roxie Washington holds Gianna Floyd, her daughter with George Floyd, as they attend his funeral service at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston - DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP

Business and money briefing

Banks under fire | One of Britain's most powerful investors has hit out at HSBC and Standard Chartered for backing an authoritarian crackdown in Hong Kong. Aviva Investors said it was deeply concerned the London-listed banks had thrown their weight behind China's regime passing a new law criminalising anti-government movements in the ex-colony.

Sport briefing

Open door to black coaches | Gareth Southgate believes it will be a "crime" if football does not break down barriers and open the door to more black coaches and managers. Raheem Sterling, the Manchester City and England forward, has called for more black representation at the Football Association and questioned why white former professionals got better managerial jobs than their black counterparts.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

The £2m electric hypercar | Lotus has helped design aircraft, yachts, bicycles and even a trolley. Now the company is returning to what it does best - lightweight sports cars. The Evija is Lotus' first hypercar and will cost an eye-watering sum. Jeremy Taylor explains it will be the world's most powerful production road car.