'Complicated' social bubbles, £600m support package for care homes and plans to restart the housing market – what we learned from today’s Downing Street briefing

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick was joined by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jennifer Harries at Downing Street.

Latest figures show lowest daily cases rise since March

Mr Jenrick announced that a further 3,242 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the country’s total to 229,705 on May 13.

This is the lowest daily rise in the number of cases since March.

Of the people who have tested positive in all settings, 33,186 have sadly died. The number of people hospitalised with coronavirus has decreased from 11,401 to 11,327. The weekly number of hospital admissions with Covid-19 is down 15% from 13,273.

Daily tests remain below 100,000

The Housing Secretary announced that 87,063 coronavirus tests were made available on May 12.

Over 2,000,000 tests have been carried out across the country.

Mr Jenrick said: "Testing has been going on for some time. I am sure that there is more that we can do.

"But we have now brought capacity for testing nationally up to 110,000 and we need to ensure it is focused on the people who need it the most, including the care home workers."

Government's plan to restart the housing market outlined

The Housing Secretary said: “From today anyone in England can move house if they follow new guidance on gov.uk.”

He went on to state over 450,000 people had to put their moving plans on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new measures should ‘add some certainty’ to people's lives with viewings now permitted while estate agent offices and moving services can reopen

Jenrick stressed the changes are happening safely as he added: "People have asked why would they be able to look around a stranger's home but not visit their parents or loved ones at home?

"I understand why this may seem confusing at first glance, especially when people have been separated from their loved ones for so long."

He said there was a "clear plan to ensure the safety of everybody involved in the property" with stringent hygiene guidance.

Virtual viewings are encouraged with open house viewings not permitted and speculative viewings ‘highly discouraged’.

Flexible operating hours for building sites

Building sites in England will be allowed to operate until 9pm Monday to Saturday in residential areas and beyond that in non-residential areas as part of the Government's efforts to restart the economy.

Mr Jenrick said: "Varied start and finish times will make it much easier for sites to observe social distancing, take the pressure off public transport like the Tube in London and keep Britain building."

£600m support package in place to help care homes

The Housing Secretary stressed care homes are ‘at the absolute heart’ of everything the Government are doing as he mentioned the £600m financial support package for care homes in England.

“Councils are under a lot of pressure and we're asking a lot of them,” Mr Jenrick said.

“It is essential they get that money through to the front line as soon as possible and we'll make sure £600m will get to care homes as quickly as possible.”

He added: "The package includes ensuring that care homes - including the smaller, independent homes - also have expert advice from councils, from public health professionals and from the NHS to ensure they have got the best infection control, access to testing, the right protective equipment, and are making use of the new discharge policies so that residents are only arriving or returning at the home once we know that they are free from Covid-19."

Social bubbles 'complicated’ but would provide ‘positive mental health boost’

Creating a social "bubble" with one other household would be a "positive mental health boost", particularly for those who live alone, England's deputy chief medical officer has said.

The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is looking at whether it may be safe in the near future for people in one household to link up with one other household to create a social bubble.

Dr Jenny Harries told the daily press briefing: "We do recognise that people - particularly those who have been on their own or who are isolated from others - would very much welcome this.

"It will be a very strong positive mental health boost."

But she said it "does get quite complicated" if, for example, families with large numbers then wanted to join another large family "you end up effectively with quite a large gathering, even if it's just two families meeting".

She said it was "really important" to think through the implications for all families, including those whose family lived far away.

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