The Papers: Salute for virus ‘heroes’ and ‘Checkpoint Britain’

The Papers: Salute for virus ‘heroes’ and ‘Checkpoint Britain’
NewsColony

By BBC News Staff

Image caption The Daily Mirror dedicates its front page to members of the public across the UK applauding NHS workers – or, as the tabloid brands them, coronavirus “heroes”. Its main image shows emotional staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital listening to the “moving tribute”, while inset pictures of participants across the UK include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children.

Image caption Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis and George are also pictured on the front of the Daily Mail, “leading the applause” on a “glorious night” where people across the UK joined in the clapping. The royals were some of many sharing videos of the moment on social media. The lead story carries a warning from the government for people not to move home during the pandemic.

Image caption The housing market has been “plunged into chaos” after the government called on people to delay moving home, the Times reports. Ministers “effectively suspended” the market as banks struggle with the volume of customer calls about various knock-on effects of the virus – including the suspension of some mortgage payments and difficulties with property valuations.

Image caption The Metro’s front page features Prime Minister Boris Johnson joining in with the clapping, while its lead story bears the headline: “Checkpoint Britain.” Police have begun using checkpoints, roadblocks and drones to enforce the virus lockdown, the paper says – and people breaking it could face huge fines or court under powers announced on Thursday.

Image caption Also nodding towards Checkpoint Charlie – a famed crossing point of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War – the Daily Express opts for the same headline as the Metro. The Express says says police in England will “arrest anyone flouting lockdown” rules under new laws. However, the Home Office says police will apply “common sense and discretion” to the rules.

Image caption “Checkpoint Charlies,” says the Daily Star’s headline. The paper describes police setting up “coronavirus checkpoints” at roadblocks as officers “get tough” on people who are not leaving their home for a valid reason.

Image caption Nurses are being sent to London as the capital faces a “tsunami” of coronavirus patients within days, the Guardian reports. It claims doctors will be asked to sleep on site for six weeks at the new makeshift Nightingale Hospital in east London’s ExCeL centre. The exhibition space, which has been used in the past for Crufts and Comic Con, will eventually hold up to 4,000 patients.

Image caption Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s financial package of support for 3.8 million self-employed workers makes the lead story in the Financial Times. The paper calls the £3bn-a-month scheme a “rescue deal”. The paper quotes the chancellor as saying it was “reasonable, proportionate and fair” for people earning more than £50,000 a year to not benefit from the package.

Image caption The government has been warned employment will soar as a result of the delay in support payments for self-employed workers, the Daily Telegraph reports. The chancellor acknowledged some of the 3.8 million workers benefiting from his latest financial package announcement would have to claim benefits if they had no other money to live on until they are paid, the paper says.

Image caption Mr Sunak faces criticism over the delay in the payment to self-employed people, the i says. Those workers can now apply for a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits but the money will not begin to arrive for weeks. “You have not been forgotten,” Mr Sunak said.

Image caption The Sun leads with some grim stats – it says in the latest 24 hours of official figures, one person in the UK died with coronavirus every 13 minutes. The paper also has an exclusive story on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have reportedly move permanently to California. It comes after the couple stepped back from their roles as working members of the Royal Family.

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Source : BBC News | NewsColony: World News

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