Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight: ‘Game-changer’ antibody test subject to scrutiny as eleventh hour London Tube rescue deal to cause fare hike

Head teachers union also pours cold water on government’s plans for return to classrooms

The novel coronavirus has now infected nearly 4.5 million people across 187 countries and territories. As the UK looks to find its way out of lockdown, here’s the news you might have missed overnight.

Scientists call for caution and transparency over government’s ‘game-changer’ antibody test

While it remains to be seen whether having had the virus provides longlasting immunity, widespread antibody testing remains at the forefront of hopes for a safe easing of lockdown restrictions.

Last week, a new antibody test developed by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche, touted by the government as a “game-changer”, became the first to receive the green light from Public Health England.

However, scientists have raised doubts over its effectiveness and have urged greater transparency to allow for the scientific community to check that it does carry a 100-per cent success rate in excluding false positives, as PHE has claimed.

“Without seeing the study methods and the data it’s impossible to verify these claims of accuracy,” said Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford.

“Just how sensitive and just how specific it is remains to be seen when this platform is used routinely,” added Professor Richard Tedder, visiting professor in Medical Virology at Imperial College London. “I find it surprising that PHE appear to have given this preferential treatment and publicity over and above the existing platforms by other companies.”

At Downing Street’s Thursday briefing, deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said frontline workers, including NHS staff, would be the first to get the new test, adding: “I anticipate that it will be rapidly rolled out in the days and weeks to come – as soon as it is practical.”

Headteachers’ union says schools cannot fulfil government’s plan to reopen

In a blueprint for easing the UK’s lockdown and freeing up parents to return to work, the government has said it hopes all primary school children will return to their classrooms a month before the summer holidays.

However, the National Association of Head Teachers – which represents 29,000 head teachers and other school leaders – said it had “very significant concerns” about ministers’ expectations and warned schools would be unable to hit the target.​

“These proposals, as they currently stand, are likely to prove impractical and unworkable in most schools,” the NAHT said, adding the aim was “not realistic”.​

“Unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances in the coming month, we do not believe this will be possible,” the union said. “We believe that the chances of the necessary conditions being met are exceptionally low.”

400 extra care homes infected in past 7 days, Public Health England says

The latest official data on the spread of the virus within the care sector show a total of more than 5,500 homes, or 35 per cent, in England have now been affected.

The worst-hit region is the North East, where 48 per cent of care homes have reported an outbreak, while London and the North West have both seen 41 per cent of all care homes reporting Covid-19 outbreaks.

However, PHE said the number of homes reporting confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus was now falling week to week from a peak of 1,000 at the start of April.

Boots withdraws adverts asking for unpaid volunteers to carry out coronavirus tests

Boots has withdrawn advertisements asking for unpaid volunteers to spend 32 hours a week carrying out coronavirus tests.

The Independent revealed earlier this week that the high street chemist was attempting to recruit hundreds of people on behalf of ministers striving to hit Boris Johnson’s target of 200,000 daily tests.

But unions and opposition parties accused the government of trying to take advantage of the public’s goodwill, while legal experts warned the chemist could risk investigation under minimum-wage legislation.

Boots has now removed the advertisements from its own website and other job sites, however sources within the firm said it was expected the adverts would be reposted after a review.

They stressed that the company was acting on behalf of the government and that the requirement to work “at least” 32 hours a week was not intended to be binding.

Last-minute Tube rescue deal means fare hikes for London passengers

The 11th hour deal agreed between mayor Sadiq Khan and transport secretary Grant Shapps has left London passengers facing fare hikes, and will also mean the suspension of Freedom Passes for elderly and disabled passengers at peak times.

Mr Khan – who last year promised a fare freeze in 2020 – criticised the government for waiting until the last minute to offer a rescue package, with TfL on the brink of being forced to cut Underground, train and buses to a bare-bones service.

Speaking after agreement was reached, a mayoral source said: “The government has belatedly agreed financial support for TfL to deal with Covid-19 – as they have for every other train and bus operator in the country.

“But they have forced ordinary Londoners to pay a very heavy price for doing the right thing on Covid-19 by hiking TfL fares, temporarily suspending the Freedom Pass at busy times and loading TfL with debt that Londoners will pay for in the long run.”

Shortly before the deal was done, Mr Shapps made clear that he was making fare hikes a condition of government support, saying he thought it was “very important” that those outside the capital did not end up carrying the financial burden.