UK coronavirus: Johnson hails 'breakthrough' of cheap steroid that helps prevent Covid-19 deaths — as it happened

PM leads daily briefing; former PMs condemn merger of FCO and DfID; Johnson makes U-turn on free school meals after Rashford campaignBoris Johnson ’s press conference - SummaryWhat PM ’s vivid language says about his attitude to foreign policyNo 10 announces U-turn on free school meals over summer holidaysDeath rate in London now below seasonal average, says ONSCoronavirus global updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage6.45pmBSTHere are the main points from Boris Johnson ’s press conference.In ventilated patients with Covid-19, the drug dexamethosone - so 10 days of treatment with that, which is a tablet or injection - reduces the risk of death by about 35%. In patients on the ward who require oxygen and have covid, it reduces the risk of death by about 20% - that covers about 75% of patients in hospital who will see a mortality benefit from using this drug.I talked to Marcus Rashford today to congratulate him on his campaigning, which to be honest I only became aware of very recently – today. I thank him for what he has done. I think he is right to draw attention to this issue, and basically we’ve got large numbers of kids who haven’t been able to get back into school.We ’re getting there ... I know people are very, very patient about this, we’re making as much progress on that as we can. Watch this space, because we absolutely hear you.We are now starting to see – with drugs like dexamethasone and the idea that perhaps you could combine that with other thin...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Coronavirus outbreak Politics UK news Boris Johnson Marcus Rashford Rebecca Long-Bailey Th érèse Coffey School meals Schools Social exclusion Foreign policy Aid David Cameron Global development Tony Blair Gordon Brown L Source Type: news