Coronavirus news round-up for Thursday, March 19:

•NATIONAL Express said it is running reduced coach services in a similar way to how it operates on Christmas Day, due to the drop in demand caused by the coronavirus.

This has the effect of removing up to 80 per cent of capacity.

•ALISTAIR Jarvis, chief executive of vice-chancellors’ group Universities UK, told the PA news agency that if exam grades cannot be awarded as usual this summer, then one option may be to give university places based on an assessment of things such as an applicant’s predicted grades and personal statement.

"I think that’s doable," he said. "It is not preferable as it is very tricky."

Mr Jarvis also said: "You have to have a way to allocate fairly who goes where."

He added: "We are going to have to write new rules. This is completely unprecedented. It is possible to find a way to issue students places."

If a way is found to award students to grades this summer, then the university admissions system may be able to go ahead as usual.

Mr Jarvis said that they key point is that "students will be able to start their university courses in the new academic year, as long as it is safe to do so."

•EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government stands ready to take the "incredibly tough decisions" needed to slow the spread of the virus.

He said there are currently no plans to shut down bars and restaurants and order people off the streets but that ministers would be guided by the scientific evidence.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "The Prime Minister will constantly be informed by the scientific and medical evidence.

"We will take the incredibly tough decisions that are sometimes needed in order to ensure the safety of the population.

"The Prime Minister has at every stage in terms of dealing with this demonstrated that he will provide the leadership that is required in order to deal with some of the most difficult decisions that any prime minister has ever had to deal with in peacetime.

"But, as the Prime Minister has said, there are certainly no plans to do so at the moment."

•A CALL-UP is to get under way of recently retired medics so they can return to duty and help in the fight against coronavirus, Health Minister Lord Bethell has said.

Speaking in the Lords, the Tory frontbencher said a registration page would be going up "very shortly" on the websites of professional bodies, including the General Medical Council and The Nursing and Midwifery Council, for recently retired NHS staff to flag their interest in rejoining their local health authorities.

He said: "Those applications will then be passed onto the local authorities, triaged and they will be allocated suitable responsibilities.

"I would like to pay tribute right now to all those who are thinking of or who have returned to active service, often putting themselves in danger and taking risks in the service of the NHS and looking after patients."

He also told peers the issue of professional indemnity insurance was also addressed in the coronavirus emergency bill.

"Those indemnities will be thorough and cover all work," he said.

•EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Government will be issuing guidance on Friday as to how pupils unable to sit their GCSEs and A-levels because of the school closures will be awarded their grades.

He said there will be a "proper and fair system" of appeal for those who are unhappy with the results they are given.

"We will be doing everything we can do to make sure they get their results in August as they will be hoping to, but we can’t predict as to how they are going to unfold," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

"It is absolutely vital for me for those children who have put so much work into all their learning over these years working up to their GCSEs and A-levels to get their results, but also making sure that we have a proper and fair system if they dispute that, if they are not content with it, there is some mechanism for them to have redress."

•EDCUATION minister Peter Weir said teachers will continue to be working from Monday, as part of an effort to provide childcare for health workers as they battle Covid-19.

"While we said that pupils will not be in (schools), teachers will continue to work, largely through schools, some because of self-isolation from home," he told the Nolan Show.

"Education will continue to be delivered, they will be teaching through online resources, they’ll be teaching through packs.

"The intention while we’re not in normal times, not in normal circumstances, will everything be done as perfectly as possible? No, but the aim is throughout this process for teaching to continue and teaching to continue up to the end of the academic year on that basis."

•SHADOW local government minister Jim McMahon said: "Our supermarket workers have shown themselves to be the heroes of retail, making sure that people get fed and get the food that they need.

"But there are real concerns about whether they can maintain that service if they’re not included in the list of key workers. Of course, many will have children who will need care that the school can’t accommodate.

"Can we have an assurance today that our retail workers will be on the list of key workers?"

Mr Eustice responded: "The Prime Minister made reference yesterday to the importance of those working in the food retail sector in particular. Later today, the Government will be announcing those jobs defined as key workers.

"But I can assure him we fully recognise that over 25 per cent of staff generally working in the food supply chain have children of school age, that’s recognised and something that will be reflected when that list is published."

•NADINE Dorries, who was the first MP to be diagnosed with Covid-19, said she has lost all sense of taste and smell.

She tweeted: "A side effect of #coronavirus for me is the fact that I have lost 100 per cent of taste and smell. Absolutely zero of both, so weird.

"Eating and drinking warm or cold that’s all I can tell. No point in putting a tea bag in the water."---THE Review are working hard to keep you informed by providing trusted information and helpful context, we are here for the community and will not stop.

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