What the papers say – April 2
Deficiencies in the UK’s testing for coronavirus is the main theme on the front pages on Thursday.
The Daily Telegraph leads on the questions being asked about why Britain lags behind other countries on rates of coronavirus testing.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Questions without answers'#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/Bzr2WlK3cF
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 1, 2020
The Daily Mirror says it’s a “shambles” that only 0.16% of NHS staff have been tested for coronavirus, a theme also taken up by the Daily Mail.
Tomorrow's front page: 'Coronavirus crisis shambles' #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/fgLOUyu98Ppic.twitter.com/Y4Avr8NuY9
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 1, 2020
Thursday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/r6uefMZIdi
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) April 1, 2020
The i says NHS staff have been “let down on testing”, while The Times says virus testing plans are “in chaos”.
Thursday's front page: NHS frontline staff let down on testing #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/C2JUeb0U51
— i newspaper (@theipaper) April 1, 2020
Virus testing plans in chaos#TomorrowsPapersToday@hendopolispic.twitter.com/wNrxP3Q7C5
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) April 1, 2020
The Independent also highlights the testing issue and the Daily Star also joins in, calling on Boris Johnson to “get a bleedin’ grip” on the problem.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: 125,000 NHS staff isolating. Still just 2000 tested. Why? #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/zd5bTrvw7n
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 1, 2020
STAR: Now get a bleedin grip Bozo #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/gp6epXNlMU
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 1, 2020
And Metro illustrates the contrast between the “sublime” effort to prepare the Nightingale Hospital and the “ridiculous” situation of frontline NHS workers still being short of vital protective equipment.
Thursday's front page:SUBLIME TO THERIDICULOUS#tomorrowspaperstoday#BBCPapers#skypaperspic.twitter.com/yR0bzGWxm1
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) April 1, 2020
Meanwhile, Covid-19 patients who are more likely to die “may have ventilators taken away”, according to The Guardian.
Guardian front page, Thursday 2 April 2020: Virus patients more likely to die may have ventilators taken away pic.twitter.com/dqKrVvMrJt
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 1, 2020
The Sun highlights the “clap of honour” tonight and every Thursday night for NHS workers.
Tomorrow's front page: 'Brits are urged to carry on clapping their support for NHS workers' https://t.co/gmZUcsumoYpic.twitter.com/zCLuZqN7g8
— The Sun (@TheSun) April 1, 2020
The Financial Times leads on unemployment rates skyrocketing due to the outbreak.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 2 April https://t.co/hOgMeZk9N8pic.twitter.com/EXGEKuYIag
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) April 1, 2020
And the Daily Express calls for banks to repay favours from their 2008 bailout by coming to the aid of taxpayers in the current crisis.
EXPRESS. We bailed you out now do YOUR duty #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/5eYS4pMx7N
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 1, 2020