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

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. 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. “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. “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.