Newspaper headlines: 'Glimmer of light' but social distancing to continue By BBC News

Staff Published duration 23 April

image copyright EPA image caption Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Wednesday's Downing Street briefing there was "light at the end of the tunnel"

"Army of thousands to help trace virus victims" is the front-page headline in the Times.

It says that because tracking infections will play a key role in any easing of lockdown restrictions, Public Health England will train civil servants and council workers for the huge scheme.

But its leader asks whether the government is capable of organising them, suggesting that local authorities might be better placed to do so.

The Daily Telegraph agrees that tracing is a key part of efforts to resume normal life, but its opinion column points out that in this area "the UK seems to be behind the curve".

It says a small team of tracers that had been set up was "wound down", although the government now "wants to build it up again".

It's a reference to the foreign secretary's comment, at Wednesday's Downing Street briefing, that there was "light at the end of the tunnel".

In its leader, the paper welcomes the suggestion that infections may be reaching a peak. But, it says: "We have to accept there is still a long way to go."

The Guardian claims that Number 10 ignored a warning from the Department of Health, not to mention at last Saturday's Downing Street briefing, that a consignment of protective equipment was due to arrive from Turkey the following day.

The plane landed on Wednesday.

A source close to Health Secretary Matt Hancock is quoted saying that the disclosure about the advice is "categorically not true".

But a cabinet source tells the paper: "Lots of people were clear that we shouldn't be talking about any shipments before they've arrived."

It reports that, with senior scientists due to meet once again to discuss the issue, the government may be about to change its advice and encourage people to try to stop the infection spreading by wearing masks.

The paper urges readers to make their own, to avoid depriving health workers of supplies, and even provides do-it-yourself designs.

The Guardian has conducted research which suggests a "disproportionately high" number of ethnic minority people are being killed by coronavirus in England.

It reports that there are calls for urgent action from the government to tackle the problem.

In an analysis piece, Prof Nishi Chaturvedi from University College London writes: "Ultimately, this is about health inequalities, about deprivation and affluence, and how important socio-economic status is in determining health outcomes."

In its leader column , the Times argues that once the pandemic is over, governments around the world should try to maintain the cut in greenhouse gas emissions that it's brought about.

The paper's concerned that because of the economic damage countries will be "tempted to conclude that environmental concerns are a luxury they can ill afford".

The paper suggests that lifestyle changes, such as working from home, should become part of the norm in order to reduce pollution.

image copyright AFP/Getty Images image caption Prince Louis appears on many of the front pages

The Financial Times suggests that the government might resist a call by British universities to fill a £2.5bn funding shortfall caused by Covid-19.

The paper says that although Chancellor Rishi Sunak is yet to make a decision on a possible bailout, Treasury officials believe universities should not be treated differently from other hard-pressed industries.

The FT says that has raised fears of "possible bankruptcies" in the sector.

The Sun reports that two thirds of people who responded to a YouGov poll believe a new public holiday should be created to commemorate front-line health workers treating Covid-19 patients.

More than 2,000 people took part in the survey.

The recommendation comes from the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, which also suggests that NHS staff working during the crisis should receive a 10% percent pay bonus and counselling.

And finally, many of the front pages have pictures of Prince Louis, who's turned two, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.