Daily Update 19/05/2020

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The total deaths as a result of Coronavirus now stands at 35,341, an increase of 545 as of today. 

In the daily Coronavirus briefing George Eustice, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, announced that the government was encouraging British nationals to apply for farm harvesting jobs around the country. This call comes in response to a shortage in farm labour from countries such as Romania that usually make up Britain’s seasonal work force. The government have launched a website, www.pickforbritain.org.uk, where information on farm harvesting vacancies can be found. 

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the UK jumped to its highest rate on record after the start of the Coronavirus lockdown, according to new figures from the ONS.