Coronavirus: Cheap steroid dexamethasone hailed as ‘biggest breakthrough yet’ in fight against Covid-19

Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Trouble viewing? [View in browser]( [Image]( [Image] Daily coronavirus briefing Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Cheap steroid dexamethasone hailed as ‘biggest breakthrough yet’ against Covid-19 A cheap steroid called dexamethasone has been found to [reduce the risk of death by up to one-third among coronavirus patients]( with severe respiratory complications, University of Oxford researchers have said. Scientists working on the Recovery Trial found the drug could benefit patients on ventilators or oxygen. Boris Johnson hailed the news as the "biggest breakthrough yet" in the battle against Covid-19 and confirmed that the UK had enough stocks of the drug to cope if there is a second spike in cases. All pupils qualifying for free school meals in England will be given [supermarket food vouchers to cover the six-week summer holiday](, in a £120m government U-turn as Boris Johnson caved in to pressure from a campaign led by football star Marcus Rashford. The announcement from Downing Street came shortly before the prime minister was due to block a Labour bid to stop “holiday hunger” in the House of Commons and hours after cabinet minister Grant Shapps took to the airwaves to defend the government’s decision not to provide cash to extend the scheme. The climbdown was hailed by Manchester United striker Rashford and anti-poverty campaigners, but charities warned that the coronavirus crisis meant “soaring” numbers of families would be forced to use food banks this summer, even with the vouchers in place. Rashford, who has raised £20m for the FareShare charity to supply children’s meals during the pandemic, appealed to Mr Johnson to back down in an emotional open letter earlier this week in which he recalled how he relied on free school meals as a boy. The government’s shielding programme for high risk coronavirus patients [could be wound down in July](, it has emerged. More than two million people are currently classed as extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 and have been “shielded” and warned to avoid all unnecessary contact with others. To ensure they have been properly protected they have been eligible for food parcels and other support, although charities have previously warned that many in the group are suffering badly from the isolating effects of lockdown. Government sources indicated that they were reviewing what to do with the shielding programme after the end of next month. Podcast [Image]( The Independent Coronavirus Podcast Subscribe now wherever you listen for all the latest coronavirus news. [Listen now]( The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider a [contribution]( or [subscription](. Top stories [I'm an image]( PREMIUM [Boris Johnson supports foreign aid so much he’s closed its department]( [I'm an image]( [What is the new life-saving coronavirus drug dexamethasone?]( [I'm an image]( [UK approves NHS use of life-saving drug for coronavirus patients]( More news [UK inflation rate falls to 0.5 per cent as fuel prices fall]( [Johnson hints at cut to two-metre social distance rule]( [How football star Rashford became a political player]( [Trump administration sues to block release of Bolton book]( [Will the Premier League feel ‘real’ without football’s key ingredient?]( [Subscribe today 3 months for £3]( Suggested for you [I'm an image]( [Ardern says military to oversee NZ border after quarantine lapse]( [I'm an image]( [Home Office has no evidence that its hostile environment policy works]( [I'm an image]( ['Most families on universal credit borrowing money since lockdown']( [I'm an image]( [Thousands of refugees set to be evicted during pandemic]( Follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.