Millions take a dip together in India amid record 200,000 new Covid cases a day April 15, 2021 India reported a record 200,739 Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, according to the country’s Ministry of Health earlier today. Deaths climbed to 1,038, taking the total to 173,123, while total infections have hit just over 14.1m cases, according to the latest official data. The coronavirus is spreading much faster in India than anywhere [...]
Government faces backlash over compulsory Covid vaccines for care home staff April 14, 2021 Ministers have been accused of using care home staff as “guinea pigs” for forced vaccinations after the government today opened a consultation on whether to make compulsory Covid jabs part of their work contracts. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it would take evidence over a five-week period on whether staff should [...]
EU ‘will not renew’ Covid vaccine contracts with Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson April 14, 2021 The European Commission will not renew Covid vaccine contracts with Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson beyond their current expiry dates, according to Italian media reports. The EU will instead prioritise contracts with pharmaceutical companies that produce mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported. “The European Commission, in agreement with the [...]
Surge testing for South Africa Covid variant extended to Finchley, Barnet April 14, 2021 Surge testing is set to take place in the London borough of Barnet after one further case of the South Africa Covid variant was detected. Health officials will launch targeted testing for certain households in the Finchley area from tomorrow. People living in the N3 postcode and those who shop on the local high street [...]
No jab no job: Care home staff face compulsory Covid vaccinations April 14, 2021 Care home staff in England may face compulsory vaccination against Covid to prevent residents from catching the disease, the government has announced. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a five-week consultation on the plans, which would see staff forced to receive a Covid jab as a condition of working in care [...]
EU turns to Pfizer for more Covid jabs amid fresh vaccine shortage April 14, 2021 The EU has ordered an extra 50m doses of the Pfizer/Biontech Covid vaccine following Johnson & Johnson’s surprise announcement yesterday that jab deliveries to Europe face significant delays. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said this afternoon that the bloc will bring forward an order of 50m doses of the vaccine which had been [...]
London’s most famous plumber Charlie Mullins: Bring on vaccine passport or pay 100 quid for a burger April 14, 2021 During a recent press conference, the Prime Minister endorsed the idea of a vaccine passport as “a sensible one” before government documents later supported Boris Johnson’s assertion that they “could play a role in reducing social-distancing requirements”. But the announcement has created a fiery political debate, with Labour fiercely opposing the introduction of a vaccine [...]
Johnson & Johnson to delay rollout of Covid vaccine to Europe April 13, 2021 Johnson & Johnson has announced it will “proactively delay” the rollout of its Covid vaccine in Europe after the US paused the jab this afternoon amid blood clot concerns. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said it was aware of extremely rare blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of patients [...]
US pauses Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine after links to blood clot deaths April 13, 2021 US health officials launch immediate pause of Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine rollout
Israel to welcome vaccinated Brits from May April 13, 2021 Israel is set to welcome vaccinated groups of travellers from May, the country’s tourism minister announced today, as the country storms ahead in the global inoculation race. The nation will open its gates to groups of foreigners from 23 May after more than a year of shuttered borders. The first stage of reopening will see [...]