Rapid Covid test firms see shares soar on nightclub boost February 16, 2021 Companies producing rapid Covid tests saw shares surge this afternoon after the Prime Minister said they would be the key to reopening the economy after months of lockdown. The Department of Health and Social Care last week signed a contract with Omega Diagnostics, SureScreen and Avacta to produce up to 2m lateral flow tests per [...]
Further 1.7m people in England told to shield ahead of lockdown easing February 16, 2021 A further 1.7m people have been added to the shielding list in England, after a new risk assessment model found them to be at serious risk from Covid-19. The government used a new predictive tool to identify adults with multiple risk factors that made them more vulnerable to coronavirus. Scientists at Oxford University looked at [...]
Over-80s now most likely age group to have Covid antibodies February 16, 2021 Over-80s in England are now the most likely age group to have antibodies, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the surest sign yet that the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme is starting to pay off. The latest ONS antibody survey found that the highest percentage of people testing positive [...]
Daily Covid cases fall below 10,000 for first time since September February 15, 2021 The UK’s daily coronavirus caseload has fallen below 10,000 for the first time in five months, according to the latest official figures. A further 9,765 coronavirus cases were reported in the past 24 hours — the lowest figure since 28 September, when 9,929 infections were recorded. The number of coronavirus-related deaths also fell to the [...]
Boris Johnson: Rapid Covid tests will do the job of vaccine passports February 15, 2021 The Prime Minister has rubbished claims the UK will introduce vaccine passports for entry to places such as pubs and cinemas, insisting that rapid Covid tests will reopen “parts of the economy we couldn’t get open”. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “Doing things within the domestic UK economy… what we’re [...]
Coronavirus: Who will get the Covid-19 vaccine next? February 15, 2021 The NHS will now turn to other groups on the vaccine rollout timeline, as the Prime Minister draws up a "roadmap" for exiting lockdown measures. Here's who will get the vaccine next.
Hotel quarantine scheme lifts off as first guests arrive in UK February 15, 2021 England’s hotel quarantine scheme kicked off today as the first passengers touched down at airports around the country for the toughest border protection measures of the pandemic so far. Four coaches of passengers dropped off passengers at the Radisson Blue Edwardian Hotel near Heathrow Airport this morning to start their 10-day stay, as the government [...]
Wetherspoons boss calls for pubs to open alongside non-essential shops February 15, 2021 Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin has urged the government to reopen pubs at the same time as non-essential shops, as the Prime Minister prepares to lay out his “roadmap” for exiting lockdown. Martin called for a clear timeline for pubs across the UK to resume selling pints, warning the industry is “on its knees” from months [...]
When Fulwell freezes over: Thames turns to ice for first time in 60 years February 12, 2021 Parts of the River Thames have frozen for the first time in 60 years as the UK plunges to the coldest temperatures on record for February. Seagulls perched on a frozen Thames in Teddington, south west London, this afternoon as it iced over for the first time since Britain’s Big Freeze in 1963. The slow [...]
Over-65s to receive vaccine appointment letters from next week February 12, 2021 The NHS will start vaccinating over-65s from next week as part of the next phase of the UK’s vaccination programme. The Prime Minister has set a deadline of Monday 15 February for offering a first dose of the vaccine to the top four priority groups, including care home staff and residents, all over-70s, frontline NHS [...]
