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 [...]
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 [...]
UK R rate falls below 1 for first time since July February 12, 2021 The UK’s R rate has fallen below 1 for the first time since July, in the surest sign yet that current lockdown measures are working. The rate of reproduction of the virus has fallen to a best estimate of between 0.7 and 0.9, according to official figures from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), [...]
Social distancing measures may stay in place until autumn February 12, 2021 Social distancing measures may have to stay in place until at least the autumn to push down circulation of coronavirus once the population is vaccinated, according to reports. Ministers are considering plans to place face masks and one-metre distances at the heart of the government’s lockdown exit strategy, the Times reported. The restrictions could stay [...]
Health secretary urges patience on summer holidays after booking his own trip February 11, 2021 The health secretary has urged people not to book summer holidays until there is further clarity over lockdown restrictions, despite booking his own trip to Cornwall. Asked if people should be booking vacations after the Prime Minister urged people to hold off on plans, Matt Hancock said this morning: “I do understand, of course, the yearning [...]
Astrazeneca confirms it will roll out new vaccine for Covid mutations in autumn February 11, 2021 Astrazeneca is on course to launch a new vaccine that is effective against emerging Covid variants by the autumn, the company has said. The Anglo-Swedish firm said clinical trials for the “next generation” of Covid vaccine would commence in the spring, with mass production earmarked for six to nine months’ time. Speaking as he unveiled [...]
Coronavirus: Kent variant will ‘sweep the world’ February 11, 2021 The more virulent variant of coronavirus first identified in Kent will become the world’s dominant strain of the virus, according to the the director of the UK’s genetic surveillance programme. The Kent variant is now the most common form of the virus in the UK, after it was first detected in September. It has been [...]
Why have almost half EU countries restricted use of the Astrazeneca vaccine? February 10, 2021 The World Health Organization (WHO) this afternoon recommended the rollout of Astrazeneca’s Covid vaccine for use in all age groups, after a slew of European countries slapped limitations on the jab’s distribution. WHO officials said a “preponderance of evidence weighed in favour of not constraining the vaccine for certain age groups”, and refused to recommend [...]
Are vaccine passports inevitable to keep the global travel industry afloat? February 10, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps today gave the clearest indication yet that people could soon be required to prove they had been vaccinated in order to travel abroad. Speaking to the BBC, he confirmed talks had been held with his counterparts in the US and Singapore over creation of an international vaccine certification system. Such a [...]
Breaking: World Health Organization recommends Astrazeneca vaccine for all age groups February 10, 2021 The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of the Astrazeneca/Oxford University vaccine for use by all countries around the world, with a 8 to 12 week interval between doses. In a major snub to European countries that have applied age limits to the vaccine, WHO said there was enough evidence to recommend vaccines [...]