More than 1.1 million people are estimated to have had coronavirus in the week ending 2 January, the government's chief medical officer said. The latest figure was up from an estimated 800,900 in the week ending 23 December, the previous period for which figures were collated. Whitty added that even with the arrival of the vaccine, restrictions could need to be brought back next Christmas if the virus resurges.
Continue reading...Category Archives: UK news
Boris Johnson says more than 1.1m people in England have been vaccinated – video
The prime minister said 1.3 million people across the UK have been vaccinated against Covid-19. More than 650,000 people over 80 – 23% of the cohort - have received their jab, he added. Johnson also pledged that 1,000 more vaccination stations would be open by the end of the week
Doubts emerge in US over future of Assange extradition case
Joe Biden’s priorities could scupper extradition of WikiLeaks co-founder, says departing Virginia attorney
The American prosecutor seeking to put Julian Assange on trial in the US has said he is uncertain if Joe Biden’s incoming White House administration will continue to seek the extradition of the WikiLeaks co-founder.
Zachary Terwilliger, who was appointed by Donald Trump, made the comments as it was announced that he was stepping down as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Continue reading...One in 50 people in England had Covid last week, says Chris Whitty
Figure for people outside hospitals and care homes revealed as number of new daily cases in UK tops 60,000 for first time
One in 50 people in private households in England – more than 1.1 million – are estimated to have had the coronavirus in the week ending 2 January.
The Office for National Statistics figures were released on Tuesday, as the number of new cases of people in the UK testing positive for Covid-19 topped 60,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Continue reading...Man viewed extreme Isis content before Reading knife attack, court hears
Old Bailey hears Khairi Saadallah had longstanding interest in extremism
A man who stabbed three people to death in a minute in an alleged terrorist rampage had viewed material about a notorious Isis killer, a court has heard.
Khairi Saadallah murdered three men in a park in Reading on 20 June as they enjoyed a summer’s evening.
Continue reading...England prepares for a wintry third lockdown – in pictures
Empty streets and shuttered shops as England grits its teeth for a new lockdown, with people allowed to leave their homes for limited reasons only, and measures expected to stay until mid-February or even March
Continue reading...As parts of UK enter third Covid lockdown, how does rest of Europe compare?
Rules vary from country to country but many European nations face severe restrictions
After a brief and partial relaxation of the rules over Christmas and New Year, many continental European countries have returned to the tough anti-Covid regimes that were imposed this autumn – with some tightening measures further.
According to the latest update from the World Health Organization, in the final week of 2020 the UK had a 14-day new-case notification rate of 720 for every 100,000 people, more than double that in France, Germany, Italy and Spain but lower than the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Italy to keep nationwide restrictions in place; Russia reports 24,246 new cases
Italy has decided to keep nationwide restrictions in place while relaxing curbs on weekdays; Russia reports 518 deaths and 24,246 new cases
- Lockdown in England likely in place until March, Gove warns
- Covid vaccinations: slow start around world brings dose of reality
- New York confirms state’s first case of more contagious Covid strain
- Many ‘long Covid’ sufferers unable to fully work six months later
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Hungary’s government is lifting a ban on passenger flights from Britain with effect from Wednesday, the government’s coronavirus taskforce told an online briefing on Tuesday.
The government imposed the ban on 22 December to limit the spread of a more contagious variant of the virus that emerged in Britain. The ban was originally due to last until 8 February.
Hi. Caroline Davies here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. You can get in touch on caroline.davies@theguardian.com
Continue reading...How do you feel about shielding in the UK during lockdown?
We’d like to hear from those who are at high risk from coronavirus and are having to shield during the new national lockdown
The government have asked those who’re high risk from coronavirus to start shielding again as the the new national lockdown gets underway.
New government guidelines advise those who are clinically vulnerable to the disease to stay at home unless they’re going outside for exercise or attending a medical appointment.
Continue reading...Australia ‘not for turning’ in dispute with China, UK envoy George Brandis says
The high commissioner in London offers sharp observations on the dispute between Canberra and Beijing
Australia is “not for turning” in its dispute with China and must cut its reliance on supply chains “over which we had little to no sovereign control”, the country’s top envoy to the UK has said.
George Brandis, Australia’s high commissioner in London, argued the situation “must change” as he called for a trade deal between Australia and Britain to be completed by the end of this year.
Continue reading...UK urged to put Alok Sharma in full-time charge of Cop26 talks
Business secretary should focus on making Glasgow climate summit a success, say experts
Ministers are facing calls to make the business secretary, Alok Sharma, the full-time president of the Cop26 UN climate talks to be hosted in Glasgow in November.
Amber Rudd, who as energy and climate secretary led the UK delegation to the successful Paris climate talks in 2015, said: “Alok could do this and do it well. But it will take 100% of his time, energy and persuasion to make it a success.”
Continue reading...Many ‘long Covid’ sufferers unable to fully work six months later
Respondents to global survey report 205 symptoms across 10 organ systems after infection
Many people suffering from “long Covid” are still unable to work at full capacity six months after infection, a large-scale survey of confirmed and suspected patients has found.
While Covid-19 was initially understood to be a largely respiratory illness from which most people would recover within two or three weeks, as the pandemic wore on increasing numbers reported experiencing symptoms for months on end.
Continue reading...21 things to look forward to in 2021 – from meteor showers to the Olympics
From finally seeing the back of Donald Trump to being in a football stadium – the new year is full of promise
You probably found a few things to enjoy about last year: you rediscovered your bicycle, perhaps, or your family, or even both, and learned to love trees. And don’t forget the clapping. Plus some brilliant scientists figured out how to make a safe and effective vaccine for a brand new virus in record time.
Continue reading...Watching New Zealand’s Covid success from bungling Britain has been torture | Todd Atticus
Living between the two countries, I know that the British government’s best isn’t good enough
Like most Britons this past year, I’ve spent more time than I care to admit doomscrolling social media. But in between the muted festive lockdown celebrations, I also saw photos of crowded house parties, family barbecues and road trips to baches and beaches. My social feeds have split into alternate realities. Because although I’m a British citizen living in Oxford, I’m also a resident of New Zealand, where things really couldn’t be more different.
As a resident of two countries, with friends and family in each, I’m used to witnessing events and political developments in both places at once. Usually this experience is a rewarding one where new ideas and cultural differences cross-pollinate in my brain and expand the way I see the world. But in 2020 it’s been an exercise in frustration. The torture of watching how one country has handed the Covid pandemic so well, while living in another that has bungled it so badly, has been one of the defining characteristics of my past year.
Continue reading...Boris Johnson urges people to stay home as England braces for third national lockdown – video
The prime minister warned that the weeks ahead 'will be the toughest yet' as he announced England would be placed under its strictest nationwide lockdown since March. Schools will be closed until mid-February and people will be advised to leave their homes only once a day for exercise. But Johnson added that the arrival of the Oxford vaccine showed that 'the end was in sight'
Continue reading...Keir Starmer: Labour will support ‘necessary’ new lockdown measures – video
The Labour leader said he supported Boris Johnson's decision to move England into a third national lockdown amid a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. 'Whatever our criticisms of the government, we've all got to pull together now to make this work,' Starmer said. Under the strict new measures, announced the day the UK recorded a record high of 58,784 new cases, people will be ordered to stay at home unless they are engaging in a small number of exempted activities
Continue reading...Husband from one of UK’s first married Down’s syndrome couples dies of Covid
Wife of Tommy Pilling ‘utterly devastated’ after partner’s death on New Year’s Day
The husband from one of the UK’s first couples with Down’s syndrome to marry has died from Covid-19, it has emerged.
Tommy Pilling, 62, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who had been treated in three different hospitals since early December with a chest infection, died on New Year’s Day.
Continue reading...Scottish MP Margaret Ferrier arrested over alleged Covid rule breach
Alleged incident relates to breaking of regulations between 26 September and 29 September
The suspended Scottish National party MP Margaret Ferrier has been arrested by police and charged with breaching coronavirus restrictions.
Police Scotland said Ferrier, 60, had been charged “in connection with alleged culpable and reckless conduct” for allegedly failing to observe the regulations limiting travel and social contact.
Continue reading...The many U-turns on the road to England’s third lockdown
November lockdown decision has been followed by a series of flip-flops and 11th-hour announcements
The government’s coronavirus strategy for England has changed a number of times since the start of the November lockdown, as infections soared and a new variant of the virus emerged.
14 October 2020: Johnson dismisses calls from the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, for a “circuit-breaker” lockdown, telling MPs: “Opportunism is the name of the game for the party opposite.”
Continue reading...Netherlands and Germany refuse entry to UK nationals for non-essential travel
Thirteen people barred since Brexit because UK no longer exempt from EU Covid-related travel restrictions
More than a dozen UK nationals have been refused entry to the Netherlands since 1 January because Britain is no longer exempt from Covid-related restrictions on non-essential travel from outside the EU since it left the bloc.
A Dutch border force spokesman confirmed on Monday that up to 13 British citizens had been turned away at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport since Friday because their trips were not necessary and third-country coronavirus regulations now applied.
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