UK Government urges all over-70s to contact NHS for Covid vaccine February 8, 2021 The NHS has changed its messaging to urge all over-70s to book themselves in for a Covid vaccine, the health secretary has announced
‘No reason to believe’ South African variant will become dominant in UK, says Jonathan Van-Tam February 8, 2021 England’s deputy chief medical officer has allayed fears over the spread of a new South African variant of coronavirus, insisting there is “no reason to believe” the mutant strain will become dominant in the UK. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Jonathan Van-Tam said the South African variant has now become the dominant strain [...]
No jab, no job policies ‘discriminatory’, says Downing Street February 8, 2021 Requiring employees to get vaccinated as part of so-called “no jab, no job” policies is “discriminatory”, Downing Street has said, despite mandatory vaccinations receiving support from several government ministers. “Taking a vaccine is not mandatory and it would be discriminatory to force somebody to take one,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson told journalists this afternoon. [...]
No hotel quarantine contracts have been signed with just one week to go until launch February 8, 2021 The government has not signed a single contract with any hotel firms despite its mandatory hotel quarantine policy set to come into effect in just one week’s time. All arrivals to the UK from around 30 “red list” countries will be required by law to quarantine for 10 nights at a government-selected hotel from 15 [...]
Millions will need third Covid vaccine dose in the autumn February 8, 2021 Millions of people will likely need a third vaccine dose in the autumn, amid growing concerns that the Astrazeneca jab may not be effective against the new South African Covid variant. It is understood that NHS chiefs are planning for the extra doses to be given alongside annual winter flu jabs, after a new study [...]
Peloton deliveries disrupted by Brexit and port delays February 5, 2021 Peloton’s stock of treadmills and bikes has been badly hit by Brexit and global shipping congestion, leading to severe delays, according to company CEO John Foley. On Peloton’s website, some items can take eight to ten weeks to be delivered, higher than the four to six week delivery windows earlier this year. The company has [...]
Cheers: Substantial meal rule to be scrapped when pubs reopen February 5, 2021 The rule that punters have to order a substantial meal with their pint is reportedly set to be scrapped when pubs reopen later this year. The prime minister will allow restrictions on pubs to be simplified after the full lockdown is lifted. Under the tier system that was in place before the latest national lockdown, [...]
Covid-19 variants: could mutations prolong the pandemic? February 5, 2021 The end is in sight. Isn’t it? The cautious optimism of vaccination programmes made the final curtain of the Covid-19 pandemic visible for the first time. Concern is growing, however, after Public Health England announced it is investigating cases with “worrying” new genetic changes found in regions of the UK. Cases in Liverpool and Bristol [...]
UK government will ‘help facilitate’ vaccine passports, says minister February 5, 2021 The UK government will “help facilitate” vaccine passports with other countries as part of plans for Europe to return to normality, the Foreign Office minister has said. The Times reported this morning that British officials have started working on an official certification system after Greece said it would waive quarantine rules for tourists able to [...]
Government faces backlash over ‘half-baked’ hotel quarantine plans February 5, 2021 Ministers have faced a deluge of backlash over “half-baked” plans to introduce a mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals to the UK, with some MPs calling the scheme “too little too late”. The Prime Minister earlier this week said the government was drawing up plans to introduce a mandatory 10-night hotel quarantine on arrivals to Britain [...]