UK could see ‘significant return to normality’ and economic rebound by summer February 4, 2021 The UK could see a “significant return to normality” by the summer, one of the government’s top scientific advisers has said, as the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme continues to beat targets. Andrew Hayward, director of UCL’s Institute for Epidemiology and member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said this morning that [...]
Square Mile launches rapid Covid test site for City workers February 4, 2021 The City of London Corporation has opened a rapid Covid test site for workers in the Square Mile who do not have coronavirus symptoms to get tested once a week. The site on 80 Leadenhall Street, launched in partnership with the NHS, will allow City workers still going into the office and people living in [...]
More than 1m Londoners have received first dose of Covid vaccine February 4, 2021 More than 1m people in London have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, following concerns that the capital had been falling behind in the nation’s immunisation programme. Official figures published last night showed 1,011,490 Londoners have received their first dose of either the Astrazeneca/Oxford University or Pfizer/Biontech vaccines, while a further 60,658 people [...]
Boris Johnson: Hotel quarantine for arrivals to UK to be outlined tomorrow February 3, 2021 Ministers will provide further details on the UK’s hotel quarantine policy tomorrow, the Prime Minister has announced. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said the health secretary would set out the government’s plan for introducing a mandatory 10-day quarantine on arrivals to the UK from 30 countries. Johnson announced the measures last [...]
Test and Trace is failing to persuade 20,000 people to self-isolate each day, Dido Harding admits February 3, 2021 Around 20,000 people each day who should be self-isolating are not being convinced to do so by the government’s NHS Test and Trace scheme, chief executive Baroness Dido Harding has admitted. Facing a grilling from the Commons science and technology committee, Harding said that based on last week’s Test and Trace figures “circa 20,000 people [...]
Scotland to introduce ‘managed quarantine’ for all international arrivals February 2, 2021 Scotland will impose a “managed quarantine” on all international arrivals into the country, Nicola Sturgeon has announced, as she vowed to clamp down on Covid mutations crossing the border. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week unveiled a 10-day hotel quarantine for arrivals to the UK from 30 countries most “at risk” of carrying new Covid [...]
‘More mutations of concern’ found in Bristol and Liverpool, says Matt Hancock February 2, 2021 More Covid “mutations of concern” have been identified in Bristol and Liverpool, the health secretary has announced, as ministers scramble to contain new strains spreading around the country. Speaking in the Commons, Matt Hancock said 11 cases of mutant strains were identified in Bristol and 32 in Liverpool. The health secretary said ministers will roll [...]
Kent Covid variant has mutated again and may be immune to vaccine February 2, 2021 The coronavirus variant first identified in Kent has acquired a mutation that may be partially resistant to vaccines, senior scientists have warned. The E484K mutation is the same change that has been identified in both the Brazilian and South African variants that have sparked international concern. Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group [...]
Prime Minister pushes for schools to reopen as ‘peak of infections passed’ February 2, 2021 Boris Johnson is pushing for schools to reopen as soon as possible after being told by the chief medical officer that the “peak of infections has passed”, according to reports. The Prime Minister has told ministers to prioritise children’s education as the government’s most immediate focus, with extra funding earmarked to help students falling behind. [...]
Door-to-door testing launches in London Covid hotspots amid concerns over South African variant February 2, 2021 Government ministers have warned people living in areas infected with the South African coronavirus variant to “think again” before leaving the house, as door-to-door testing launches in London hotspots. Residents in the London boroughs of Ealing, Haringey and Croydon will receive knocks on the door from today asking them to take Covid tests for the [...]