Moderna’s Covid vaccine gets green light from UK January 8, 2021 The UK’s medicines regulatory body has authorised the Moderna vaccine for emergency use, the company has announced, in a major boost to the nation’s vaccination efforts. The US-made drug becomes the third coronavirus vaccine granted approval for use by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Britain, as ministers ramp up plans to [...]
Pfizer vaccine ‘appears effective’ against new Covid strains January 8, 2021 The Pfizer/Biontech Covid vaccine will likely work against a batch of new, highly transmissible coronavirus strains, the companies announced this morning. In a study published today, Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch said the vaccine appeared to be effective in neutralising virus mutations seen in the southeast of England and South [...]
Coronavirus: Patients to receive breakthrough drugs that cut risk of death by a quarter January 7, 2021 Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care are set to receive breakthrough drugs that cut the risk of death by almost a quarter, the government has announced. Data from clinical trials published today showed that tocilizumab and sarilumab, which are typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, reduced the relative risk of death by 24 per cent [...]
Lockdown could last until 31 March, government smallprint reveals January 6, 2021 England’s third national lockdown could last until 31 March, according to smallprint in the government’s newly-published Covid regulations. It comes despite Boris Johnson earlier this week telling the public that restrictions will last until mid-February. Speaking in an address to the nation from Downing Street on Tuesday, the PM said he had “no choice” but [...]
Met Police to crack down on Covid rulebreakers with fines for mask flouters January 6, 2021 Londoners breaching lockdown rules will face hefty police fines from today as part of a tougher crackdown Covid rulebreakers. The Metropolitan Police announced it will no longer “reason with” those not wearing masks in indoor public spaces, and will instead hand out fines more quickly. In a new hardline approach, the Met warned that people [...]
Pharmacies to roll out Covid vaccine in ‘Herculean effort’ to immunise Britain January 6, 2021 High street pharmacies will form a major part of the “Herculean effort” to vaccinate the nation against coronavirus, the vaccines tsar has announced. Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, told BBC’s Today programme that community pharmacy networks will be “very much involved” in plans to vaccinate 13.4m Brits by mid-February. Current government plans [...]
Yoga, colouring books and maths lessons: How to survive home-schooling (again) January 5, 2021 Homeschooling is back – with all the stresses that can sometimes entail. City A.M. asked the experts at Quizlet for their guide to delivering the best learning experience for children – whilst keeping parents and teachers sane. These are anxious times, but they are also hopeful times: countries are sharing knowledge and know-how; politicians are [...]
Exclusive: London’s Nightingale Hospital to reopen next week at just 1.5 per cent capacity January 5, 2021 The Nightingale Hospital at London’s Excel Centre is due to reopen next week at an estimated 1.5 per cent of its original capacity, as the NHS scrambles to find enough staff to treat patients. The emergency hospital has been “reactivated” to provide non-Covid related care for around 60 patients, senior sources close to the Nightingale [...]
Test and Trace failed to reach 30,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus in week before Christmas January 5, 2021 The Test and Trace scheme failed to reach more than 30,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the week before Christmas, at the same time the government warned that a new coronavirus mutation was spreading across the country. Latest official figures showed that 232,169 people tested positive for Covid at least once between 17 [...]
Rishi Sunak rolls out more financial support after sinking businesses demand immediate lifeline January 5, 2021 Rishi Sunak has set out plans to offer more financial support to businesses struggling under England’s third nationwide lockdown. Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are set to receive a one-off grant of up to £9,000 per property to help them survive. Taxpayers will fork out another £4bn for the business grants, which will benefit more [...]