Breaking news
Pressure on NHS intensive care has started to ease for the first time since the second wave of coronavirus took off and Test and Trace data shows cases of the disease are down 41 per cent in a fortnight. All key metrics now indicate the darkest days of the winter crisis are behind us, with the … Read more
The Bank of England slashed its growth forecast for this year today but voiced hope that the rapid vaccine rollout will spark a strong recovery after June. In its latest Monetary Policy Committee report, the Bank reduced its estimate for economic growth for 2021 from 7.25 per cent to 5 per cent. It said an expected … Read more
The Church of England faces a financial crunch after seeing donations fall by 20 per cent during the pandemic with 5,000 of its 12,000 parishes now loss-making. Senior clergy also believe up to fifth of regular worshippers may never return once the crisis is over – and the number of paid priests could be cut … Read more
More than 200 care homes in England have failed to enact measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a damning report has revealed. The Care Quality Commission found Covid protocols were either inadequate or in need of improvement in 223 out of 575 facilities that it investigated last month (40 per cent). Breaches included staff wearing face masks … Read more
One in seven people in England had coronavirus antibodies in mid-January – including 21% of London, surveillance study reveals The Office for National Statistics (ONS) tested the blood of more than 1,300 people across the country The mass surveillance scheme found 15.3% tested positive for antibodies — up from 10% in December The presence of … Read more
Nearly six inches of snow brought chaos to many parts of northern England yesterday. Motorways ground to a halt and hundreds of schools, already teaching vastly reduced numbers, were shut. Overnight blizzards closed roads across the Pennines, including the M62, where a lorry jack-knifed. There was a threat from flooding along the entire stretch of … Read more
Nicola Sturgeon gave Scottish schools the green light to start reopening after half term next month as she suggested the country could start exiting lockdown at the start of March. Primary, nursery and some secondary pupils will head back to class from February 22 if the coronavirus rate is low enough, the First Minister told … Read more
England and Wales recorded their second deadliest week of the pandemic in mid-January after coronavirus infections spiralled over the run-up to Christmas. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows Covid-19 was mentioned on 8,422 death certificates in the seven-day spell to January 22, the most recent data. It was only higher at the peak of … Read more
Nicola Sturgeon could allow Scottish students to return to school weeks before those in England after her top medical adviser said it was safe for them to go back. Professor Jason Leitch claimed ‘progress’ is being made against the coronavirus and he has recommended to the SNP Government that younger children can return. At the last … Read more
England ‘to become the first nation to LIMIT the amount of heading in professional training’ in an ongoing effort to combat dementia risks for players The FA’s head of medicine says heading is a big risk factor in regard to dementia Charlotte Cowie says restrictions are aimed at curbing extensive heading drills A committee has … Read more