Covid UK information – London heading for tier 3 coronavirus lockdown and faculties might shut amid ‘deep concern’ at large spike

LONDON HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS RISE TO HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE APRIL

The variety of Covid hospital admissions within the capital has risen to the very best degree since April as London teeters on the point of Tier 3 restrictions.

The speed of recent coronavirus circumstances has additionally elevated throughout each space of London, the place infections are believed to be doubling every single day.

It comes as London faces being moved into the very best degree of coronavirus restrictions, with Matt Hancock as a result of deal with MPs this afternoon on plans to stem the virus within the capital.

The most recent knowledge, revealed on Sunday, reveals that coronavirus charges rose throughout each native authority space in London within the seven days to December 9 in contrast with the earlier week.

Havering has the very best charge in London, with 1,314 new circumstances recorded within the seven days to December 9 – the equal of 506.3 circumstances per 100,000 individuals.

SECOND HEALTH BOARDS SUSPENDS SOME NON-URGENT CARE

Swansea Bay College Well being Board has introduced some non-urgent care at its hospitals might be suspended amid an increase in coronavirus circumstances throughout Wales.

It comes after the Aneurin Bevan well being board over the weekend informed sufferers that every one non-urgent care could be suspended.

A submit from the Swansea Bay NHS twitter account yesterday learn: “We have got almost 240 sufferers in Swansea Bay hospitals with Covid-19 proper now, and the an infection charge in our native communities continues to be exceptionally excessive.

“So please keep away from mixing with individuals you do not dwell with.”

Welsh well being minister Vaughan Gething has stated the scenario throughout Wales is now “very critical”.

NO 10 SAYS SCHOOLS WILL ‘STAY OPEN UNTIL END OF TERM’ AFTER SADIQ KHAN CALLED FOR EARLY CLOSURES TO CURB VIRUS IN CAPITAL

Downing Road has stated faculties are anticipated to remain open till the top of time period after London Mayor Sadiq Khan referred to as for early closures within the capital to curb the unfold of coronavirus.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated: “We have persistently stated that not being at school has a detrimental influence on kids’s studying in addition to their very own private improvement and psychological well being.

“Which is why we anticipate all faculties and faculties to stay open till the top of time period on Thursday, as faculties have remained open all through the pandemic.”

The spokesman added: “Our regional college commissioner groups are working carefully with faculties and native authorities throughout the nation and can proceed to work with them and help them to stay open.”

TRUMP REJECTS PLAN TO FAST-TRACK COVID JABS FOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF AFTER BACKLASH

Donald Trump has reportedly rejected plans to fast-track Covid vaccines for White Home employees after a backlash.

Officers stated yesterday that a number of the first jabs could be reserved for individuals who work carefully with the president, the BBC reported.

The Pfizer/Biontech vaccine roll out started throughout the USA at present.

However Trump, 74, has now urged that top officials will have to wait longer to obtain their dosage.

In a tweet he stated: “Folks working within the White Home ought to obtain the vaccine considerably later in this system, except particularly crucial. I’ve requested that this adjustment be made.”

NO COVID DEATHS IN SCOTLAND IN PAST 24 HOURS AS 734 NEW CASES REPORTED

There have been no deaths of coronavirus sufferers, however 734 new circumstances have been recorded in Scotland prior to now 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon has introduced.

This implies the dying toll in Scotland now stands at 4,111.

However Scotland’s First Minister warned as a result of registry workplaces are sometimes closed on weekends the dying figures are more likely to be “artificially low”.

Ms Sturgeon added the every day check positivity charge is 7.6%, up from 5.2% on Sunday.

There are 1,012 individuals in hospital confirmed to have the virus, a fall of three in 24 hours – of those sufferers, 46 are in intensive care, down by one.

SANTA CLAUS SUPERSPREDER INFECTS 75 PEOPLE WITH COVID IN BELGIUM CARE HOME

A Santa has been blamed for infecting 75 individuals with Covid at a care residence in Belgium.

Footage present the Santa – who did not know that he was contaminated – standing proper subsequent to the residents within the residence.

However the man later fell ill, resulting in mass testing of the care residence’s residents with 75 testing optimistic for the virus in Mol, Antwerp.

Care residence employees hoped the go to would increase morale amongst residents and the Santa reportedly didn’t really feel unwell earlier than the go to.

He had dressed as Sinterklass – as Santa is named within the Flemish talking a part of Belgium.

LONDON COULD BE PLUNGED INTO TIER 3 AS HANCOCK SET TO MAKE STATEMENT TO MPS

London may very well be plunged into Tier 3 as quickly as midnight TONIGHT as Matt Hancock prepares to make an announcement to the Home of Commons this afternoon.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan this morning set alarm bells ringing that the capital may very well be plunged into the hardest restrictions from at present as he revealed circumstances surged 75 per cent.

The Well being Secretary is about to present MPs an update on the latest surge in Covid infections at round 3.30pm at present.

It comes after Boris Johnson led a “Covid O” Committee this morning to think about closing eating places and pubs within the capital underneath the restrictions.

And Metropolis Corridor bosses are drawing up plans which may see London plunged into the harder lockdown tonight, The Solar understands.

GERMANY’S COVID LEVELS ‘OUT OF CONTROL’, WARNS MINISTER

Germany’s coronavirus outbreak is “uncontrolled” as circumstances and deaths proceed to soar after an unsuccessful lighter lockdown, Angela Merkel’s financial system minister has stated.

Peter Altmaier stated that “the much less intrusive measures weren’t sufficient”, as Germany was plunged right into a new national lockdown over the Christmas interval.

The the full an infection rely in Germany is now 1.34 million and the dying toll has risen to 21,975.

Bavarian premier Markus Soeder welcomed the brand new measures, saying that “the corona scenario is uncontrolled” and promising to implement the restrictions. 

“We have to be cautious that Germany does not turn into the issue youngster of Europe,” he warned.

ONLY TWO AREAS IN NORTH ENGLAND MAKES TOP 50 COVID HOTSPOTS AS SOUTHERN BOROUGHS DOMINATE LIST

Solely two northern areas are within the UK’s top 50 coronavirus hotspots, new figures have revealed.

It comes simply 4 weeks after Bristol was the only southern city to make the grim listing.

However following England’s nationwide lockdown, London, Essex and Kent now dominate.

Swale and Medway in Kent at the moment are the nation’s hardest-hit, with greater than 600 circumstances per 100,000 individuals.

And in an abrupt change, locations together with Larger Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen have dropped out of the listing altogether – suggesting that tough Tier 3 measures could be working.

MATT HANCOCK TO DELIVER COVID UPDATE TO MPS TODAY

Well being Secretary Matt Hancock will deal with MPs this afternoon and replace them on the newest developments within the combat towards Covid-19.

Mr Hancock will make a Commons assertion at round 3.30pm.

The information comes amid fears London might be plunged into Tier 3 when ministers evaluation restrictions throughout England on Wednesday.

Scientists imagine Covid an infection numbers are at the moment doubling each 4 days within the capital.

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GERMANY SET TO START TOUGH CHRISTMAS LOCKDOWN AFTER INFECTIONS SOAR

Germany will go into a tricky lockdown over the Christmas interval after the variety of Covid deaths and infections reached file highs.

On Wednesday, all non-essential retailers and faculties will shut throughout the nation.

The most recent figures confirmed 20,200 extra infections and an extra 321 deaths in Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel stated Christmas purchasing was guilty for a “appreciable” rise in contacts and stated there was “an pressing must take motion”.

The brand new lockdown will begin on December 16 and proceed until January 10 – however restrictions might be relaxed from 24 to 26 December when one family will be capable to invite a most of 4 shut relations from different households.

OXFORD’S COVID VACCINE ‘PRETTY LIKELY’ TO BE ROLLED OUT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Oxford’s Covid vaccine may very well be rolled out within the UK earlier than Christmas – with 4million doses sat prepared for use.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, a lead scientist engaged on the jab, stated the possibilities of the primary vaccinations earlier than the top of the 12 months are “fairly seemingly”.

The MHRA regulatory physique are reviewing knowledge from the massive scientific trials that befell worldwide to conclude if the jab is protected and efficient.

If they offer the go forward, four million doses have already been manufactured by the drug big AstraZeneca and are able to be doled out.

When requested concerning the possibilities of receiving the jab by the top of the 12 months, Prof Gilbert informed the BBC’s Andrew Marr Present: “It is determined by the age group you’re in and the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) prioritisations. I feel the probabilities are fairly excessive.”

‘WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE’ WHILE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TO STOP TIER 3, SADIQ TELLS LONDONERS

Londoners ought to be sporting face masks exterior whereas looking for Christmas, Sadiq Khan has stated at present.

The Mayor of London has urged shoppers to wear face coverings on the excessive streets because the capital inches nearer to touchdown in Tier 3.

Mr Khan wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister: “Face coverings also needs to be made obligatory in busy outside public areas, given the numbers on our excessive streets within the run as much as Christmas.”

In the identical letter, Mr Khan additionally requested the federal government for help to fight the worrying improve in Covid-19 infections in London.

He wrote: “I’m calling on the Authorities to urgently present extra help to get the unfold underneath management, save lives and livelihoods and guarantee our NHS shouldn’t be overwhelmed this winter.”

‘KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN’ SAYS SIR KEIR AFTER GREENWICH BOROUGH SHUTS SCHOOLS TODAY

Sir Keir Starmer has urged leaders to attempt to preserve faculties open after London Mayor Sadiq Khan referred to as on the Authorities to think about closing the capital’s faculties to cut back the unfold of coronavirus.

The Labour chief informed his LBC radio phone-in: “I am very reluctant to shut our faculties down.

“I am fearful about closing faculties early however equally I can see council leaders are put in a tough scenario now.”

Requested what he would say to Mr Khan, Sir Keir stated: “Discuss to the Well being Secretary about what we are able to do that week to maintain faculties open, attempt to preserve them open this week.”

Sir Keir stated: “The concern about closing faculties is all of the dad and mom should determine what they do, that is very tough with quick discover, and we all know from earlier expertise that for youngsters out of faculty it is actually tough for essentially the most weak kids.”

PARENTS’ FURY AS PUPILS HAVE NO IDEA WHEN LONDON SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE

Mother and father in London have been left livid as pupils do not know when faculties will shut – hours after Labour-run Greenwich council introduced it’ll shut its school rooms.

Sadiq Khan called for all schools to close within the capital amid a surge of circumstances within the metropolis, with Tier 3 restrictions looming. 

Greenwich council chief Danny Thorpe stated yesterday Public Well being England had suggested the authority to close all 133 faculties as Covid circumstances have been “escalating extraordinarily shortly”.

However the eleventh-hour choice left dad and mom scrambling to seek out childcare amid fears that faculties may stay shut within the New Yr. 

One college employee from the borough wrote on Twitter: “This has created an enormous quantity of confusion for fogeys. Faculties may have 100’s of emails & calls to take care of tomorrow morning, including to their already excessive workload and stress.”

GPS BEGIN GIVING COVID JABS TODAY

A whole bunch of coronavirus vaccine centres throughout England are opening at present as GPs get able to inoculate essentially the most weak.

The centres might be run by native docs who will obtain the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs this morning, with most GPs opening their clinics later this afternoon.

Care residence residents in Scotland are as a result of obtain the vaccine for the primary time at present.

The vast majority of clinics are anticipated to offer the service from tomorrow, with over 80s, care residence employees and residents anticipated to obtain the vaccine.

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal School of GPs, stated: “GPs and our groups are about to embark on an infinite problem, delivering the Covid-19 vaccination programme locally while additionally delivering the expanded flu vaccine programme and the same old care and providers our sufferers depend on us for.”

ALOK SHARMA TELLS BRITS TO MAKE ‘PERSONAL CHOICE’ OVER CHRISTMAS PLANS

Cupboard Minister Alok Sharm has urged Brits ought to make a “private alternative” over whether or not they need to type festive bubbles with family members this Christmas.

Enterprise Secretary Alok Sharma informed ITV’s Good Morning Britain at present: “If individuals really feel that they might be safer not doing that, that’s as much as them.

“I do know in your programme individuals have talked about ‘households will hug’ however I additionally know that there are individuals who have taken a aware choice that, while they might have their aged dad and mom come over Christmas, they are going to make sure that they do not hug them.”

Mr Sharma added that the strategy to Christmas is “proportionate” and “balanced”.

The information comes as fears develop that London and different components of the south of England might be put into powerful Tier 3 restrictions this week.

270M FEWER PINTS TO BE SOLD DUE TO TOUGH COVID RULES

Pubs throughout Britain will pull 270 million fewer pints this month as powerful Covid guidelines wreck commerce.

Simply 30 million pints will be sold as a substitute, as nearly all of pubs keep shut or see their buyer numbers drop.

In December, boozers usually promote round 300 million pints.

The information means £935 million in turnover might be worn out from pubs and the brewing sector this month.

BBPA’s Emma McClarkin warned: “This Christmas may very well be the final for a lot of of our pubs.”

BRITAIN COULD BE BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ BY SUMMER, SAYS TOP SCIENTIST

Britain may very well be again to regular by summer time except Christmas family mixing triggers a deadlu third wave of the virus, a prime scientist has stated.

Head of the Oxford Vaccine undertaking Professor Sarah Gilbert stated masks and social distancing may come to an finish inside six months, as long as virus charges do not surge in January.

Prof. Gilbert warned: “What we do over the subsequent few weeks goes to have a huge impact on how lengthy it takes.”

Brits throughout all 4 nations might be allowed to combine in households of three from December 23 to December 27 for Christmas.

However scientists and politicians throughout the UK have urged warning over the festive interval.

SADIQ KHAN CALLS FOR ALL LONDON SCHOOLS TO SHUT TODAY AS TIER 3 FEARS LOOM

Sadiq Khan has referred to as for all faculties in London to shut from today following a surge in Covid circumstances within the capital.

The Mayor of London’s feedback comes hours after Labour-run Greenwich council introduced it’s to shut its school rooms for Christmas from tonight.

And Sadiq Khan is now calling for all faculties throughout 32 boroughs to close as the town teeters on the point of transferring into Tier 3 this week.

Mr Khan will transient London MPs on the newest figures, which present that infections at the moment are doubling each 4 days within the metropolis.

Greenwich council chief Danny Thorpe stated yesterday Public Well being England had suggested the authority to close all 133 faculties as Covid circumstances have been “escalating extraordinarily shortly”.

TESTING RAMPED UP IN SEOUL AS INFECTIONS SURGE

South Korea is opening dozens of free coronavirus testing websites within the higher Seoul space amid a surge in infections.

About 65 per cent of the brand new circumstances have been discovered within the Seoul space, which has been on the centre of the current spike.

Beginning on Monday, well being authorities will open 150 virus testing centres in phases along with greater than 210 present websites as a part of efforts to decelerate the outbreak.

The brand new testing websites are scheduled to remain open for 3 weeks, and anybody can take a free coronavirus check.

FAMILY DOCS IN ENGLAND TO BEGIN GIVING COVID VACCINATIONS

Vaccination clinics run by household docs will start throughout England from Monday however individuals have been warned {that a} rise in circumstances after Christmas socialising may disrupt the roll out of protecting jabs.

GP practices in additional than 100 areas may have the authorized Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine delivered to them on Monday, with some providing vaccinations inside hours.

The bulk will start offering vaccination providers to their local people from Tuesday, NHS England and NHS Enchancment stated.

NHS employees together with nurses and pharmacists will work alongside GPs to inoculate these aged 80 and over, in addition to care residence employees and residents.

The vaccination centres will function from docs’ surgical procedures or neighborhood hubs in villages, cities and cities.