Babak Belurs

Senin, 31 Mei 2021

Covid-19: UK in early stages of third wave - scientist - BBC News

A man getting his vaccination at Twickenham stadium

There are signs the UK is in the early stages of a third wave of coronavirus infections, a scientist advising the government has said.

Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University of Cambridge, said although new cases were "relatively low" the Indian variant had fuelled "exponential growth".

He said ending Covid restrictions in England on 21 June should be postponed.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government could not rule out a delay to the planned lockdown easing.

But business leaders have warned of the harmful impact of any change to the proposed dates.

On Sunday, the UK reported more than 3,000 new Covid infections for a fifth day in a row.

Prior to this, the UK had not surpassed that number since 12 April.

Prof Gupta told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK was already in a third wave of infections and at least three quarters of cases were the variant identified in India.

He said: "Of course the numbers of cases are relatively low at the moment - all waves start with low numbers of cases that grumble in the background and then become explosive, so the key here is that what we are seeing here is the signs of an early wave."

However, he said the number of people who had been vaccinated in the UK meant this wave would probably take longer to emerge than previous ones.

"There may be a false sense of security for some time, and that's our concern."

Chart showing the number of UK infections is rising slowly

The final stage of the government's roadmap for lifting lockdown would remove all limits on how many people you can meet - either indoors or outdoors.

But Prof Gupta - a member of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) - said ending restrictions in June should be delayed "by a few weeks whilst we gather more intelligence".

"If you look at the costs and benefits of getting it wrong, I think it is heavily in favour of delay, so I think that's the key thing," he added.

Businesses on 'cliff edge'

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, told BBC News it would be "devastating" for the sector if they were not able to fully reopen in June, with many hospitality venues currently operating at 60% capacity because of social distancing rules.

She said some businesses were "haemorrhaging cash" and a delay would "push them closer to the cliff edge of business failure".

Greg Parmley, chief executive of live music trade association Live, said the whole sector - from festivals to small venues - was "completely geared up" for a return from 21 June after being closed for more than a year.

He said the government's series of trial events had shown "music events can be held safely, with almost no Covid impact, so there is no reason to keep us closed any longer".

Mr Eustice told the BBC the government had to take things "one step at a time".

"We can't rule anything out. We know this has been a difficult pandemic, a dynamic situation. We have to make that judgment a couple of weeks before.

"It will only be by then that we will see the impact of the latest easement we made on 17 May."

The timetable for relaxing Covid measures varies across the UK. The Scottish government hopes to lift more restrictions on 7 June, while in Wales there is due to be a review on 3 June. In Northern Ireland some measures were relaxed on 24 May - the next review is due on 10 June.

A final decision on whether restrictions will be lifted in England will be reached on 14 June.

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The Indian variant - known as B.1.617.2 - is thought to spread more quickly than the Kent variant, which was responsible for the surge in cases in the UK over the winter.

In some areas of England - including in Bolton, Blackburn, and Sefton in north-west England and Bedford, Chelmsford and Canterbury in the South East - the Indian variant is causing the majority of infections.

Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for the vaccine programme in Bolton, said the rise in cases in the town was slowing but many of the areas with the highest increases had very young populations, and getting more of those vaccinated would help tackle the rise.

In England, people aged over 30 are currently able to book to get the vaccine.

In other developments:

Tighter rules for travellers from the UK have come into force in France in response to the spread of the Indian variant, meaning only EU nationals, French residents, or those travelling for essential reasons can enter
Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has warned restrictions may not be relaxed further next week in parts of Scotland where infections are rising
Holiday let firms in Wales are predicting a bumper summer as they are "blown away by demand" for bookings
And the UK economy's recovery from the pandemic is set to be stronger than previously thought, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has suggested

NEW DRAMA THE PACT: Five friends bound together by a fragile pact of silence...
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2021-05-31 13:49:10Z
52781634707332

Covid-19: UK in early stages of third wave - scientist - BBC News

A woman collecting a PCR test in Bedford

There are signs the UK is in the early stages of a third wave of coronavirus infections, a scientist advising the government has said.

Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University of Cambridge, said although new cases were "relatively low" the Indian variant had fuelled "exponential growth".

He said ending Covid restrictions in England on 21 June should be postponed.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government could not rule out a delay to the planned lockdown easing.

On Sunday, the UK reported more than 3,000 new Covid infections for a fifth day in a row.

Prior to this, the UK had not surpassed that number since 12 April.

Prof Gupta told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK was already in a third wave of infections and at least three-quarters of cases were the new (Indian) variant.

However, he said the number of people who have been vaccinated in the UK meant this wave would probably take longer to emerge than previous ones.

"There may be a false sense of security for some time, and that's our concern."

Prof Gupta - a member of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) - said ending restrictions in June should be delayed "by a few weeks whilst we gather more intelligence".

"If you look at the costs and benefits of getting it wrong, I think it is heavily in favour of delay, so I think that's the key thing," he added.

Another leading scientific adviser to the government, Prof Adam Finn, also urged caution over the 21 June date for easing restrictions.

"I think it's unfortunate that everyone's got this particular date in their head, because really what we need to do is understand how things are going and adjust accordingly," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

"This time around, we should be cautious, wait to see what's happening, and then let everyone free, if you like, once we know for sure that that's safe and that we can do that without having another round of lockdowns."

The final stage of the government's roadmap for lifting lockdown, which would remove all limits on how many people you can meet - either indoors or outdoors, is due no earlier than 21 June.

However, Mr Eustice told the BBC the government had to take things "one step at a time".

"We can't rule anything out. We know this has been a difficult pandemic, a dynamic situation. We have to make that judgment a couple of weeks before.

"It will only be by then that we will see the impact of the latest easement we made on 17 May."

A final decision on whether restrictions will be lifted in England will be reached on 14 June.

Analysis box by Nick Eardley, political correspondent

Three weeks today has been dubbed Freedom Day by some - the point at which the remaining restrictions are due to be lifted in England.

But there's increasing nervousness about whether it can go ahead in full because of the Indian variant.

And now you're seeing some of the different pressures the government is going to have to weigh up.

Nervtag scientist Prof Ravi Gupta is urging minister to postpone 21 June by a few weeks to give more time for second vaccination doses to be done.

In the Telegraph, the British Chambers of Commerce warns the government against "rolling back on the roadmap" - saying it would be "astonishing" for the government to change tack.

And ministers? They say it's too early to make a firm decision. They're waiting for more data over the coming fortnight. Many will be watching to see what it says.

Trade body the Night Time Industries Association has previously warned any change to the government's roadmap would wreak havoc on nightlife businesses.

Its chief executive, Michael Kill, said last week that thousands of businesses which have prepared for reopening "at considerable cost" risked being "plunged into further financial hardship" if re-opening did not go ahead.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?
AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW How to understand the death toll
LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

The Indian variant - known as B.1.617.2 - is thought to spread more quickly than the Kent variant, which was responsible for the surge in cases in the UK over the winter.

Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for the vaccine programme in Bolton, said the rise in cases in the town was slowing but there was no room for complacency.

She said many of the areas with the highest increases had very young populations, and getting more of those vaccinated would help tackle the rise.

"I think the age of (vaccine) eligibility going down every few days has really helped, and will really help us, if we can get those people through the doors to be vaccinated asap," she said.

In England, people aged over 30 are currently able to book to get the vaccine.

In other developments:

Tighter rules for travellers from the UK have come into force in France in response to the spread of the Indian variant, meaning only EU nationals, French residents, or those travelling for essential reasons can enter
Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has warned restrictions may not be relaxed further next week in parts of Scotland where infections are rising
Holiday let firms in Wales are predicting a bumper summer as they are "blown away by demand" for bookings
And the UK economy's recovery from the pandemic is set to be stronger than previously thought, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has suggested

NEW DRAMA THE PACT: Five friends bound together by a fragile pact of silence...
IN NEED OF SOME INSPIRATION?: Find your ideal interior with Your Home Made Perfect

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Minggu, 30 Mei 2021

Hundreds more Afghans and their families to be allowed to settle in UK - BBC News

Plans to rapidly relocate hundreds more Afghans who worked for the British military and UK government, mostly as interpreters, have been announced.

Including family members, more than 3,000 Afghans are expected to be allowed to settle in the UK, joining 1,300 who have already done so.

The decision comes amid fears for their safety as international troops prepare to leave the country.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was "only right" to accelerate plans.

He added that those being relocated were those that might otherwise "be at risk of reprisals" from the Taliban.

The issue has been a concern since British forces ended combat operations in Helmand in 2014 - with troops who served there being among the most vocal in their support for measures to protect those who assisted them during their deployment.

Earlier schemes applied strict criteria on who could apply for a new life in the UK and considered the Afghans' length of service and precise roles - for example favouring interpreters who worked with British troops on the frontline in Helmand for more than a year.

But under new government policy, any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life will be offered priority relocation to the UK - regardless of their employment status, rank or role or length of time served.

The government said this was done to reflect the fact that the security situation in Afghanistan has changed and acknowledges the potential risk to local staff who have worked for the UK government and military over the past 20 years. The scheme, the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy, was set up on 1 April.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel described the move as "a moral obligation".

In a statement, the government said: "Following the decision to begin the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan, the prime minister has agreed with the Ministry of Defence, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to rapidly accelerate applications through the policy."

It is not yet clear precisely how many Afghans will be relocated to the UK, but the government says it is expecting more than 3,000 to be resettled/

Although it will cast a wider net than previous schemes did, not everyone who worked for the British will be eligible to apply. For example, some locally hired Afghans were sacked while working for the British for serious misconduct.

'Sacrificed a lot'

Mr Wallace told the BBC that "with Western powers leaving, the threat is increasing, including targeted attacks by the Taliban".

He said those who worked for the British had "sacrificed a lot to look after us and now is the time to do the same".

Ms Patel said: "It's our moral obligation to recognise the risks they faced in the fight against terrorism and reward their efforts.

"I'm pleased that we are meeting this fully, by providing them and their families the opportunity to build a new life in this country."

At the start of this year there were still 750 British troops in Afghanistan - mostly providing security in the capital Kabul.

Their withdrawal is already under way following US President Joe Biden's decision to pull out US troops from the country. Nato forces have agreed to do the same, though senior British Defence officials have expressed their "disappointment" at the decision.

The US, who employed many more local Afghans, is reported to be working on a similar scheme.

The relocation of hundreds of Afghans to the UK will provide a major logistical challenge as British forces leave the country for good. The government will have to work out ways to fly them out safely along with the remaining British troops. The government will also have to liaise with local authorities as to where the Afghan families will be located and housed back in the UK.

While ministers say they are accelerating the pace of relocations in parallel with the military withdrawal, the new scheme is not time-limited and will remain open after British troops have left Afghanistan.

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2021-05-31 01:30:41Z
52781633538140

Islington flower seller Tony Eastlake stabbed to death - BBC News

A flower seller has been stabbed to death close to his stall in north London.

Tony Eastlake, 55, died from a knife wound after being attacked on Essex Road, Islington, just before 17:30 BST on Saturday.

The father of one, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was described by his family as a kind man "loved by everybody" in the community.

Police are treating his death as murder.

Mr Eastlake had been working on his flower stall since he was 14, his family said in a statement.

Family 'devastated'

The statement continued: "Our hearts are broken forever at the loss of such a very special man.

"A man who was loved by everybody in the Islington community, who is remembered as kind and caring and always laughing, but most importantly a father who leaves behind a devastated family, Lisa, Pauline, and his only daughter and best friend Paige, who he adored.

"Tony was [at the flower stall] through rain or shine, a smiling and friendly face to so many of us."

Witnesses reported him being involved in "an altercation" with another man before the assault, the Metropolitan Police said.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place in the coming days, and so far no arrests have been made.

Police have urged witnesses to come forward and would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage from the time.

Det Ch Insp Vicky Tunstall, leading the investigation, said: "I am particularly keen to hear from people who were in Halliford Road or Ecclesbourne Road between 17:20 and 17:25 BST.

"Did you see Tony? Or did you witness an altercation, or see anyone running away?

"Lastly, I would like to hear from those within the community who may have information about why this murder has taken place.

"We are looking at several possible motives and I am keeping an open mind as to the circumstances behind the attack."

A vigil has been planned close to Mr Eastlake's stall at 18:00 BST on Monday evening by members of the community.

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2021-05-30 16:54:17Z
52781628815193

COVID-19: Coronavirus vaccine could be made compulsory for NHS staff, minister says - Sky News

COVID jabs could be made compulsory for NHS staff, the vaccines minister has told Sky News.

Nadhim Zahawi said the government is considering making coronavirus vaccines compulsory for healthcare workers to help stop the spread of the virus in hospitals.

He told Trevor Phillips on Sunday: "It would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to do the thinking as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated.

"There is precedent for this - obviously surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B. So it's something we are absolutely thinking about."

A senior Labour frontbencher warned that "threatening" NHS staff would be less effective than working with those who had doubts about the jab.

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: "Given we have got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS, I think it's far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them.

"Threatening staff, I don't think is a good idea."

Public Health England and the NHS had been successful when they had worked with people to address their doubts and answer questions about the jab, she said.

"I would like to see the government work with the NHS and social care staff," Ms Debbonaire added.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told Sky News the numbers of unvaccinated staff are "very small and decreasing".

NHS trusts think the way ahead is to understand people's concerns and to "address those concerns", he added.

"All the concerns can be met if you have that quality of conversation," he said.

People aged over 30 in England are now eligible for vaccination, leaving only adults aged between 18 and 29 still having to wait.

Nearly 39 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in the UK, while nearly 25 million have had both doses.

Those aged 39 or under, and pregnant women, are being offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with recently updated guidance.

Mr Zahawi said the government was awaiting approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before COVID jabs will be offered to under 18s.

It comes after the European Commission authorised the Pfizer vaccine to be given to children as young as 12 following approval by the European Medicines Agency.

The vaccines minister said: "You have to make sure the vaccines are incredibly safe before you give them to children.

"We will be ready. The infrastructure we've built allows us the ability to deploy vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds as well as, of course, planning for the boost in the autumn and the flu vaccination campaign.

"The infrastructure is there but, of course, the clinicians have to make that final decision."

Meanwhile, Mr Zahawi defended the response to the pandemic last year after the prime minister's former chief adviser Dominic Cummings accused the government of sending "people back to care homes with COVID".

The minister insisted that the government had done its best to protect care homes and said both testing and protecting those in care homes were priorities, but the UK had to work within the available resources.

He said: "You are in the eye of a storm, in the pandemic early last year we only had the capability to conduct about 2,000 tests a day, the diagnostics capability of the UK was almost non-existent.

"In the last seven days, we conducted six million tests, at every stage Matt Hancock used every resource available to him to do his best possible job for people he did protect."

Mr Zahawi added that Mr Cummings would have seen the capability of the civil service during the vaccine rollout.