Selasa, 02 Februari 2021

Covid-19: Test blitz to 'find every case' of South African variant - BBC News

Woman taking Covid swab
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People in areas that have been singled out for enhanced testing for the South African variant should further limit the time they spend away from home, a minister has said.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said those affected should be "thinking twice about their actions".

On-the-spot doorstep tests, home testing kits and mobile testing units will be deployed in eight areas.

The health secretary said he wanted to "come down hard" on the variant.

It follows fears that the more infectious version may be spreading in communities in England.

Ms Donelan told BBC Breakfast that people in the targeted areas should be having a "conversation with their employer about making sure that they can work from home" and "limiting even more the time that they are outside of their house".

The enhanced testing programme aims to reach 80,000 people.

Matt Hancock said "finding every case" of the variant was the goal, with everyone over 16 in the targeted areas urged to take a test, whether they have symptoms or not.

Gene sequencing has so far uncovered 105 cases of the variant, which like the variant previously discovered in Kent is thought to be more contagious although not more deadly. Eleven of the cases of the South African variant had no link to foreign travel, prompting concerns it is spreading in the community.

Dr Susan Hopkins from Public Health England said the existing vaccines may offer less protection against the South African variant, although they still offer a good level of immunity.

The "surge testing" will take place in these eight areas linked to cases of the variant:

  • Parts of the ME15 postcode area in Kent,
  • Parts of the WS2 postcode area in Walsall in the West Midlands
  • Parts of the GU21 postcode area in Woking, Surrey
  • The CR4 postcode area around Pollards Hill in south London
  • Tottenham Hale in the N17 area of north London
  • The W7 area in Hanwell and West Ealing, London
  • The EN10 postcode area in Broxbourne
  • Parts of the PR9 area in Southport

In most of the areas, home testing kits are being delivered and collected, while some are also providing mobile testing sites. In Kent, police, council workers, firefighters and other agencies will visit homes to carry out on-the-spot tests of everyone in the household.

Sefton Council, which covers Southport, said on Monday it was still working out how the additional tests would be carried out, although it expected to establish dedicated testing sites for the new variant.

Mr Hancock also said it was "absolutely vital" that people in these areas where cases of the variant had been identified minimise all social contact.

Mass testing has previously been deployed in Liverpool, where more than 200,000 people were tested in November, detecting 800 asymptomatic cases.

It prompted plans to extend the testing programme to 67 areas of England, although concerns were raised about the reliability of the rapid "lateral flow" tests being used.

The "surge testing" being deployed in the eight areas where the South Africa variant was detected will, however, offer the more accurate PCR tests to people who need to leave home for work or other essential purposes.

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In December, the discovery of the new strain prompted a ban on foreign nationals travelling into the UK from South Africa and later from southern African countries.

Under current restrictions, people arriving into England from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man need to isolate at home for 10 days and provide a negative Covid test result before travel.

A new system of quarantine requiring those arriving from countries under travel bans to isolate in hotels is due to be introduced in the coming weeks.

Labour, however, wants the government to go further and introduce a hotel quarantine system for all UK arrivals.

On Monday, the House of Commons voted 262-0 in favour of a non-binding motion to introduce such a system. All Conservative MPs abstained.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds accused the government of being "irresponsible" not to back the motion.

"We have to do everything we can" to protect against "mutations emerging elsewhere", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme,

Home Office minister Robert Courts said "blanket restrictions" had been considered but were "not appropriate".

"We are an island nation yet a global hub" and it was "critical" to keep freight moving, he added.

According to the Times, the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) warned Downing Street that only closing the borders or introducing mandatory quarantine for all would stop new variants entering the UK.

A government source told the BBC the report was "not accurate" and that the prime minister "was not advised to stop all travel".

Coronavirus charts 1 Feb

The latest data shows that 9,296,367 first doses of the vaccine have now been given, with almost half of people in their 70s given a jab and almost 90% of over-80s.

Dr Hopkins said laboratory studies were being carried out to provide further evidence of the vaccines' effectiveness against new variants.

The three vaccines approved so far - Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna - all showed effectiveness against the South Africa variant that was higher than the minimum standard set by the World Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration, she said.

She said she expected other vaccines to have similar levels of effectiveness against the variant, particularly in reducing serious illness and deaths from the virus.

On Monday the UK recorded 18,607 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a further 406 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

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Do you live in an area where the South Africa variant is suspected? Tell us your concerns by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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2021-02-02 07:57:00Z
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Covid-19: Test blitz to 'find every case' of South African variant - BBC News

Woman taking Covid swab
Getty Images

A door-to-door testing blitz is getting under way in a bid to find "every single case" of the South African coronavirus variant in England.

On-the-spot doorstep tests, home testing kits and mobile testing units will be deployed to try to reach 80,000 people in eight specific areas.

It follows fears that the more infectious version may be spreading in communities in England.

The health secretary said he wanted to "come down hard" on the variant.

Matt Hancock said that "finding every case" of the variant is the goal, with everyone over 16 in the targeted areas urged to take a test, whether they have symptoms or not.

Gene sequencing has so far uncovered 105 cases of the variant, which like the variant previously discovered in Kent is thought to be more contagious although not more deadly. Eleven of the cases of the South African variant had no link to foreign travel, prompting concerns it is spreading in the community.

Dr Susan Hopkins from Public Health England said the existing vaccines may offer less protection against the South African variant, although they still offer a good level of immunity.

The "surge testing" will take place in these eight areas linked to cases of the variant:

  • Parts of the ME15 postcode area in Kent,
  • Parts of the WS2 postcode area in Walsall in the West Midlands
  • Parts of the GU21 postcode area in Woking, Surrey
  • The CR4 postcode area around Pollards Hill in south London
  • Tottenham Hale in the N17 area of north London
  • The W7 area in Hanwell and West Ealing, London
  • The EN10 postcode area in Broxbourne
  • Parts of the PR9 area in Southport

In most of the areas, home testing kits are being delivered and collected, while some are also providing mobile testing sites. In Kent, police, council workers, firefighters and other agencies will visit homes to carry out on-the-spot tests of everyone in the household.

Sefton Council, which covers Southport, said on Monday it was still working out how the additional tests would be carried out, although it expected to establish dedicated testing sites for the new variant.

Mr Hancock also said it was "absolutely vital" that people in these areas where cases of the variant had been identified minimise all social contact.

Mass testing has previously been deployed in Liverpool, where more than 200,000 people were tested in November, detecting 800 asymptomatic cases.

It prompted plans to extend the testing programme to 67 areas of England, although concerns were raised about the reliability of the rapid "lateral flow" tests being used.

The "surge testing" being deployed in the eight areas where the South Africa variant was detected will, however, offer the more accurate PCR tests to people who need to leave home for work or other essential purposes.

Banner image reading 'more about coronavirus'
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In December, the discovery of the new strain prompted a ban on foreign nationals travelling into the UK from South Africa and later from southern African countries.

Under current restrictions, people arriving into England from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man need to isolate at home for 10 days and provide a negative Covid test result before travel.

A new system of quarantine requiring those arriving from countries under travel bans to isolate in hotels is due to be introduced in the coming weeks.

Labour, however, wants the government to go further and introduce a hotel quarantine system for all UK arrivals.

On Monday, the House of Commons voted 262-0 in favour of a non-binding motion to introduce such a system. All Conservative MPs abstained.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds accused the government of being "irresponsible" not to back the motion.

"We have to do everything we can" to protect against "mutations emerging elsewhere", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme,

Home Office minister Robert Courts said "blanket restrictions" had been considered but were "not appropriate".

"We are an island nation yet a global hub" and it was "critical" to keep freight moving, he added.

According to the Times, the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) warned Downing Street that only closing the borders or introducing mandatory quarantine for all would stop new variants entering the UK.

A government source told the BBC the report was "not accurate" and that the prime minister "was not advised to stop all travel".

Coronavirus charts 1 Feb

The latest data shows that 9,296,367 first doses of the vaccine have now been given, with almost half of people in their 70s given a jab and almost 90% of over-80s.

Dr Hopkins said laboratory studies were being carried out to provide further evidence of the vaccines' effectiveness against new variants.

The three vaccines approved so far - Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna - all showed effectiveness against the South Africa variant that was higher than the minimum standard set by the World Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration, she said.

She said she expected other vaccines to have similar levels of effectiveness against the variant, particularly in reducing serious illness and deaths from the virus.

On Monday the UK recorded 18,607 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a further 406 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

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Do you live in an area where the South Africa variant is suspected? Tell us your concerns by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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2021-02-02 07:42:00Z
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Senin, 01 Februari 2021

Tuesday's national newspaper front pages - Sky News

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  1. Tuesday's national newspaper front pages  Sky News
  2. As it happened: Urgent England tests as S Africa variant found  BBC News
  3. South African variant: Boris Johnson 'confident' all vaccines provide immunity against all variants  The Telegraph
  4. South African variant: What we learned from Matt Hancock's press conference  Bradford Telegraph and Argus
  5. Mayor urges Londoners not to panic over South African variant tests  Evening Standard
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-02-01 22:36:55Z
52781345097209

COVID-19: Captain Sir Tom Moore's family with him in hospital as he is treated for coronavirus - Sky News

Sir Tom Moore's family are with him in hospital after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

The 100-year-old was taken to hospital on Sunday after being treated for pneumonia and testing positive for the virus two weeks ago.

Bedford Hospital released a statement on Monday in conjunction with Captain Tom's family, which said: "Bedford Hospital continues to care for Captain Sir Tom Moore.

"At this time members of Captain Tom's family are with him.

"We respectfully request that media give the family space and privacy and do not contact them directly so they can focus on their father, grandfather and father-in-law."

Queen Elizabeth II talks Captain Sir Thomas Moore and his family after awarding his knighthood during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Image: Captain Tom Moore with his family and the Queen as he received his knighthood last year

A statement released on Sunday by the fundraiser's family said he was being helped with his breathing on a ward, but was not in ITU.

It added: "The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford Hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible.

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"We understand that everyone will be wishing him well. We are of course focusing on my father and will update you when we are able to."

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'Sir Thomas sounds very nice'

Captain Tom had not received a coronavirus vaccine because he was receiving treatment for pneumonia.

The centenarian raised more than £32m for the NHS last year, after he walked 100 laps of his garden with the aid of his zimmer frame ahead of his 100th birthday.

He had initially set out to raise £1,000, but this target was quickly surpassed.

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Captain Tom and Michael Ball hit No1 spot

Captain Tom's efforts saw him knighted by the Queen at an open air ceremony at Windsor Castle last summer.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Keir Starmer and vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi are among many who have sent well wishes to the veteran.

Michael Ball, who recorded a number one single with Captain Tom, said: "Love and prayers for @captaintommoore and his lovely family as he battles this b*****d of a virus. Stay strong Sir. We are all here for you. Xxx"

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2021-02-01 22:21:02Z
52781343844067

Thousands face emergency Covid tests in bid to halt spread of South Africa variant in UK - BBC News - BBC News

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

  1. Thousands face emergency Covid tests in bid to halt spread of South Africa variant in UK - BBC News  BBC News
  2. As it happened: Urgent England tests as S Africa variant found  BBC News
  3. Door-to-door COVID-19 tests planned to tackle South African variant in UK  Sky News
  4. 80,000 people in England to be tested for South African variant  Dorset Echo
  5. South African variant sparks testing surge in Merseyside postcodes  Liverpool Echo
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-02-01 22:18:57Z
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Covid-19: Captain Sir Tom Moore's family with him in hospital - BBC News

Captain Tom Moore
PA Media

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family are with him in hospital after he was admitted with coronavirus, the hospital has said.

The 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for the NHS, was taken to Bedford Hospital on Sunday after requiring help with his breathing.

In a statement released with his daughters' consent, Bedford Hospital said it continued to care for him.

"At this time, members of Captain Tom's family are with him," it added.

The statement concluded with a request for "space and privacy" for relatives.

Capt Sir Tom had been treated for pneumonia over the past few weeks and last week tested positive for Covid-19, his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said on Twitter on Sunday.

She added he needed help with his breathing and was being treated on a ward, but not in ICU.

Bedford Hospital states on its website that visitors are not permitted due to current restrictions, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Bedford Hospital on Monday 1/2/21

Capt Sir Tom had not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine because of the medication he was taking for pneumonia, a family spokesperson had said previously.

The family statement issued at weekend said: "The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford Hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible.

"We understand that everyone will be wishing him well."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that his thoughts were with Capt Sir Tom and his family. "You've inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing you a full recovery," Mr Johnson wrote.

The Army veteran, originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, came to prominence by walking 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, before his 100th birthday during the first national lockdown.

NHS Charities Together, which benefited from the millions raised, said he was an "inspiration to the country" and had also inspired many others to raise money for the same cause.

Capt Sir Tom, who was given the honorary title of colonel on his 100th birthday, had initially set out to raise £1,000 by repeatedly walking an 82ft (25m) loop of his garden.

But he eventually raised £32,794,701 from more than 1.5m supporters.

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2021-02-01 21:04:00Z
52781343844067

Covid-19: Captain Sir Tom Moore's family with him in hospital - BBC News

Captain Tom Moore
PA Media

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family are with him in hospital after he was admitted with coronavirus, the hospital has said.

The 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for the NHS, was taken to Bedford Hospital on Sunday after requiring help with his breathing.

In a statement released with his daughters' consent, Bedford Hospital said it continued to care for him.

"At this time, members of Captain Tom's family are with him," it added.

The statement concluded with a request for "space and privacy" for relatives.

Capt Sir Tom had been treated for pneumonia over the past few weeks and last week tested positive for Covid-19, his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said on Twitter on Sunday.

She added he needed help with his breathing and was being treated on a ward, but not in ICU.

Bedford Hospital on Monday 1/2/21

Capt Sir Tom had not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine because of the medication he was taking for pneumonia, a family spokesperson had said previously.

The family statement issued at weekend said: "The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford Hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible.

"We understand that everyone will be wishing him well."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that his thoughts were with Capt Sir Tom and his family. "You've inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing you a full recovery," Mr Johnson wrote.

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2021-02-01 20:28:00Z
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