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Jumat, 12 Februari 2021

Covid hotel quarantine less strict than Australia's - BBC News

A person stares out of a hotel window near Heathrow in west London in March 2020

England's hotel quarantine system could be less stringent than Australia's scheme, a BBC analysis has found.

A copy of the government's official requirements for hotel operators, ahead of its launch on Monday, showed rules were looser in several key areas.

In England, the rules allow guests time outside with security staff, seen in Australia as putting workers at risk.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said the rules would be "amongst the strongest in the world".

She told the BBC those arriving from "red list" countries - deemed high-risk due to new virus variants - would face strict measures even before they departed for the UK.

The requirement to quarantine in a hotel applies to British and Irish citizens, and UK residents arriving in England from such countries - including Portugal, Brazil and South Africa.

In Scotland, all those arriving internationally by air will have to isolate in hotels.

The scheme begins on Monday at a cost of £1,750 for an individual.

It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel urged people to "persevere" with England's booking website, where travellers secure rooms and new mandatory tests, after it was hit by technical issues.

Ms Atkins told the BBC the measures would be "kept under review" and that the government was confident the rules "are strong".

"We have some of the strongest border measures in the world and, as of Monday, with the introduction of the red list, these measures will be even stronger," she told BBC Breakfast.

Asked about differences between England and Australia's systems, including fewer restrictions on hotel guests' movements for those in England, she said: "We are following the data in our own country and applying the measures that apply in our own country."

"Our standards are amongst the strongest in the world," she added.

International travel is currently banned, other than for a small number of permitted reasons, including for essential work, medical appointments and education. Holidays are not allowed.

'Looser rules'

BBC science editor David Shukman found the rules in England will be looser than Australia's system, which is seen as among the best in the world.

A copy of the guidance for hotels in England's system suggested:

Guests will be allowed access to fresh air outside, escorted by a security guard, whereas in Australia the view is that staff should not be put at risk by escorting people outside
There is no guidance on the timing of meal deliveries, potentially leading to cross-infections between guests as room doors are opened at the same time
Surgical masks will be required for staff, providing less protection than the masks required in Australia's system

One Australian epidemiologist described allowing travellers quarantining in hotels to leave their rooms for fresh air as "very risky".

Prof Michael Toole said there was evidence of transmission when guests opened doors, and "with the positive pressure this kind of fog of virus went out into the corridor, travelled down and infected hotel staff".

It comes as the Australian state of Victoria enters a five-day "circuit breaker" lockdown in a bid to suppress an outbreak linked to its hotel quarantine system.

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Prof Nancy Baxter, of the University of Melbourne, said governments have a duty to protect those working inside quarantine hotel systems.

She said "there's a duty of care that those people have the highest possible protection from infection".

The UK has secured an initial 4,700 rooms for its quarantine system, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

He added that, at present, around 1,300 people arrive in the UK from red list countries, and that this figure is expected to fall much further.

The new system also introduces much tougher penalties, with avoiding quarantine in a designated hotel attracting a fine of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Anyone found to have falsified their travel history on the mandatory passenger locator form filled in on arrival risks up to 10 years in prison.

All international arrivals must book and pay in advance for two additional tests during their quarantine period, or face fines up to £2,000.

Sudden ban

In a further development, government sources confirmed reports that countries could be added to the red list with just a few hours' notice.

Rather than previous weekly reviews of travel corridor arrangements, there will now be a "fast track" system allowing ministers to quickly curb travel from virus hotspots.

Confusion around the prospect of summer holidays was sparked after Mr Shapps urged people not to book getaways for later in the year - either at home or abroad.

No 10 later said it was up to individuals whether they wanted to book potential future breaks, in view of the risk they may not take place due to coronavirus restrictions.

Downing Street has said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a roadmap for easing restrictions - potentially including travel - in the week beginning 22 February.

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Will you be travelling to the UK from a "red list" country? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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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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2021-02-12 10:11:06Z
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UK economy shrinks by most in 300 years - Financial Times

UK economic output fell 9.9 per cent in 2020, the largest drop in 300 years and more than twice the fall during the financial crisis, laying bare the scale of the pandemic’s impact.

The economy grew more than expected in the fourth quarter despite extensive Covid-19 restrictions but remained smaller than before the pandemic. The outlook for the start of 2021 has darkened.

Output expanded 1 per cent in the three months to December from the previous quarter, according to data from the Office for National Statistics — a stronger showing than the 0.5 per cent forecast by economists polled by Reuters.

But the figures released on Friday showed UK output was down 7.8 per cent from the final quarter of 2019, twice the decline in Germany and three times the drop in the US. The differences reflect long periods of tough restrictions in the UK as well as generous US stimulus plans and tax cuts in Germany.

The 9.9 per cent decline for 2020 was the most since the great frost of 1709 and eclipsed the 9.7 per cent contraction of 1921, when world economies were battered by the Depression. The UK remains the laggard among the G7 countries for which 2020 Q4 data is available, even if comparisons are complicated by different accounting methods.

Line chart of Annual % change showing The UK economy shrank the most in three centuries

Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer, said: “Today’s figures show that the economy has experienced a serious shock as a result of the pandemic, which has been felt by countries around the world.”

“While there are some positive signs of the economy’s resilience over the winter, we know that the current lockdown continues to have a significant impact on many people and businesses,” he added.

Alpesh Paleja, lead economist at the CBI, said that the Budget in March “comes at a critical time for the UK. Extending the furlough scheme through to summer and continuing the business rates holiday for another three months will help safeguard jobs, livelihoods and communities across the country.”

The Bank of England expects the economy to contract sharply in the first quarter because of the latest national lockdown. But the UK has been relatively swift with its vaccine campaign, raising hopes of an economic recovery from the spring.

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: “We look for a hefty 6 per cent quarter-on-quarter rebound in GDP in the second quarter, followed by a 2.2 per cent increase in the third.” That could mean a “faster recovery than in other European countries, where the vaccine rollout has been much slower”, he added.

In the final quarter of 2020, economic growth was supported by expansions in government expenditures and gross capital formation, which includes business investment and housing.

However, business investment was 10.3 per cent its pre-pandemic levels, pointing to continuing uncertainty and subdued demand weighing on business capital expenditure decision and limiting potential growth.

The ONS also reported a widening goods trade deficit in the last three months of the year, driven by rising imports from the EU as businesses prepared for the end of the transition period.

In December, the economy expanded 1.2 per cent compared with the previous month, while the November figure was revised 0.3 percentage points up to a 2.3 per cent fall as England was in a lockdown.

Line chart of Index, 2018=100 showing UK GDP remains well below pre-crisis levels

“Loosening of restrictions in many parts of the UK saw elements of the economy recover some lost ground in December,” said Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics, “with hospitality, car sales and hairdressers all seeing growth.”

An increase in Covid-19 testing and tracing also boosted output, he added.

The services sector staged the strongest rebound, rising 1.7 per cent in December compared with the previous month as the reopening of client-facing services such as non-essential stores, bars and restaurants boosted sales.

Growth in manufacturing was slower than in the services sector but followed seven months of uninterrupted expansion. In contrast, output in the construction sector fell for the first time since the spring.

Jonathan Gillham, PwC chief economist, said: “These figures are much less worse than expected and show that, from an economic perspective, we are becoming more adaptable to being locked down”.

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2021-02-12 09:15:00Z
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Queues for four hours at Heathrow as arrivals escape hotel quarantine - Metro.co.uk

Four hour queues at Heathrow as passengers scramble to enter UK before tougher travel rules — Overstretched airport workers were heard declaring to passengers: ‘We have not got any more staff!’ (Picture: PA / Dylan Carter)

Passengers at Heathrow Airport reported scenes of chaos after having to wait in queues for more than four hours.

Overstretched workers were heard declaring to passengers: ‘We have not got any more staff!’ after arrivals complained about the long wait.

The chaos comes days before the UK is set to impose strict hotel quarantine measures to citizens entering the country from ‘red list’ areas.

Pictures show a line of clearly frustrated arrivals in dozens of rows, while some are sat on the floor and take off their masks.

Dylan Carter, 23, whose girlfriend was coming back from Ukraine, told MailOnline: ‘It’s absolute bedlam. They’ve been stuck in queues for four hours. Officers have been shouting at the crowds saying things like, “You chose to travel.”‘

He said his girlfriend landed at Terminal 2 at 11am and only eventually passed through security at around 5pm.

Dylan suggested the long wait may be due to passengers attempting to escape tough hotel quarantine measures coming in for travellers next week.

A video shows an irritated border guard lose his patience with arrivals asking about the long queues.

From: Dylan Carter Heathrow Airport UK border As of 11am today at Heathrow Airport, there have been up to 4 hour queues to enter the country with next to no social distancing and less than half of security positions being manned. Elderly people are lying on the floor from exhaustion, border officers are shouting at passengers to be calm. It is absolute chaos and passengers are missing connecting flights. No water was provided to passengers. — Passengers at Heathrow Airport reported scenes of ‘absolute bedlam’ (Picture: Dylan Carter)

Passengers line up for passport control in the UK Border area of Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport, London, during a visit from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to see the COVID-19 response. Picture date: Thursday February 11, 2020. See PA story POLITICS Labour. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA Wire — People were left waiting at the border for more than four hours (Picture: PA)

He says in the footage: ‘We have not got any more staff! We have staff isolating, we have staff off with Covid and we have had two staff die with Covid!

‘So forgive us for not being understanding!’

Another clip shows his colleague telling someone else that it is taking up to 30 minutes to wave each passenger through the border.

The official sis heard saying: ‘It’s taking anything to 30 minutes to deal with one single person. Unfortunately, border force staff are not immune to Covid either so we… have to work in bubbles.

Passengers line up in the check-in area of Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport, London, during a visit from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to see the COVID-19 response. Picture date: Thursday February 11, 2020. See PA story POLITICS Labour. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA Wire — Frustrated passengers started to ask why they had been waiting for so long (Picture: PA)

‘If you choose to stand close to someone, that’s up to you, but we have to socially distance. It takes time to do things, so please be patient.’

The chaos comes as British residents returning from any of the 33 countries on the UK’s ‘red-list’ from Monday must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.

They must pay £1,750 to stay in a Government-approved location for that time period and if they break the rules face a fine up to of £10,000 or a decade in prison.

But passengers appeared to be finding it difficult to follow the rules yesterday after the designated online booking system for quarantine crashed just minutes after launching.

The site told those booking that there were no hotels available for the first two days of the new restrictions.

The Department for Health said: ‘Rooms are available from Monday 15 February and travellers will be able to book through the site imminently. The website is undergoing maintenance to correct a minor technical issue.’

Originally a message on the booking website said it would be back online by 3pm, but it still appeared to be undergoing maintenance this morning.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-02-12 07:31:00Z
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Kamis, 11 Februari 2021

Duchess of Sussex wins privacy claim against Mail on Sunday over 'private' letter to father Thomas Markle - Sky News

The Duchess of Sussex has won her High Court privacy claim against the Mail On Sunday over the publication of a "personal and private" handwritten letter to her estranged father.

In a statement after the ruling, Meghan, said she was grateful that Associated Newspapers and The Mail on Sunday had been "held to account for their illegal and dehumanising practices".

"These tactics (and those of their sister publications MailOnline and the Daily Mail) are not new; in fact, they've been going on for far too long without consequence.

"For these outlets, it's a game. For me and so many others, it's real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep.

"The world needs reliable, fact-checked, high-quality news. What The Mail on Sunday and its partner publications do is the opposite.

"We all lose when misinformation sells more than truth, when moral exploitation sells more than decency, and when companies create their business model to profit from people's pain."

The 39-year-old sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of The Mail On Sunday and MailOnline, over a series of articles which reproduced parts of the letter sent to 76-year-old Thomas Markle in August 2018.

She is seeking damages for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.

It follows five articles published in February 2019, which included extracts from the "private and confidential" letter.

Her lawyers argued, at a hearing in January, that ANL has "no prospect" of defending her claim for misuse of private information and breach of copyright.

They asked the High Court to grant "summary judgment" in relation to those claims, a legal step which would see those parts of the case resolved without a trial.

In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Warby ruled that the publication of Meghan's letter to her father was "manifestly excessive and hence unlawful".

The judge said: "It was, in short, a personal and private letter. The majority of what was published was about the claimant's own behaviour, her feelings of anguish about her father's behaviour - as she saw it - and the resulting rift between them.

"These are inherently private and personal matters."

He ruled: "The claimant had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private. The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation."

The judge added: "There is no prospect that a different judgment would be reached after a trial."

A statement from the Mail of Sunday, said: "We are very surprised by today's summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial.

"We are carefully considering the judgment's contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal."

In relation to Meghan's copyright claim, Mr Justice Warby found that the publication of the letter - which he described as "a long-form telling-off" - did infringe her copyright.

But the judge said the issue of whether Meghan was "the sole author" of the letter or Jason Knauf, formerly communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was a "co-author" should be determined at a trial.

Mr Justice Warby said that there would be a further hearing in March to decide "the next steps" in the legal action.

Meghan's data protection claim was not considered at the hearing in January and is still outstanding.

Duchess wins her war against campaign of misrepresentation
Analysis: Rhiannon Mills, Royal correspondent

This is a significant victory for the Sussexes after months of the most high profile legal toing and froing.

It was in October 2019 as we were all preparing for the final day of their Africa tour that they announced they were taking this legal action, and at the same time told us exactly what they thought of certain elements of the UK press. It was war against what they saw as a campaign of misrepresentation against Meghan.

But from her statement you can see they don't just see this as a win for them. Despite setting up home in America they have unofficially become the latest campaigners-in-chief for those fighting against press intrusion.

As Meghan says: "For me and so many others, it's real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep... I share this victory with each of you-because we all deserve justice and truth, and we all deserve better."

We can't forget the other central figure in this case. Meghan's father, Thomas Markle. We wait to see if he appears on TV or in print again to share his side of the story.

And that is where you can't help but think that the victory has come at a cost for Meghan. The private details that came out through all the preliminary hearings created the kind of clickbait that the Sussexes despise, as we all saw the collapse of a relationship between dad and daughter play out in the most public way.

At least this result means Meghan won't have to face her father in court.

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2021-02-11 22:06:31Z
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