Babak Belurs

Selasa, 16 Februari 2021

COVID-19: 'Tsunami of disinformation' around COVID jabs, vaccines minister says - Sky News

The government is battling a "tsunami of disinformation" when it comes to coronavirus jabs, the vaccines minister has told Sky News.

Nadhim Zahawi said that while overall COVID-19 "vaccine positivity" was high, those who are "vaccine hesitant" tend to "skew heavily" towards black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

"There is a tsunami of disinformation, misinformation, which we have a unit across government that is dealing with the technology platforms to take down this fake news," he said.

Mr Zahawi added: "We're translating everything into 20 languages, from Arabic, to Farsi, to Hindi, to Polish, across the board. We have to reach those hard-to-reach groups.

"Although vaccine positivity in the UK - adults saying they will take the vaccine - is at 89%, the 11% that are vaccine hesitant or have questions skew heavily towards some of the ethnic communities - the black and Afro-Caribbean communities, the Indian and Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities."

Mr Zahawi has previously spoken of his concerns surrounding the low uptake of jabs among BAME communities.

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday earlier this month: "If one particular community remains unvaccinated, then the virus will seek them out and it will go through that community like wildfire and that's not something any of us wish to see."

The vaccines minister was speaking to Sky News after the UK met its target of offering a COVID jab to everyone in the top four priority groups - all those aged 70 and over, frontline health and social care staff and those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable - by Monday.

Letters are now being sent to those aged over 65 and the clinically vulnerable to invite them to receive the first dose of a vaccine.

The government is aiming to offer a vaccine to the 17 million in groups five to nine - all those aged 50 and over and people with underlying health conditions - by the end of April, something that will be done alongside administering second doses for many in the first four groups.

On the easing of lockdown, Mr Zahawi echoed the cautious tone of Boris Johnson, saying the government would be "data driven rather than date driven" when it comes to easing restrictions.

He declined to say how low infections need to be to allow measures to be relaxed, saying: "The prime minister is right to say that where we are today in terms of number of people in hospital, in terms of case numbers per day, it's still far too high and we want to make sure we bring that right down.

"But I wouldn't want to speculate on this until we see more data."

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Addressing a Downing Street news conference on Monday, the PM said Britons "must be both optimistic but also patient".

"We want this lockdown to be the last and we want progress to be cautious but also irreversible," Mr Johnson said.

"So please continue to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."

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2021-02-16 08:37:26Z
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Coronavirus in Scotland: Father and daughter who were first travellers to be put into quarantine now told they can leave Edinburgh hotel due to ‘error’ - The Scotsman

A father and daughter who were among the first international arrivals to check into one of Scotland's quarantine hotels were told they could leave – just hours later – because of a loophole.

Tuesday, 16th February 2021, 7:25 am

Updated Tuesday, 16th February 2021, 8:23 am

Since Monday, people flying directly into a Scottish airport on international flights have to self-isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel room.

Unless exempt, a passenger must pay £1,750 to quarantine in a room at one of six designated hotels in a bid to avoid importation of the virus.

However, this does not apply to travellers arriving from within the Common Travel Area, including the UK and Ireland.

On Monday morning, Chun Wong and his eight-year-old daughter Kiernan arrived at Edinburgh Airport from the United States via Dublin, and went straight to a hotel at Edinburgh Airport.

However, Mr Wong told BBC Scotland that on Monday night officials told them a mistake had been made and the pair could self-isolate at home in Fife.

He said: “I received a call from reception saying a gentleman from the airport would like to talk to me.

“He said that since I landed in Dublin first and then got a connecting flight to here, I was not required to quarantine in a hotel.

Chun Wong and his daughter Kiernan, 8, leave Edinburgh airport after entering the country on the first day that travellers flying directly into Scotland on international flights have to self-isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel room.

“I still have to quarantine and do the self-testing kit on the second and eighth day, but they said it was an error on their part.”

Mr Wong said he could have checked out of the hotel immediately, but decided to stay the night as it was late.

He said officials were making arrangements to transport him to his home in Fife on Tuesday.

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2021-02-16 08:23:00Z
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Stay at home message 'to be scrapped' as Covid lockdown eases - Metro.co.uk

Boris to ditch stay at home message in plan to get Brits back outdoors Getty Images|Rex Features — Reports suggest the slogan: ‘Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives’ may be gone for good next month (Picture: Getty Images / REX)

Boris Johnson is preparing to end the strict ‘stay at home’ coronavirus lockdown rules and start to relax them.

Reports suggest Government officials are set to scrap the slogan: ‘Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives’ next month as restrictions finally start to ease.

The prime minister is set to outline England’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown next week and it is understood people could be encouraged to take part in small outdoor gatherings from as early as March 8.

Some sports and leisure activities, including golf and tennis, are also set to be permitted by the end of March.

But the main first step towards the easing of lockdown is expected to be sending pupils back to classrooms from March 8.

It comes as the PM said yesterday that he hopes this third national lockdown will be the last – but refused to rule out a fourth if infection rates go back up.

Asked if he could guarantee there would not be another national lockdown, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference last night: ‘No, I can’t give that guarantee, of course not, no.

‘We’re battling with nature, with a disease that is capable of mutating and changing.

Restrictions are finally set to ease from next month (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

‘I’m increasingly confident, I’m increasingly optimistic about the sheer extent of the possibilities that are opening up with vaccinations – I’ll be setting out as much of a timetable as we can give on February 22.

‘And I’m very hopeful that we’ll be able to go ahead and open things up.’

He had earlier confirmed he would be outlining some ‘target dates’ in his highly anticipated speech on Monday – but said he ‘won’t hesitate’ to delay plans if necessary.

‘If we possibly can, we’ll be setting out dates [next week],’ Mr Johnson told Sky News, while visiting a vaccination centre in Orpington, south London today.

‘Just to help people think about what we’re trying to do on the 22nd – just remember what we did around this time last year or a little bit later, we set out a roadmap going forward into the summer and looking a little bit beyond – that’s what we’re going to be trying to do.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Guy Bell/REX (10618175p) People are out exercising on bikes and on foot, some in masks and some not. Central London is pretty crowded as the sun comes out again. The 'lockdown' continues for the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak in London. Park life during the Coronavirus Lockdown, London, UK - 19 Apr 2020 — People may be encouraged to socialise in small groups outside (Picture: REX)

‘The dates that we’ll be setting out will be the dates by which we hope we can do something at the earliest, if you see what I mean – the target date.

‘If because of the rate of infection we have to push something off a little bit, delay it for a little bit, we won’t hesitate to do that.

‘I think people would much rather see a plan that was cautious, but irreversible and one that proceeds sensibly and in accordance with where we are with the disease.’

His comments come as it was revealed the Government has hit its target of offering everyone in the top four priority groups across the country the Covid-19 vaccine by February 15.

Meeting this milestone paves the way for the next phase of the the rollout, which will cover the next five priority groups, including the over 50s.

The next aim for the Government is offering a vaccine to the estimated 17 million people in the next five groups by the end of April.

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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2021-02-16 08:04:00Z
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Free speech plan to tackle 'silencing' views on university campus - BBC News

The government has announced plans for a "free speech champion" to ensure universities in England do not stifle freedom of speech and expression.

The champion will sit on the Office for Students' board and regulate matters such as "no-platforming" of speakers by universities or student unions.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned of the "chilling effect" of what he called "silencing" in universities.

Unions said there was "no evidence" of a freedom of speech crisis on campus.

The new post is part of a series of proposals, announced on Tuesday, aimed at strengthening academic freedom in England's universities.

Under the plans, universities would be legally required to actively promote free speech and the Office for Students would have the power to impose fines on institutions if they breach this condition.

This would also extend to student unions, which would have to ensure that lawful free speech is secured for members and visiting speakers.

Individuals would be able to seek compensation through the courts if they suffered loss from a breach of the free speech duties - like being expelled, dismissed or demoted - under a new legal measure.

The Department for Education said the next steps for legislation would be set out "in due course".

Mr Williamson said: "Free speech underpins our democratic society and our universities have a long and proud history of being places where students and academics can express themselves freely, challenge views and cultivate an open mind.

"But I am deeply worried about the chilling effect on campuses of unacceptable silencing and censoring.

"That is why we must strengthen free speech in higher education, by bolstering the existing legal duties and ensuring strong, robust action is taken if these are breached."

Prof Selina Todd, an Oxford University academic who previously had an invitation to a conference celebrating women withdrawn over her stance on transgender rights issues, welcomed government action although she said the free speech champion could be a "blunt instrument".

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that universities have "dismally failed" to uphold freedom of debate in recent years.

"Things have got a lot worse for academics and for students - many of whom get in touch with me anonymously to say how frightened they are to speak out," she said.

Peter Tatchell, a gay rights activist who has himself been the target of no-platform protests, said no-platform polices were "quite rare" and the issue needed to be put in perspective.

He told the Today programme that the government's decision to introduce a freedom of speech tsar was part of a "cynical culture war" to use "hot-button culture issues" to secure political advantage.

Free speech 'essential'

In December, Cambridge University said its proposed statement on free speech would no longer require staff and students to be "respectful" of differing views, following an intervention from academics who said calling for respect could undermine academic freedom.

A spokeswoman for the group Universities UK said universities were "committed to promoting and protecting free speech, which we see as critical to the success of this country's higher education system".

"There are already significant legal duties placed on universities to uphold freedom of speech and universities are required to have a code of practice on free speech and to update this regularly."

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, the National Union of Students vice-president for higher education, said: "Students' unions are committed to freedom of expression and are the very home of rigorous debate and new ideas.

"There is no evidence of a freedom of expression crisis on campus, and students' unions are constantly taking positive steps to help facilitate the thousands of events that take place each year."

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents staff, said: "In reality the biggest threats to academic freedom and free speech come not from staff and students, nor from so-called 'cancel culture', but from ministers' own attempts to police what can and cannot be said on campus."

A failure to "get to grips with the endemic job insecurity and managerialist approaches which mean academics are less able to speak truth to power" were also a barrier to free speech, said Ms Grady.

Chief executive of the OfS, Nicola Dandridge, said free speech and academic freedom were "essential to teaching and research".

"Universities and colleges have legal duties to protect both free speech and academic freedom, and their compliance with these responsibilities forms an important part of their conditions of registration with the OfS."

Tom Simpson, associate fellow at the right-of-centre think-tank Policy Exchange, and an associate professor of philosophy and public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, said that a "very online culture" allowed the views of a minority to exert disproportionate influence on administrators, and to "exert a chilling effect on other academics".

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2021-02-16 07:45:00Z
52781379709166

Senin, 15 Februari 2021

Covid: Rapid tests could help reopen nightclubs, PM suggests - BBC News

A technician in PRYZM nightclub in Birmingham, poses for a photograph in the closed superclub

Quick coronavirus testing could enable nightclubs and theatres to reopen, Boris Johnson has suggested.

The PM said "rapid" lateral flow tests could be used by "those parts of the economy we couldn't get open last year".

"That, in combination with vaccination, will probably be the route forward," he told a Downing Street press conference.

But he stressed it was "still early days" with "lots of discussions still to be had".

A government source said: "There is a long way to go before we can get people back at big events safely."

Nightclubs have been unable to operate since the first Covid lockdown in March 2020, while many theatres have struggled to make social distancing work.

It comes as Mr Johnson said people must be "optimistic but patient" about an end to coronavirus restrictions in England.

He said steps taken to ease lockdown should be "cautious but irreversible" ahead of next week's release of a roadmap for lifting curbs.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told LBC the government would rely on rapid testing and "making people access their own personal vaccination records" on the NHS app, rather than issuing vaccine passports.

Asked about measures to make it possible to attend cinemas and hospitality venues, he said vaccine passports were not best suited as "we don't know if an individual vaccinated can still transmit the virus" and said it was "much better to look at rapid testing".

Michael Kill, the boss of the Night Time Industries Association, said administering rapid tests will not be straightforward, even if it is the way venues like nightclubs are allowed to reopen.

He told the BBC that professionals would be required to administer swab tests outside the venue, where clubbers would need to wait for at least 15 minutes to get a negative result before being allowed in.

That would force venues to stagger admissions and have procedures in place to deal with positive cases and those who they come into contact with.

What are lateral flow tests?

Lateral flow tests seen at a testing centre in Newcastle

Lateral flow tests have the major advantage of not needing to be taken to a lab to be processed, like the more expensive PCR tests used by NHS Test & Trace.

They work by dipping a nose and throat swab in special solution and then dropping that fluid onto a plastic stick - a bit like a pregnancy test.

During a testing pilot in Liverpool, the devices picked up two-thirds of the most infectious cases.

But the study found the devices only picked up 40% of all cases - fewer than expected.

The tests may miss people in the day or two before they are about to become infectious.

Boris Johnson plans “cautious but irreversible” easing of lockdown in England - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-02-15 22:23:20Z
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Covid-19: PM urges 'optimistic but patient approach' to pandemic - BBC News

People must be "optimistic but patient" about the coronavirus situation in the UK and the end to restrictions, Boris Johnson has said.

The PM hailed the vaccine rollout, but warned that now was not the time to "relax".

He said there were still more people in hospital than at the peak of the first wave, and steps taken to ease lockdown should be "cautious but irreversible".

He is to set out a roadmap next week for lifting England's restrictions.

The government said on Sunday that it had met its pledge to offer at least one Covid vaccine dose to everyone in the top four priority groups in the UK. More than 15 million people have received a first dose, according to the latest government figures.

Speaking at Monday's Downing Street briefing, Mr Johnson hailed the "unprecedented national achievement" of hitting the target, but warned the threat from the virus remained "very real".

The prime minister warned that the government did not have all the "hard facts" about how the vaccine impacted infections and that there were still more people in hospital with Covid-19 than in April - with admissions running at 1,600 a day across the UK.

"We have to keep our foot to the floor," he said.

Mr Johnson said no decisions were being taken before he unveiled his roadmap for ending England's restrictions, but that the government wanted this lockdown "to be the last", with "cautious but irreversible" progress.

He added his plan next week would set out "as much as we possibly can about the route to normality, even though some things are very uncertain".

Although he said he was "increasingly optimistic" he admitted he could not give "an absolute cast-iron guarantee that we won't face further difficulties".

"I don't want people to think I'm not optimistic. There's been a big change - science is now in the ascendency over the disease," he added.

Mr Johnson also said the government was looking at introducing rapid lateral flow testing for venues such as nightclubs and some theatres that were unable to open last year.

"I think that, in combination with vaccination, will probably be the route forward," he said.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the "acknowledgement" would give late night businesses "the opportunity to deliver pilot schemes which will substantiate the ability for this sector to open safely at the appropriate time".

"But more importantly we will be able to plan and prepare for that opportunity," he added.

Analysis box by Jessica Parker, political correspondent

Could this be the last lockdown?

That is, of course, a huge shared hope and the government's stated aim.

It will soon be exactly a year since the first lockdown was brought in.

Who knew then that we'd be in a third period of national restrictions 12 months later?

Boris Johnson has been accused, at times, of over-promising and under-delivering during this crisis.

Today, again, he's urging caution - even as case rates fall and the vaccine rollout goes well.

That's because ministers really don't want to lift restrictions only to reimpose them again on a weary nation.

It comes after more than 60 Conservative MPs wrote to Mr Johnson over the weekend, calling for a commitment to a "free life" and the ending of lockdown measures before May.

Steve Baker, the deputy chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Research Group (CRG) of Tory MPs leading the call, said schools should return on 8 March, hospitality should reopen by Easter and all other elements should be back to normal by 1 May - when all people in the top nine priority groups have been offered a vaccine.

Earlier, No 10 said the intention was to "start getting" pupils back into school on 8 March, but was not ruling out the possibility that they could be sent back in stages.

The PM's official spokesman said it was "important" the planned review of restrictions was carried out this week, with details to be set out in Mr Johnson's road map on Monday.

The spokesman added that he would not "pre-empt" what the road map might contain, but added: "it remains our priority to get kids back to school and we always said we want that to start from 8 March, if the science and evidence allows".

Banner image reading 'more about coronavirus'

LOCKDOWN RULES: What are they and when will they end?
SCHOOLS: When will they reopen?
VACCINE: When will I get the jab?
NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be?

The government is hoping to offer a jab to everyone in the first nine priority groups - including everyone over the age of 50 - by the end of April, Mr Johnson said.

This would run alongside giving second doses within the 12-week window to those in the top four priority groups, who have already had a first dose.

All those aged between 16 and 64 with underlying health conditions, as well as adult carers, are being contacted with the offer of a vaccination.

Analysis box by Nick Triggle, health correspondent

With every day that passes, it becomes clearer and clearer that the UK is winning its fight against Covid.

Science, as Boris Johnson said, is in the ascendancy.

It is easy to forget this virus only emerged just over a year ago.

But now the UK has approved three vaccines for use - two of which have already started to be rolled out at speed. Another two are being assessed by the regulator after promising trial results.

There is confidence the mutations, while presenting a challenge, can be overcome. Plans are already being made to update the vaccines if needed to work better against new variants.

No vaccine is 100% effective and some people may choose not to take it. That's why advances in treatment are vital, too.

A cheap steroid, dexamethasone, is being widely used to improve the survival rates of the sickest patients. And last week it emerged an arthritis drug, tocilizumab, could also further improve survival chances.

There is still a long way to go, but there is a cautious belief in both Westminster and among scientists that each step made from now on should be forward not back.

Speaking at the same Downing Street briefing, NHS England's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens described the vaccine rollout as "two sprints and a marathon".

He said the UK had passed the "finishing line of the first sprint" and now had a "second sprint between now and 30 April" to extend the vaccine rollout to higher risk groups.

The "marathon" will involve vaccinating everybody in the country who is eligible, alongside the winter flu campaign and further booster shots if needed, Sir Simon added.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the UK recorded another 9,765 new coronavirus infections, according to the latest government figures. It is the first time the daily cases figure has been under 10,000 since 2 October.

A further 230 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were also recorded. Fewer deaths tend to be reported on Mondays due to a reporting lag over the weekend.

Chart showing latest UK coronavirus data

In other developments:

A third of social care staff in England have not had a Covid vaccine, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said, despite them being among the groups prioritised
The first travellers required to stay at government-provided quarantine hotels under tougher border rules have begun arriving in the UK
Research by a team at the University of Warwick suggests that schools do not appear to play a big role in spreading coronavirus in the community

DOWNTIME SYMPHONY: An hour of wind-down music to help you press pause and reset your mind
ARE PEOPLE BORN EVIL?: Learn new things with Greg James and Bella Mackie from Britain's most inspiring teachers

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2021-02-15 22:01:00Z
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Selasa, 16 Februari 2021

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A father and daughter who were among the first international arrivals to check into one of Scotland's quarantine hotels were told they could leave – just hours later – because of a loophole.

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Free speech 'essential'

Senin, 15 Februari 2021

What are lateral flow tests?