Babak Belurs

Sabtu, 05 Juni 2021

Channel crossings: Claim Border Force picked up migrants in French waters - BBC News

Migrants being brought to Dover on Thursday

Reports that a Border Force ship entered French waters and took on board migrants from a UK-bound dinghy are being investigated by the Home Office.

A radio conversation was recorded in which a Border Force officer asked a French ship for permission to get the group, The Daily Mail reported.

The migrants were then reportedly brought to Dover last Saturday.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are urgently investigating the circumstances behind this incident."

Lucy Moreton, from the Immigration Services Union, said she had no first-hand knowledge of the incident, but there had apparently been no threat to life.

She said if the UK vessel had crossed into French waters, apparently with permission, it still would not have been appropriate.

Ms Moreton said it was a common tactic for migrants to threaten to throw someone overboard if a French vessel came too close, because migrants knew if they were picked up by a UK ship they were "as good as here".

'Safety takes priority'

A statement issued by the Prefecture Maritime de la Manche in France said the priority was to safeguard human life and navigation, adding: "Light boats that take to the sea to try crossing run a considerable risk."

It said those risks included overloaded boats, makeshift vessels, lack of life jackets, sea temperatures and inappropriate clothing, adding: "The priority is therefore to be able to rescue them."

The prefecture said under the Manche Plan - a Franco-British agreement where the two countries work together in case of Channel accidents - French and British resources can operate in French and British zones.

Several hundred migrants have made the crossing in the past week alone. Border Force dealt with four boats carrying 83 people on Friday.

So far this year, there have been more than 4,000 arrivals, a trend that could see this year's numbers outstrip last year's total of about 8,500.

The Home Office said it was "cracking down on the despicable criminal gangs behind people smuggling" and more than 4,000 people had been prevented from making the crossing so far this year.

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2021-06-05 15:59:12Z
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COVID-19: UK records 5,765 more coronavirus cases - down on yesterday's two-month high but up on last week - Sky News

The UK has reported another 5,765 coronavirus cases - significantly up on the total on the same day last week, but down on yesterday's two-month high.

Saturday's figure compares to 6,238 on Friday - the highest since 25 March - and 3,398 last Saturday.

A further 13 deaths have also been recorded within 28 days of a positive COVID test.

Meanwhile, the vaccination programme has hit two more milestones - more than 40 million people have now been jabbed and more than 27 million have had both shots.

There were 174,535 first doses administered on Friday, taking the total to 40,124,229, and 360,691 more second jabs were given, taking that total to 27,160,635.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his thanks to "everyone who has been instrumental in getting us here".

In a video, the prime minister said it had been "extraordinary" to witness the vaccine programme, adding that it had made a "huge difference to our country".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the milestone on first doses was "fantastic news", adding: "When you get the call, get the jab."

It came as an NHS chief said vaccines had "broken the chain" between catching coronavirus and serious illness, meaning critical care beds were under less strain than in previous waves of the disease.

The government is said to be "drawing up other options" before making a decision on whether to fully lift COVID restrictions on 21 June.

There has been anger over reports suggesting social distancing could remain in hospitality venues after what has been billed for months as "freedom day".

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2021-06-05 15:56:15Z
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UK records 5,765 more COVID cases - down on yesterday's two-month high but up on last week - Sky News

The UK has reported another 5,765 coronavirus cases - significantly up on the total on the same day last week, but down on yesterday's two-month high.

Saturday's figure compares to 6,238 on Friday - the highest since 25 March - and 3,398 last Saturday.

A further 13 deaths have also been recorded within 28 days of a positive COVID test.

Meanwhile, the vaccination programme has hit two more milestones - more than 40 million people have now been jabbed and more than 27 million have had both shots.

There were 174,535 first doses administered on Friday, taking the total to 40,124,229, and 360,691 more second jabs were given, taking that total to 27,160,635.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his thanks to "everyone who has been instrumental in getting us here".

In a video, the prime minister said it had been "extraordinary" to witness the vaccine programme, adding that it had made a "huge difference to our country".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said 40m first doses was "fantastic news", adding: "When you get the call, get the jab."

It comes as it emerges the government is "drawing up other options" before making a decision on whether to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions on 21 June.

There has been anger over reports suggesting social distancing could remain in hospitality venues after what has been billed for months as "freedom day".

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Investigation after Border Force enters French waters to pick up migrants - Sky News

An urgent investigation has been launched by the Home Office after a UK Border Force vessel entered French waters to pick up migrants crossing the Channel and take them to Dover.

The controversial operation was negotiated between the HMC Valiant and French patrol ship Athos last Saturday, according to the Daily Mail.

The action by the border agency to help migrants enter the country will be seen as undermining efforts by Home Secretary Priti Patel to clamp down on illicit crossings.

She has repeatedly called on the French to tackle the crisis, which has seen record numbers of migrants reach UK shores.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are urgently investigating the circumstances behind this incident."

The number of people making the perilous journey over the 21-mile stretch of water has almost doubled so far in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, with more than 3,100 having reached the English coast by the end of May.

Over just three days alone this week nearly 600 migrants were intercepted attempting to cross the Channel.

Last Saturday's impromptu mid-Channel handover was revealed in a maritime radio exchange on open frequencies.

In a recording obtained by the newspaper, the officers discuss the "legality" of the move.

The British cutter then crosses into French territorial waters and launches an inflatable boat to collect the migrants and take them to Dover.

In the conversation there was no suggestion that the migrant vessel was in trouble, with the French only reporting it was moving "very slowly" and so the incursion did not appear to be an emergency life-saving mission.

The sailor who handed the radio message to the Mail told the newspaper: "We know the French are escorting migrant boats towards the UK instead of turning them back to France.

"But this is a first time I have heard of British Border Force collecting migrants on the French side of the Channel.

"I have suspected it going on for some time, but the radio message that I happened to overhear on an public channel proves it.

"The French patrol boat captain makes clear the migrants are not in peril at sea.

"They were travelling slowly towards the UK where they would have been collected by UK Border Force vessels in English waters."

Last week, traffic was brought to a standstill at the port of Dover as anti-immigration protesters marched in opposition to migrant crossings.

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2021-06-05 12:30:50Z
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Government 'drawing up other options' as it weighs ending lockdown on 21 June - Sky News

The government is "drawing up other options" before making a decision on whether to completely lift COVID restrictions on 21 June.

A government figure has told Sky News that Number 10 was still planning to go ahead with the final step in the roadmap, but is waiting for more data before taking any decisions.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

"It would be remiss of us to take a decision without a full set of data as evidence," said one government figure.

"Of course officials are drawing up other options but we are still expecting to be in a place to go ahead on June 21."

Options under discussion are said to include:

• Retaining the wearing of face masks in certain settings

• Continuing the work from home advice, even as the hospitality sector opens up

• A slight delay to the unlocking, pushing step 4 into July

Insiders stressed there was no decision made on delaying the easing of lockdown and said Prime Minister Boris Johnson would rather tweak restrictions on 21 June than push the date back.

Until now, the government has only ever said there is "nothing in the data" to suggest ending lockdown should be delayed.

Nonetheless, ministers are being urged to make sure all restrictions on hospitality businesses are removed as planned.

The British Beer & Pub Association has warned that thousands of pubs "could still be lost forever", even though indoor service returned on 17 May.

Figures suggest that pubs suffered a 20% fall in trade in the first week after reopening compared with the same period before the pandemic - and if this continues, the average venue could lose £94,000 in turnover a year.

This would mean that the typical pub would need to sell close to 25,000 additional pints over a 12-month period to make over the shortfall.

At present, pubs are required to ensure social distancing of at least one metre is in place. Businesses can also only operate with table service, and group sizes indoors are limited to six people.

However, epidemiologist Dr Adam Kucharski said he was "nervous" about the idea of unlocking later this month amid the spread of the Delta (Indian) variant.

"I think we have to accept the equation has changed here - we are not facing the virus that we were facing two months ago," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"If we were facing the B.117 (Kent) variant as the dominant one, the fact it (the vaccines) is working very well, case numbers are coming down nicely, we could have some more confidence that there could be reopening without seeing those surges.

"But we're not. Everyone is tired of this pandemic, they want this transition back to normality and that will happen, the effectiveness of two doses of the vaccine will eventually get us there.

"But if say in two weeks we're in a situation where hospitalisations have been rising, where local health systems are coming under pressure, I think it will be quite difficult to justify adding more transmission to that kind of situation."

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The comments come after data from the Francis Crick Institute suggested reducing the gap between vaccine doses was more effective, with a study finding that after one Pfizer jab, people are less likely to develop antibody levels against the Delta variant as high as those seen against the previously dominant Kent (Alpha) strain.

Dr Rosalind Eggo, of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) advisory panel, said "very early evidence" showed the current vaccines "don't work quite as well against the Delta variant", saying it was vital to increase the rate of second jabs.

She told BBC's Newsnight: "Getting those second doses up, pushing that number up as high as possible is really important."

Concerns have been raised after official data for England showed that COVID-19 cases in the community rose by 76.5% in one week.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated that 85,600 people in the country had COVID-19 in the week to 29 May, the highest level since mid-April.

Yesterday, the UK recorded 6,238 new confirmed coronavirus cases - the highest level since late March.

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2021-06-05 09:55:03Z
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Social distancing and masks on public transport ‘here to stay’ after June 21 Freedom Day amid lockdown lif... - The Sun

FACE masks and social distancing could remain in place after "Freedom Day" on June 21 amid fears lockdown lifting may be delayed.

The government may reportedly also backtrack on encouraging Brits to return to work as the UK grapples with the new Indian variant.

🔵 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates

Brits could still be wearing face masks after lockdown lifts

One source told The i it would be "irresponsible" to relax the rules too quickly on June 21 as it could lead to another "full lockdown in autumn".

They added: "While many businesses would have been hoping to operate at full capacity in a few weeks’ time it is better that they can operate at reduced capacity rather than being shut down completely again if we hit another peak.”

Officials are now understood to be planning to keep rules surrounding face masks on public transport in place.

Social distancing could also still be forced on Brits after Freedom Day in a bid to keep rising Covid cases at bay.

Experts have previously said face masks could become the "new norm", with Professor Lockdown claiming they may be around until next year due to new Covid variants.

And Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, said social distancing measures and masks may be kept far beyond current lockdown measures.

Dominic Raab also last month hinted face masks and social distancing could remain in place until after lockdown lifts.

Boris Johnson is battling to keep his pledge to lift the rules completely on June 21 - the final phase of his roadmap.

But cases of the Indian variant of the virus have surged - with infections rising 50 per cent in a week.

Data suggests the mutation is twice as likely to cause hospitalisation, leaving this month's Freedom Day hanging in the balance.

The Sun revealed today how a secret plan is being worked on to delay lockdown lifting by two weeks.

Ministers and officials are working on contingency plans to move “Freedom Day” to next month, as well as retaining distancing and limits on fans in stadiums - potentially plunging the Euros into chaos.

It comes after a Public Health England report showed people who tested positive for the Indian variant - also known as the Delta variant - were at 161 per cent more risk of needing hospital treatment within 14 days.

And experts warned the Indian Covid mutation could be 100 per cent more infectious than the Kent variant, which caused the country to lockdown in January.

The "Nepal variant" found in Britain - a mutated version of the Indian variant ripping through the country - has also sparked concern.

And the crucial R rate is also as high as 1.3 according to Sage — meaning the virus is up again.

Dr Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, today warned the Indian variant could see a "big number" of people admitted to hospital.

He BBC Radio 4's Today programme there were a "number of concerning signs" following early evidence that first dose vaccines are not as effective against the new strain.

Dr Kucharski, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) Government advisory panel, added: "I think it is particularly this increase in transmission that is potentially going to cause us considerable problems.

"We are getting estimates now firming up that we are looking at something potentially 40-60 per cent more transmissible than the B.117, the Kent variant that was dominant.

"And that means that infections are going to really come at us quite fast and we are seeing that in the cases now."

Brits will be told about the government's decision on easing restrictions on June 14.

A Government source insisted: “We always knew that cases would go up as we unlocked at each stage, but the crucial question is whether this then results in hospitalisations, or whether vaccines are providing the protection we need.

“We’ll have to watch the data closely over the next week before making a final decision, as we have done at each step.”

Boris is facing a tough decision over Freedom Day

Secret plan to delay lockdown lift by TWO WEEKS but Boris Johnson is battling to save June 21 freedom day

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2021-06-05 07:28:22Z
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Scottish Government accused of 'inaction' over new covid variant found in Glasgow - Daily Record

The Scottish Government should have moved quicker to warn Glasgow residents of the presence of a new covid variant in the city, Labour has claimed.

Nicola Sturgeon used a media briefing on May 14 to announce Scotland's most populous council area would have to remain at Level 3 of lockdown while the rest of the country moved to Level 2.

It came after a localised outbreak of virus cases was detected in Glasgow's southside, with the new Delta variant blamed.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said residents should have been warned sooner - but the SNP accused her of making a "ludicrous attack".

The First Minister had spoken at an earlier media briefing on May 11 to suggest mainland Scotland was ready to move to Level 2.

Glasgow was finally moved to Level as of today - meaning residents can finally legally invite people into their own homes for non-essential purposes for the first time in eight months.

In a written response to a question lodged by Scottish Labour, Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the Scottish Government was initially informed that the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of covid-19 had been upgraded from a ‘variant of interest’ to ‘a variant of concern’ on May 6.

Baillie said: “This is shocking evidence of inaction, dither and delay at the heart of the SNP government.

“That the Government knew about the increased risk to Glasgow for seven days before informing the public beggars belief.

“Instead of taking decisive action to ramp up testing and vaccinations when the threat was first identified, the SNP sat on their hands - potentially prolonging Glasgow’s lockdown through inaction.

“Businesses were allowed to plan to reopen and are now at breaking point. People made plans to see their loved ones that couldn’t go ahead. People’s finances and mental health have been pushed to the brink.

“The people of Glasgow and, indeed, the people of Scotland deserve so much better.

“The Government has a duty to act swiftly to protect the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Scotland - they have catastrophically failed in their duty.”

Scottish politics

A spokesman for Humza Yousaf said: “This is a ludicrous attack by Jackie Baillie, who either doesn’t grasp the basic facts or is deliberately trying to mislead people.

“The fact the Delta variant was a variant of concern was already widespread public knowledge on May 7, when it was publicly declared as such by Public Health England for all four nations of the UK.

“The designation of a variant is a quite separate process from outbreak management, where health protection teams work in local areas to assess the risk and deliver a proportionate response.

"That is exactly what happened in this case with Glasgow, where we continued to monitor the situation and decided not to relax restrictions as a result – the very opposite of the inaction Labour suggest.

“Jackie Baillie should get her facts right, and in the meantime apologise for trying to mislead the public.”

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2021-06-05 03:30:00Z
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Sabtu, 05 Juni 2021

'Safety takes priority'

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