Sabtu, 28 Agustus 2021

COVID-19: UK reports another 32,406 daily coronavirus cases and 133 deaths - Sky News

The UK has recorded 32,406 new coronavirus cases and 133 further deaths in the latest 24-hour period, daily government data shows.

The figures compare with 38,046 COVID-19 cases and 100 deaths reported on Friday.

This time last week, 21 August, 32,058 new cases and 104 deaths were recorded.

On Friday, 128,248 people received a second vaccine dose, which means 78.2% of the population aged over 16 is now fully inoculated.

And 43,160 people were given their first dose - taking the total to 47,958,928 (88.2%).

It comes as a new study suggests people infected with the Delta variant are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital compared to those with the Alpha variant.

Research carried out by Public Health England (PHE) and Cambridge University is the first of its kind to compare the risk of the two variants.

More on Covid-19

First reported in India at the end of 2020, early studies of the Delta variant found it to be up to 50% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which was first discovered in Kent.

Dr Gavin Dabrera, a consultant epidemiologist at PHE's National Infection Service, said: "We already know that vaccination offers excellent protection against Delta and as this variant accounts for over 98% of COVID-19 cases in the UK, it is vital that those who have not received two doses of vaccine do so as soon as possible."

Red Covid-19 Stay 2 Metres Apart sign on a sidewalk in Bourton-on-Water, Cotswolds, UK, during COVID 19 pandemic. Selective focus.
Image: A new study suggests people infected with the Delta variant are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital

Meanwhile, there has been an increased uptake in vaccination amongst people from ethnically diverse communities, new analysis has found

Over 3.8 million first doses have been delivered since the start of the NHS's "grab-a-jab" campaign, launched at the end of June.

The campaign has allowed people to get vaccinated at pop-up walk in centres, mosques, town halls, football grounds and festivals.

Since the campaign was launched, more than 700,000 people from ethnically diverse backgrounds have been protected from COVID-19, NHS England said.

People from mixed Asian and white backgrounds saw the fastest growth in jab uptake, rising by almost a quarter - 81,933 people took the first dose by 20 June and 101,140 were vaccinated by 22 August.

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There was a 22.9% increase in the vaccinations for mixed white people, and it increased by 20.9% among black Africans.

In the same period, the first doses among white people increased by 11.1%.

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2021-08-28 15:22:22Z
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Afghanistan: Last dedicated evacuation flight to UK left Kabul overnight - defence sources - Sky News

The last dedicated evacuation flight back to the UK left Kabul overnight, Sky News understands.

Remaining flights over the weekend are set to bring home British troops as well as the final small numbers of Afghan evacuees who have permission to fly, defence sources said.

The UK ambassador in Kabul, Laurie Bristow, said in a video posted on social media that his team had been "working until the very last moment".

Almost 15,000 people have been airlifted to safety, he added, tweeting that "our commitment to the people of Afghanistan will endure".

Earlier, the chief of the defence staff, General Sir Nick Carter, said the final stages of the withdrawal and evacuation represented the "hardest" of any phase of war.

He added: "There has to be an ever diminishing rearguard that protects your back as you're evacuating yourselves, and of course there comes a point when it really is the last aeroplane out.

"There are all sorts of things that can go wrong" when the final planes leave, such as the "threat of terrorism", he said.

More on Afghanistan

"You are at your very most vulnerable at the point at which your last aeroplane is waiting to lift."

Sir Nick warned Britain is "not out of the woods yet", adding: "The operation will carry on for a little bit longer. But it's been a huge enterprise."

Troops are working in the face of a "very demanding threat" while also focusing on the "humanitarian job" with soldiers "holding a gun in one hand and a baby in the other".

"It has been very difficult," Sir Nick said.

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'We are not out of the woods yet'

"The plain fact is we have always got that in the back of our minds.

"For the troops on the ground, they have to be constantly alert and constantly thinking about how they can rebut the threat.

"I think we should be holding our breath and thinking very hard about that last airplane or several last airplane-loads and thinking about what a challenge it is going to be for those very brave people who are trying to effect their departure in as safe and orderly fashion as they can."

Sir Nick, who spent almost three years in Afghanistan, described his regret that the 20-year mission there had ended with the Taliban in charge and a grave terrorist threat.

He said of the withdrawal: "It's not how we hoped it would end, that's absolutely right."

He added: "I think we have done an extraordinary job to evacuate as many as we can but I'm afraid it's absolutely heart-breaking we can't get everybody out.

"If they are able to get out they will always be welcome but the awful fact of life is difficult decisions have to be made."

He told of his heartbreak that Britain was unable to rescue all Afghans with the right to travel to the UK, adding: "Not a day passes without me having a bit of a tear in my eye."

US forces, which have by far the largest presence, will be the last to depart ahead of a deadline of Tuesday, set by President Joe Biden.

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2021-08-28 12:07:28Z
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Afghanistan: UK's Kabul evacuation ends today, says military - BBC News

The UK's evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan will end on Saturday, the head of the armed forces has said.

Gen Sir Nick Carter said there were still some civilian flights coming to the UK, but "very few now".

He added it was "heartbreaking" they had not been able to rescue everybody, with hundreds of Afghans eligible to come to the UK still in Afghanistan.

A mass airlift has been under way at Kabul airport since the Taliban took control of the capital this month.

On Friday, the Ministry of Defence said the UK had evacuated 14,543 people from Kabul since 13 August.

Sir Nick, chief of the defence staff, told Radio 4's Today programme: "We're reaching the end of the evacuation, which will take place during the course of today, and then of course it'll be necessary to bring our troops out on the remaining aircraft.

"It's gone as well as it could do in the circumstances... but we haven't been able to bring everybody out and that has been heartbreaking and there have been some very challenging judgements that have had to be made on the ground."

He said the number of Afghans who were eligible to come to the UK but remained in Afghanistan was in the "high hundreds".

He suggested some would not have wanted to take the risk of travelling to the airport - or been unable to - rather than it being down to "processing" issues.

But he added: "We are forever receiving messages and texts from our Afghan friends that are very distressing. So we're all living this in the most painful way."

He also said that people who hadn't been able to leave via evacuation flights but are able to get out another way "will always be welcome in Britain".

Those evacuated include British nationals as well as almost 8,000 Afghans eligible under the UK's relocation scheme for those who worked for the UK government and other vulnerable individuals.

As of Friday, the government said between 800 and 1,100 eligible Afghans and 100 to 150 Britons had not been evacuated.

Chairman of the foreign affairs select committee Tom Tugendhat, who served in the military in Afghanistan, told BBC Breakfast it left him "extremely sad" so many of his friends had been left behind - but he was continuing to work to get people out of the country.

However, he said people should "forget" about trying to get to Kabul airport, due to the numerous dangerous checkpoints that have been installed along the motorways.

The US has been running the airport in Afghanistan's capital, where a suicide bomb attack on Thursday may have killed as many as 170 people - including two British nationals and the child of a British national.

A 31 August deadline is in place for foreign troops to leave the country.

The UK's defence, home and foreign secretaries have written to MPs to reassure them of the government's continued support for those left behind in Afghanistan.

Ben Wallace, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab said the UK would use "every lever" to secure the safe passage of those who want to leave.

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What happens to Afghan refugees coming to the UK?

  • Arrivals on official flights enter a 10-day Covid quarantine in a hotel
  • Government officials and local authorities are trying to find them permanent homes
  • A shortage of suitable accommodation means many will be placed in hotels
  • Some will get refugee status and can live in the UK permanently
  • Others will get a five-year visa to live and work in the UK - and can then apply for permanent residence
  • Afghans arriving independently will enter the normal system for asylum claims - which has a backlog of 70,000 people
  • These people cannot settle, or work, while their claims are considered
line

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2021-08-28 08:40:42Z
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Afghanistan: UK should be 'holding its breath' while British troops are still in Kabul, says armed forces chief General Sir Nick Carter - Sky News

Britain is expected to conclude its civilian evacuation operation from Afghanistan today, says the chief of the defence staff.

General Sir Nick Carter said on Saturday morning how there were now "very few" civilian evacuation flights arriving in the UK from Kabul.

The last remaining UK forces will need to withdraw, he said.

Chief of the Defence Staff Nick Carter says we should hold our breath as final military personnel evacuate from Afghanistan.
Image: Chief of the Defence Staff Nick Carter says we should hold our breath as final military personnel evacuate from Afghanistan.

But Sir Nick warned Britain is "not out of the woods yet" as the UK's evacuation efforts following the Taliban takeover draw to a close.

And he urged people to think of military personnel as the deadline for the final planes to leave Afghanistan rapidly approaches.

He said the reality is that not everyone will get out: "Not a day passes where I don't have a tear in my eye over that."

General Sir Nick said the final stages of the withdrawal and evacuation represented the "hardest phase" of the operation.

More on Afghanistan

"A lot of things can go wrong" when the final planes leave - with officers facing "public disorder" as people desperately try to board a flight, together with the "threat of terrorism".

Troops are working in the face of a "very demanding threat" while also focusing on the "humanitarian job" with soldiers "holding a gun in one hand and a baby in the other", adding: "It has been very difficult".

"The plain fact is we have always got that in the back of our minds.

"For the troops on the ground, they have to be constantly alert and constantly thinking about how they can rebut the threat.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'Our thoughts today are very much with their families and their loved ones.'
Image: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to 'shift heaven and earth' to get people out of Afghanistan

"We should all be holding our breath and thinking of the last aeroplane and what a challenge it will be for those people trying to effect their departure."

When asked about regrets, General Sir Nick said of the withdrawal: "It's not how we hoped it would end, that's absolutely right."

He added: "I think we have done an extraordinary job to evacuate as many as we can but I'm afraid it's absolutely heart-breaking we can't get everybody out.

"If they are able to get out they will always be welcome but the awful fact of life is difficult decisions have to be made."

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to "shift heaven and earth" to get people out of Afghanistan.

Crowds of people wait outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 August
Image: Crowds of people waiting outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on 25 August

But foreign affairs committee chairman, Tom Tugendhat, warned people should "absolutely forget" about getting to Kabul and attempting to fly from the airport.

"Forget about getting to Kabul. You know there's 10 checkpoints between them on the motorway, let alone down the motorway, all the way to Kabul," he told BBC Breakfast.

"You can absolutely forget about trying to get to the airport because every one of those checkpoints has a danger point where Taliban or indeed affiliated groups, drug dealers or just simply bandits could murder, and certainly have, been murdering various people."

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2021-08-28 08:37:30Z
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Afghanistan: Ministers try to reassure MPs over missed evacuees - BBC News

Priti Patel watches an Afghan refugee give her fingerprints during processing at Heathrow
Getty Images

Ministers have written to MPs to reassure them of the government's continued support for those left behind by evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.

The defence, home and foreign secretaries said the UK would use "every lever" to secure the safe passage of those who want to leave.

Ben Wallace, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab said every MP will have been contacted with "heartbreaking stories".

It comes as the UK's evacuation is expected to end this weekend.

The focus will now shift to getting service personnel and diplomats out.

On Friday, the Ministry of Defence said the UK had evacuated 14,543 people from Kabul since 13 August.

This includes British nationals as well as nearly 8,000 Afghans eligible under the UK's relocation scheme for those who worked for the UK government, along with other vulnerable individuals.

But between 800 to 1,100 eligible Afghans and 100 to 150 Britons have not been evacuated, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.

No more people are being called to the airport to board flights out of Afghanistan, with the MoD saying it had closed processing facilities in Kabul.

It said the UK's ability to process any more evacuations is now "extremely reduced and additional numbers will be limited".

The US has been running the airport in Afghanistan's capital, where a suicide bomb attack on Thursday may have killed as many as 170 people - including two British nationals and the child of a British national.

Mr Wallace, Ms Patel and Mr Raab wrote to MPs to outline their next steps now that the evacuation effort at Kabul airport is concluding.

They acknowledged that "every single" MP would have been contacted with "heartbreaking stories of those left behind in unimaginable circumstances".

But they wrote that their efforts would turn to those who were not evacuated during the UK's military airlift operation.

Concluding they wrote: "Let us reassure you that we will continue to use every lever at our disposal to secure the safe passage of those who wish to leave Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban to account."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would "shift heaven and earth" to help people leave Kabul after 31 August, and that he felt a "great sense of regret" about those left behind.

He added that "the timing of this is certainly not the one that this country would have chosen, and I think that everybody understands that".

But he said the attack at the airport on Thursday underlined the urgency of the evacuation operation and why it was being concluded in the way that was.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK must "urgently help those left behind", while Tory MP and Afghanistan veteran Tom Tugendhat said he felt "anger and shame" for those who could not be saved.

line

What happens to Afghan refugees coming to the UK?

  • Arrivals on official flights enter a 10-day Covid quarantine in a hotel
  • Government officials and local authorities are trying to find them permanent homes
  • A shortage of suitable accommodation means many will be placed in hotels
  • Some will get refugee status and can live in the UK permanently
  • Others will get a five-year visa to live and work in the UK - and can then apply for permanent residence
  • Afghans arriving independently will enter the normal system for asylum claims - which has a backlog of 70,000 people
  • These people cannot settle, or work, while their claims are considered
line
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2021-08-28 02:30:23Z
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Jumat, 27 Agustus 2021

Bank holiday: Travel warning as sunshine forecast in Wales - BBC News

People in Porthcawl
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Motorists have been warned travel times could double as people head to enjoy the sun over the bank holiday weekend.

Almost 17 million UK trips are expected this weekend because of a rise in staycations due to Covid, foreign travel restrictions and the weather.

North Wales Police have warned people "not to bother" attending illegal raves as extra officers will be deployed.

It comes after Met Office forecasters said Wales could be among the warmest places in the UK over the weekend.

What is the weather like in Wales this Bank Holiday?

The Met Office has said the west of the UK is set to see the best of the sunshine this weekend, with the south-east expected to be the warmest area of Wales with temperatures of 22 to 23C (71.6 to 73.4F) on Saturday.

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Forecasters predict similar temperatures on Sunday with the Met Office expecting the warmest weather to be on Wales' west coast.

Will the roads be busy in Wales this Bank Holiday?

The RAC has predicted it could take you twice as long to get to your destination at peak times this weekend.

It has estimated there will be 16.7 million leisure trips - compared to the 10.8 million for May Bank Holiday when more Covid restrictions were in place - will be taken across the UK for the last bank holiday weekend of the year.

Roads in the south-west of England are expected to be the busiest in the UK but traffic data experts have warned the M4 motorway across south Wales will be busier than normal.

Inrix data suggests Wales' longest queues will be on the M4 through Newport around the Brynglas Tunnels and along the Port Talbot and Swansea stretch.

"Drivers hitting the road for one last getaway before the end of summer should expect long delays on key corridors," said Bob Pishue of Inrix.

"Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.

"Our advice is to avoid travelling in the afternoon - leave early in the day or be prepared for some travel times to double."

'Take care near the water'

The RNLI has warned people to "take care and be aware of the dangers" when visiting Wales' coastal areas, as the August Bank Holiday weekend is one of its busiest times.

Porthcawl beach
Getty Images

"As the school summer holidays are nearing the end, we're urging people not to become complacent about the dangers of the sea and coastal areas," said the RNLI's head of water safety Gareth Morrison.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has also called for people to take care as it warned of extra pressure on paramedics and hospitals as more people socialise now most Covid restrictions have been lifted in Wales.

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"At peak periods such as this, the population in certain areas of Wales can increase dramatically with an influx of holidaymakers soaking up our beautiful scenery," said Lee Brooks of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

"This gives us a much larger population to care for and whereas we have plans to help us cope with this, we are asking the public to make smart choices when it comes to dealing with non-emergency medical issues."

Police have also warned revellers against attending illegal music events after more than 3,000 people attended a rave at Banwen on the edge of the Brecon Beacons during lockdown over the August Bank Holiday last year.

Police car
North Wales Police

"Hoping to attend an illegal rave in North Wales this weekend? Our advice... don't bother," was North Wales Police's advice as it said it would have extra officers out looking for raves.

Some destinations in Wales have already experienced one of the busiest periods on record due to the staycation boom, with queues on Wales' highest peak Snowdon among "the worst" in memory.

Most of Wales' Covid restrictions have been lifted and despite case numbers and case rate rising to the highest since January, no significant changes to rules were announced by the Welsh government at the latest three-week restriction review.

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Public Health Wales figures have showed deaths and hospital admissions remain much lower due to the vaccine rollout - and rising cases were anticipated with restrictions easing and people mixing more.

But Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan has urged people to "stay outside for the Bank Holiday" in a bid to stop rising case numbers.

There is one slight amendment in Wales' Covid rules which comes into force on Saturday, with those attending wedding and civil partnership ceremonies no longer needing to wear face masks.

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2021-08-27 22:05:35Z
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Kabul airlift winds down as bombing death toll reaches 170 - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-08-27 21:20:31Z
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