Test and trace system ‘hasn’t helped control UK virus spread’ The NHS Test and Trace system has made no difference to the spread of coronavirus in the UK, a scientist has warned. James Naismith, professor of structural biology at Oxford University, said the system was only reaching a fraction of […]
Covid-19
NHS England moving to highest alert level following rise in ICU patients
AFTER an increase in “desperately sick” COVID-19 patients in October, and more patients in intensive care than in April; NHS England will be brought back to its highest alert level at midnight tonight. Chief of the NHS, Sir Simon Stevens said that the move to level four was in preparation […]
Covid latest: Test and Trace has worst week, Religious U-Turn?, rule breakers to be ‘clamped down’
Our daily round-up of the latest coronavirus news. Covid test result delay Just 26.4% of people who were tested for Covid-19 in England in the week ending October 28 at a regional site, local site or mobile testing unit – a so-called “in-person” test – received their result within 24 […]
Covid latest: unproven vaccines, lockdown exit ‘guaranteed’, NHS staff testing call
Our daily round-up of the latest coronavirus news. Disease expert: releasing safe but unproven vaccines would be ‘wrong’ Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford, said potential Covid-19 treatments that have been demonstrated to be safe but not yet proven to […]
Covid-19 update: mass testing trial, deaths spike, school worries, shopping
Military-run mass testing trial set for Liverpool this week Mass daily testing delivered partly by the military is set to launch in Liverpool on Friday. City mayor Joe Anderson told the BBC: “It is going to start on Friday of this week. Logistically, we are talking to the armed forces […]
Is the business suit becoming another victim of the pandemic?
Nic Eatch explores how Covid-19, remote working, fashion trends, pricing and other factors have affected sales figures of formal attire. He talks to senior business leaders, James Evans and Adam Bartlett from the world of tech, and discovers the German meaning of “Feierabend”. HOW does a socially-sterilised and office barred […]
Covid update – Tier 3 for NE? National Lockdown’s to be resisted, North Covid levels are too high
HERE’S a round-up of today’s latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from around the UK. Tier 3? Political leaders in the North East are scheduled to meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss whether the region should be placed in Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions. They have previously stated their opposition […]
NE areas drop down the list of national Covid blackspots as rates soar
THIS month has seen North East local authorities drop down the list of those with the highest Covid rates – but largely only because rates elsewhere have soared. At the start of October, all our local council areas, from Northumberland down to Teesside, were in the top 41 worst-affected […]
Covid update: no national shutdown, finance & ‘fatigue’ biting hard, little reassurance
Minister: ‘timely restrictions but no national needed Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Government has introduced tiered restrictions for local areas in a “timely way” and a national lockdown is “not appropriate”. Speaking on Times Radio this morning, he said: “In some ways we’ve always anticipated that there would be […]
‘Youngest’ NE hospital Covid patient reveals Covid hospital ordeal
EXCLUSIVE A 24-YEAR-OLD North East woman has told of the terrifying experience of being rushed into hospital with Covid-19 and then into intensive care – where doctors were unable to tell her if she would survive. Lauren Mackenzie said: “I asked if I was going to be OK and […]