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    Coronavirus - 16th November

    Kitkat
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:24

    Summary for Monday, 16th November

    • UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after coming into contact with an MP who later tested positive for coronavirus
    • He says he feels "great" and thinks vaccines could be distributed to those most in need "perhaps before Christmas"
    • Mr Johnson will remotely chair Covid-19 meetings and work with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the upcoming spending review
    • Meanwhile, a major trial of a vaccine to protect against Covid has launched in the UK - the third such trial in the country
    • The states of Michigan and Washington bring in strict measures as cases in the US top 11 million
    • South Australian authorities say they are facing a "dangerous situation" after reporting 18 coronavirus cases in the state's first outbreak since April
    • There have been more than 54 million coronavirus cases and 1.3 million deaths across the world, according to Johns Hopkins University data


    Good morning from London and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
    Here are some of the stories making headlines in the UK:


    Johnson feels 'fit as a butcher's dog'

    Following the news that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in self-isolation, the PM has tweeted a video to say he's "in good health" with "no symptoms".
    He says the "good news" is that England's contact-tracing programme "is working ever-more efficiently", but the bad news is "they've pinged me".
    "It doesn't matter that we were all doing social distancing, it doesn't matter that I'm fit as a butcher's dog, feel great - so many people do in my circumstances. And actually it doesn't matter that I've had the disease and I'm bursting with antibodies," he says.
    In April, Johnson spent three nights in intensive care after falling ill with coronavirus.
    Johnson adds in his Twitter video that he's self-isolating with a "high heart" that the UK is getting on top of the virus, and hopes "those who really need it" can get a vaccine before Christmas.
    Why does Johnson have to isolate?

    Latest developments around the world

    On the international side of things, here are the latest developments related to the epidemic.

    • New curbs are being imposed in some US states as the number of cases in the country passes 11 million and hospital admissions hit record levels
    • South Australia goes on high alert after the authorities there say they are facing a "dangerous situation" as 18 coronavirus cases have been reported in the state's first outbreak since April
    • In Germany, the federal government and regional leaders are to discuss tightening restrictions, bringing the country closer to a full lockdown
    • But in some good news, French Health Minister Olivier Véran has said in an interview that France may "have passed an epidemic peak", noting that the number of diagnosed cases has been dropping for 10 consecutive days after a new lockdown was imposed
    • India has announced a new 12-point plan in the capital Delhi, including more ICU beds and doubling the amount of testing, to tackle a growing number of cases


    What's the major new vaccine trial starting today?

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    A major trial of a Covid vaccine has launched in the UK - the third such trial in the country.
    Designed by the Belgian company, Janssen, it uses a genetically modified common cold virus to train the immune system.
    The research team is trying to recruit 6,000 people in the UK. Other countries will join the effort to bring the total up to 30,000.
    Half of the volunteers will be given two doses of the vaccine around two months apart.
    Janssen already has one large-scale trial of its vaccine in which volunteers get one dose. This trial will see if two gives a stronger and longer-lasting immunity.
    It could take six to nine months before the results are available.
    The Janssen trial begins after a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech caused global excitement last week, when preliminary results showed it offered 90% protection.

    The Pfizer vaccine has not yet been approved for use and Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the "vast bulk" of it will be distributed in the new year.
    He told BBC Breakfast the NHS was getting ready to distribute some doses from 1 December but that was "the earliest it could possibly come" and "everything would have to go right" for the process to begin that early.

    Some US states bring in new Covid curbs

    As we mentioned earlier, some US states are bringing in strict measures to try and curb the spread of Covid-19.
    In Michigan, high schools and colleges are to halt on-site teaching and restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining from Wednesday.
    In Washington state, indoor restaurant dining is also banned, and gyms, cinemas, theatres and museums will close.
    Covid cases have now topped 11 million in the US, with hospital admissions at record levels.
    On average, more than 1,000 people a day are dying with the virus, and the overall death toll is close to 250,000.
    Read more here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:36

    Zero risk of reinfection 'not quite true'

    A little earlier our colleagues on the Today programme asked an immunologist about whether people can catch Covid-19 for a second time, following news of the PM's contact with MP Lee Anderson, who has tested positive.
    Prof Danny Altmann, from Imperial College London, said it's "not quite true” that there’s zero risk of reinfection.
    Out of 50 million cases across the globe there have been, he said, more than 25 confirmed cases of reinfection.
    You might think this is a negligible number, he added, but academically “we set the bar quite high for defining reinfections”.
    “Anecdotally, I think most of us think the rate of infection is quite a lot higher than that, but not enormous.”
    He said jury was out on how serious reinfections were, with some scientists saying they seem about the same as a first infection, while others say they’re more severe.
    Altmann said he doesn’t want to be “alarmist” as “whatever the risk is, it’s low”, but added: "My sense from some of our data, and other people’s data, is that it’s the people who’ve made the poorest antibody response the first time round who are most at risk of reinfection – so that’s maybe 10% of everybody out there who's been infected in the first wave."
    The PM says he's "bursting with antibodies" after his Covid infection during the first wave of the epidemic in the UK, earlier this year.


    Hancock to lead press conference as Johnson self-isolates

    We have it confirmed that Health Secretary Matt Hancock will host a coronavirus press conference at Downing Street this afternoon.
    Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been expected to lead the event - but he's now confined to his flat above No 10 Downing Street, after coronavirus contact tracers told him to self-isolate.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:40

    UK newspaper headlines: 'No 10 reset in disarray' as PM self-isolates

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    The UK front pages are dominated Boris Johnson going back into isolation after being in close contact with a positive Covid-19 case.
    The Daily Telegraph says the PM's plans for a "reset" of No 10 have been thrown into "disarray".
    Johnson is "well" and has no symptoms, the Metro reports, as the paper notes self-isolation guidance means the PM could be cooped up at home until 26 November.
    The news of Johnson's notification "will raise questions over how rigidly No 10 has been following social distancing rules and minimising contacts" during England's lockdown, says the Times.
    And the PM's self-isolation comes just at the moment he was embarking on a "crucial week", says the Guardian.
    Read our full paper review here.

    India's capital struggles with spike in cases

    Krutika Pathi - BBC News, Delhi
    The Indian capital, Delhi, is battling a surge of fresh cases as it fights off rising pollution levels amid a harsh winter season. Experts say that the virus, coupled with the toxic air and dropping temperatures could be a "double whammy".
    Authorities on Sunday said the city would airlift medical professionals, procure additional medical equipment, double test rates and add another 300 intensive care unit beds to counter the spike in cases. Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said that testing would be ramped up from 60,000 per day to around a 100,000 tests.
    Last week, Delhi made headlines for the highest number of cases seen anywhere in the country as it added thousands of cases every day - the highest was more than 8,500. India has the second highest caseload in the world after the US, with more than 8.8 million confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
    Health experts have also expressed concern over the lack of beds - according to the government's coronavirus app, more than 50% of the city's beds are occupied. But more worryingly, more than 88% of ICU beds with ventilators are full.
    Meanwhile, in Delhi and elsewhere across the country millions of people marked the festival of Diwali over the weekend, despite the rising cases.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:44

    Isolation is bad timing for Johnson

    Nick Eardley - Political correspondent
    Boris Johnson had wanted to use this week to move on from some of the in-fighting of recent days - No 10 had promised a series of critical announcements in the next fortnight.
    The prime minister had been due to hold important talks on the spending review and lifting lockdown in England – and to meet Tory MPs in the Northern Research Group, who have been pressuring him to ensure the north of England isn’t left behind because of the pandemic.
    The full impact on his diary isn’t clear but he struck a defiant tone in messages Tory MPs last night – telling them self-isolation wouldn’t stop him working.
    He said he felt fine and believed he was filled with antibodies – but the rules were the rules.
    Downing Street said they were exploring whether Mr Johnson could continue to take part in parliamentary proceedings remotely.
    But for a prime minister seeking to get back on the front foot after a challenging period – the timing is far from ideal.

    South Australia goes on high alert

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    South Australians faced huge queues to get tested on Monday

    As we reported earlier, authorities in the state of South Australia say they are facing a "dangerous situation" after reporting 18 coronavirus cases in the first outbreak there since April.
    Up to 13 infections were linked to a hotel quarantine worker in Adelaide who spread the virus to a family in the local community, officials said.
    The state has ramped up testing and brought in new restrictions.
    Australia had seen cases drop to near zero after beating a second wave that was largely confined to the state of Victoria.
    Victoria's capital, Melbourne, spent almost four months in a stringent lockdown before re-opening last month.
    Read more here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:47

    Romania's 'hero' doctor treated in Belgium after hospital blaze

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    The blaze on Saturday evening ripped through the intensive care unit at the hospital

    A Romanian doctor who suffered severe burns after trying to save Covid-19 patients from a hospital fire has been taken to Belgium for treatment.
    Dr Catalin Denciu was called "heroic" by PM Ludovic Orban, who praised his "particular courage and spirit of sacrifice" trying to save the patients.
    Ten patients died in the blaze at the hospital in Piatra Neamt on Saturday.
    An inquiry has been launched into how the deadly fire broke out in the public hospital's intensive care unit.
    Read more here.

    Britons miss 19 million dental treatments

    Dentists have written to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to warn the country is at risk of “an oral health crisis" if the government doesn't intervene.
    Some 19 million NHS dental treatments have been missed since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March, according to data seen by the BBC.
    Many patients are struggling to get an appointment, even for emergency treatment.
    The British Dental Association's Nikki Patel says dentists have had to cut the number of patients they can see, in part because of the "fallow time" required between appointments - that is, time to allow the room to be ventilated so that the aerosols dissipated by one patient do not pose a Covid risk to the next patient.
    The cost of this reduced capacity, along with the need to pay for expensive ventilation units, has had a serious impact on the finances of many surgeries.
    Dentists, as private contractors to the NHS, must pay for their own overheads such as building costs, staff wages, and new equipment.
    Research carried out by the BDA found 740 practices - 55% of those who responded - said they did not think they would be financially viable in 12 months time.
    The Department of Health says the NHS is working hard to resume the routine elective services paused due to the pandemic.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:51

    Third Tory MP is self-isolating after PM breakfast meeting

    Another Conservative MP has confirmed he is self-isolating after attending the same breakfast meeting that put the prime minister into isolation.
    Andy Carter, who represents Warrington South, says he was called by contact tracers yesterday, following a meeting in No 10 last Thursday.
    A Twitter photo of Carter and Johnson, shown below, is near-identical to the one Lee Anderson took and shared on Facebook, before Anderson tested positive for the virus at the weekend.
    Tweet  Andy Carter MP:

    Breakfast with the @BorisJohnson this morning, following up on his visit to #Warrington South in the summer. Discussed plans for driving levelling up agenda, jobs, infrastructure and public services.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:53

    Today's Headlines from around Europe

    Germany’s central government will press for tighter curbs today, but the economic pain has left many resistant to lockdown measures. Here are the latest developments in Europe today:

    • German Chancellor Angela Merkel will urge regional leaders to adopt these measures nationally: mask-wearing in schools at all times for teachers and all age groups; smaller class sizes; individuals from one household should meet publicly with no more than two from another household – the current limit is 10. Germany is already under partial lockdown, with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues shut
    • There is some encouraging news from France, which remains under a strict lockdown. Health Minister Olivier Véran says the infection rate has fallen in the past 10 days, “which suggests we have passed a peak in the epidemic”, but he warned: "We have not won against the virus yet"
    • In Russia, official data indicates a new record number of new cases in the past 24 hours: 22,778 – a quarter of whom were asymptomatic. It brings the Russian total to nearly two million, and more than 33,000 have died
    • Radio Sweden reports that 13 of Sweden's 40 mink farms now have coronavirus outbreaks, but the government does not plan to shut down the mink fur industry. In Denmark, a mass cull is under way in mink farms
    • A full lockdown takes effect in Austria from midnight. Households will be restricted to meeting just one person from another household. All schools will shut. Only essential shops, medical facilities and public transport will remain open - nearly all other public places will shut
    • Greece has shut all schools until December, in a further lockdown tightening. It already has a night curfew.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 11:58

    Israeli medic fired for spitting on Jesus pictures

    An Israeli ambulance worker has been fired after he was caught on camera spitting on portraits of Jesus while visiting a Christian home to carry out a Covid test.
    The medic was seen removing his protective clothing before spitting on three pictures in the communal hallway of the block of flats in Jaffa.
    When confronted, he claimed the imagery was a form of idolatry forbidden by the Hebrew Bible.
    Israel's ambulance service said it "strongly condemned" his actions.
    The Magen David Adom (MDA) employee, it said, was "unworthy of representing the organisation" and was dismissed immediately.
    Israel has experienced one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections in the world and is gradually emerging from a second national lockdown.
    Read more here.

    'Too early' to call when England lockdown will end - Hancock

    UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said it's "too early" to determine whether the lockdown measures in England will end after 2 December.
    The prime minister has said the current restrictions will "expire" on 2 December, after which England's regional tiered system will be reintroduced.
    Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether the lockdown would simply be "re-badged" after the deadline, Hancock said: "You tempt me, but it is too early to say I'm afraid.
    "We've seen in the last week that there is still a very high number of cases but we do absolutely want to come out of this national lockdown.
    "That is our goal, everybody has a part to play in making that happen of course, following the social distancing rules and isolating when you need to."
    Hancock's warning comes as Northern Ireland's chief scientific adviser says it is more likely than not that further Covid-19 restrictions will be recommended in NI before Christmas.
    Ministers in Scotland are expected to make a decision on moving some areas up to the top level of restrictions on Tuesday.
    Meanwhile, a leading public health official in Wales has said it is a "worry" to see queues of people outside shops on the first weekend after Wales' "fire-break" lockdown ended.

    What are the rules that mean the PM is self-isolating?

    The top story in the UK this morning is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after meeting an MP who later tested positive for coronavirus.
    Johnson says he was contacted by NHS Test and Trace on Sunday and will continue working from No 10.
    So what are the rules around self-isolation, and who has to do it?
    You should self-isolate if:

    The PM was told he needed to self-isolate after spending time with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who lost his sense of taste the next day.
    Read our full self-isolation explainer here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 12:50

    Breaking News

    Moderna vaccine 'shows nearly 95% protection'

    A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows.
    The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic.

    How good is the Moderna vaccine in development?

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    The trial involved 30,000 people in the US with half being given two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart. The rest had dummy injections.
    The analysis was based on the first 95 to develop Covid-19 symptoms.
    Only five of the Covid cases were in people given the vaccine, 90 were in those given the dummy treatment. The company says the vaccine is protecting 94.5%.
    The data also shows there were 11 cases of severe Covid in the trial, but none happened in people who were immunised.
    "The overall effectiveness has been remarkable... it's a great day," Tal Zaks, the chief medical officer at Moderna, told BBC News.
    Read more here.

    What don't we know about the new vaccine?

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    We still do not know how long immunity will last as volunteers will have to be followed for much longer before that can be answered.
    There is also no data on how well it works in older age groups, who are most at risk of dying from Covid.
    However, Moderna CMO Tal Zaks told the BBC their data so far suggests the vaccine "does not appear to lose its potency" with age.
    It is also too early to know how safe it is: no significant safety concerns have been reported, but nothing, including paracetamol, is 100% safe.
    Short-lived fatigue, headache and pain were reported after the injection in some patients.
    "These effects are what we would expect with a vaccine that is working and inducing a good immune response," said Prof Peter Openshaw, from Imperial College London.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 12:55

    'Pass the baton': Fauci urges swift presidential transition to fight pandemic

    Coronavirus - 16th November C5222410

    n the US, where Covid cases have now topped 11 million, the country's leading infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, has called on President Donald Trump to start handing over power to allow President-elect Joe Biden to begin dealing with the crisis.
    He said a smooth "handing over of the information" was in the interest of protecting public health.
    "It’s almost like passing a baton in a race, you don’t want to stop," he said, adding later: "Of course it would be better if we could start working with them."
    Aides to President-elect Joe Biden say the White House's refusal to facilitate a presidential transition means his team is being excluded from planning around a vaccination campaign that will be a priority for Mr Biden when he takes office in January.
    Mr Trump has ruled out putting the nation into lockdown, but many states are introducing their own restrictions as fast rising cases threaten to overwhelm their healthcare systems.
    In Missouri, more than two dozen poll workers in one county are reported to have contracted the coronavirus, the Associated Press news agency says.
    It has not yet been established however whether the infections were directly linked to polling places.

    Rees-Mogg 'urgently exploring' virtual MP debates as PM isolates

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    Virtual participation is currently limited to certain Commons business

    Jacob Rees-Mogg is "urgently exploring" how to enable MPs to participate virtually in parliamentary debates.
    The leader of the commons has previously argued that virtual working is not an effective way to hold the government to account and is no substitute for the "cut and thrust" of live debate.
    But pressure to do more on this issue looks set to increase now that the prime minister himself is self-isolatingand is unable to come to the Commons in person.
    Currently, MPs who cannot attend Westminster due to coronavirus are only able to take part in some events.
    This has meant several MPs with cancer have already been unable to take part in a debate on the illness.
    Ex-minister Tracey Crouch, who is being treated for breast cancer, is one of those arguing for a better system.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 13:19

    Vaccination effort will need to be gargantuan

    James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC News
    In the space of a week, the positive results from Pfizer, Moderna and Russia have transformed our chances of ending the pandemic.
    Before the first results, the talk was of a vaccine that offered maybe 50% protection.
    Those expectations have been blown out of the water - not only are vaccines possible, they appear to be potent.
    The data so far also raise hopes that the other vaccines in development will be successful too.
    But now as one challenge draws to an ends, another begins.
    The logistical effort of actually vaccinating potentially billions of people around the world is gargantuan.
    Some experts have claimed normality by spring, others by winter, others still think there is a long journey ahead.

    Visitor tests in all care homes in England 'by Christmas'

    The UK government aims to have coronavirus testing available to allow visitors to all care homes in England by Christmas, according to the health secretary.
    Matt Hancock said his department was "working closely with the social care sector" to try to make it happen.
    Twenty care homes in Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall are piloting a screening system which it is hoped will end restrictions on visits, when used alongside other measures such as face coverings.

    "Our goal is to ensure that we have the testing available in every care home by Christmas, to make sure that people can take a test and therefore see their loved ones safely," Hancock told BBC Breakfast.
    Read our full story here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 13:47

    Covid care home arrangements 'like a prison visit'

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    Michael Blakstad said his wife Trisha is confined to a single room at her care home due to an outbreak of the virus

    As we mentioned a little earlier, the UK government says it hopes widespread Covid testing will allow all care homes to accept visitors before Christmas.
    Visits were completely banned in England between March and July and tight restrictions remain to protect vulnerable residents from catching coronavirus.
    Earlier, Michael Blakstad told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how guidelines at his wife Trisha's care home in Hampshire were making her situation a "nightmare".
    Michael said his wife's Alzheimer's had become "very far advanced" but the only visitors she was allowed were care home staff dressed in personal protective equipment.
    "She was always a lively articulate person. [Now] she stands, she fidgets, her head is bowed," Michael said.
    "She's basically got this form of dementia which means she doesn't like sitting down. That makes it a nightmare being in a single room - it is like being stuck in a hotel room for three weeks without being able to go out. It's just awful."
    Michael said the care home was planning to put in a visiting facility that he described as being "rather like a prison", with Perspex screens from "floor to ceiling" and speaker-phones.
    Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he could empathise with the "heartbreaking" interview, as he has family members "in the same sort of situation".

    UK government in talks to secure doses of Moderna vaccine

    The UK government says it is in "advanced discussions" with US company Moderna to secure doses of its vaccine - which has proved nearly 95% effective against coronavirus in early data.
    “Moderna are currently scaling up their European supply chain which means these doses would become available in spring 2021 in the UK at the earliest," a government spokesperson says.
    They added that Moderna's news was a "significant step towards finding an effective Covid-19 vaccine" and that the government has agreed access to 350 million vaccine doses through deals with six separate vaccine developers.
    This includes 40 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, which could begin being rolled out as early as December, the spokesperson added.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:28

    Kenya doctors' fury over Covid-19 deaths

    In Kenya, the doctors' union has accused the government of not protecting healthcare workers who are treating Covid-19 patients, after the deaths of four medical practitioners last week.
    They all died within a 24-hour period, although it is unclear if they had contact with coronavirus patients.
    The union, which is threatening strike action, wants all health workers to get PPE and comprehensive medical cover.
    Kenya has reported 1,239 Covid-19 deaths since its first case in March.
    Thirty healthcare workers, including 10 specialist doctors, have so far died from Covid-19, according to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Doctors Union.
    "Our members have worked in extremely difficult, draining, hazardous and injurious working environments," it said in a statement which issued a 21-day strike notice to the government.
    Read more here.

    New 'mega labs' in early 2021 to speed up testing

    Two new "mega labs" will open in early 2021 to try to double the UK's daily coronavirus testing capacity, the government has said.
    The sites - at Leamington Spa in the Midlands and another at an unconfirmed site in Scotland - will increase testing capacity by 600,000.
    The latest data shows current capacity is around 519,000 - although the number of tests actually processed is lower.
    Testing is considered a key way to control the pandemic, but the government's system has experienced problems, including slow turnaround times for results.
    Read more on this story.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:32

    Call for action as Hull infection levels rise at 'terrifying' rate

    The leader of Hull City Council has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for urgent action, after the area's coronavirus infection rate rose to one of the highest in England.
    Stephen Brady said the infection levels in the city, in northern England, had risen at an "astonishing and terrifying" rate to 770 per 100,000 people
    He said local leaders had received no contact from central government and the city had been "forgotten".
    The council leader asked the prime minister for more freedom to put local restrictions in place, more support from Public Health England, financial support for local businesses, additional resources for the area's hospitals and discussions about what would happen in Hull when the national lockdown ends.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:38

    What distancing guidance should the PM have been following?

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    Boris Johnson met Tory MP Lee Anderson at No 10 on Thursday

    As we've been hearing, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after meeting an MP who later tested positive for Covid-19.
    The prime minister says he observed all guidelines and social distancing advice during his meeting with Lee Anderson and a number of other Tory MPs at No 10. But what rules should he have been following?
    While Downing Street has not made public any specific guidelines for working at No 10, the government has general guidance for how people can work safely in offices during the pandemic.
    These say people must maintain social distancing of 2m (6ft) wherever possible, or 1m with risk mitigation, such as increased hand-washing, keeping the activity time as short as possible, using screens or barriers to separate people and being side-to-side or back-to-back rather than face-to-face.
    People are also encouraged to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces where there are people they do not normally meet, although they are not mandatory in offices. And the guidelines say they are not a replacement for the other mitigation measures above, which remain "the best ways of managing risk in the workplace".


    Who are the Tory MPs self-isolating after PM breakfast meeting?

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    Clockwise from left: Boris Johnson, Lee Anderson, Andy Carter, Lia Nici and Brendan Clarke-Smith are all self-isolating after a Downing Street meeting

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and six other Conservative MPs are self-isolating after a breakfast meeting at Downing Street last Thursday.
    They are:

    • Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Boris Johnson. The PM says he feels "fit as a butcher's dog"
    • Heywood & Middleton MP Chris Clarkson
    • South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher
    • Warrington South MP Andy Carter
    • Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici
    • Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith
    • Ashfield MP Lee Anderson, who tested positive for the virus at the weekend and was considered a close contact of all those above

    Other Tory MPs who have said they are also self-isolating after being contacted by NHS Test and Trace include Maria Miller, Basingstoke MP, and Jacob Young, MP for Redcar & Cleveland, who says he wasn't at the breakfast meeting but had also come into contact with Lee Anderson.
    Separately Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, says he has been self-isolating for almost a week.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:42

    Sweden warns: 'It is going to get worse'

    Sweden is banning public events of more than eight people from 24 November.
    Previously, public events had a 300 person limit.
    Private events such as dinners or parties are still covered by the local recommendations rather than the new ban.
    However the Prime Minister asked people to continue to follow the local guidelines where they live. In 20 out of 21 Swedish regions, people are advised not to socialise with people they don’t live with.
    “It is going to get worse. Take your responsibility to stop the spread of the virus,” PM Stefan Lofven said.
    He warned people not to visit gyms and libraries.
    Sweden has reported more than 177,000 cases and 6,164 deaths, much higher than its Scandinavian neighbours. However Sweden has never imposed a national lockdown.

    Is the Covid vaccine safe for me? And other questions

    We now have early data on two Covid vaccines, suggesting they are more than 90% effective. Our online health editor Michelle Roberts has been answering some of your questions.
    Is the vaccine safe to give to sick and elderly people and those in care homes?
    Although the research is being fast-tracked, safety is paramount.
    No vaccine will be approved unless regulators are satisfied that it is safe as well as effective. Clinical trials involving thousands of volunteers are used to check this.
    Even after a vaccine is approved, safety is continuously monitored. Any treatment can have some side effects in some people – vaccines are no different. Scientists and medics assess the possible risks against benefits of any treatment or intervention.
    Will the vaccine be compulsory?
    No. It will be optional and offered first to those who could benefit the most, such as the elderly and healthcare workers.
    England’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed: “We are not proposing to make this compulsory – not least because I think the vast majority of people are going to want to have it.”
    If it becomes available, children will not routinely be offered it, because they are low risk.
    We've answered more of your questions about the vaccine and other coronavirus-related topics here.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:49

    'Vaccine does not mean end to social distancing'

    Coronavirus - 16th November F2502810

    Top US disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has warned Americans that even when a vaccine becomes available, social distancing measures such as hand-washing and mask-wearing will still be necessary to tamp down the pandemic's spread.
    In an interview with CNN, he called any future vaccine an "added area of protection" that would go hand-in-hand with other safety measures.
    “Obviously, with a 90-plus percent effective vaccine, you could feel much more confident," he said.
    "But I would recommend to people to not abandon all public health measures just because you have been vaccinated, because even though, for the general population, it might be 90 to 95% effective, you don't necessarily know, for you, how effective it is."
    He also praised President-elect Biden's choice for chief of staff, Ron Klain, saying he had worked closely with him in 2014 during the Ebola outbreak.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 15:51

    No 10 'is a Covid-secure workplace'

    Coronavirus - 16th November 67e79c10
    Boris Johnson posted a video on Twitter to say he was self-isolating

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Downing Street staff in a virtual address that his government's ambition is "absolutely undimmed", despite him being forced to self-isolate after meeting a Tory MP who later tested positive for Covid-19.
    The prime minister's official spokesman said Johnson was emailed by NHS Test and Trace following the meeting at No 10, while six Tory MPs and two political aides who were present are also self-isolating.
    The spokesman insisted Downing Street was a "Covid-secure workplace" and social distancing was "observed".
    However, various factors, including the length of the meeting - 35 minutes - meant that Johnson was advised to self-isolate, "and he of course will follow that instruction”, he added.
    Asked about photographs taken at the meeting of the prime minister standing alongside individual MPs, the spokesman said they were standing side by side rather than face to face.
    Johnson will self-isolate in his Downing Street flat but will still be able to work from his No 10 office, which he is able to walk to without any interaction with other members of staff, his spokesman said.
    Parliamentary authorities have been asked whether Johnson can participate in Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions remotely, and the spokesman said it was "our firm intention" this would happen.
    If this happens, it will be the first time the PM has taken part in PMQs virtually.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 16:23

    The Irish Outlook 

    Irish Post

    Takeaway pints set to be scrapped in Ireland following 'shameful' drinking scenes in Dublin and Cork over weekend

    The sale of takeaway pints is set to end after large numbers of people in Dublin and Cork were pictured drinking in the streets over the weekend, despite the country being in lockdown.
    Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is "extremely annoyed and concerned" by the scenes, and said the Government will be reviewing the law on takeaway drinks as a matter of urgency.
    Martin stressed that gatherings like the ones seen in Dublin and Cork were putting the hard work of the nation battling coronavirus in "jeopardy".
    Over the weekend, videos emerged of large groups of people in both cities congregating together with pints in their hands , with no regard for public health guidelines.
    Speaking to Neil Prendeville on Red FM on Monday, the Taoiseach said: "What we have been seeing could put this progress in jeopardy.
    "It puts frontline workers in our hospitals under pressure, it puts our ICU beds under pressure.
    "Widespread congregation of people on our streets facilitates the spreading of the virus, we are going to have to review, in particular, the whole takeaway pints phenomenon, we are going to review that and see what we can do.
    "We are going to look at that very seriously. It will happen over the next two days, I will be seeking reports from the Gardaí and consulting with the Minister for Justice today," he added.
    Despite the impending booze ban, Martin insists he doesn't want Ireland to "go into a prohibition situation," insisting that "people can have a drink in their own homes if they wish."
    Ireland is set to remain in full lockdown until December 1, at which point the country is expected to move to Level Three, where pubs will be allowed to open their doors albeit with restrictive measures in place.

    Dublin Airport to introduce Covid-19 tests this week - but they'll cost upwards of €100

    Dublin Airport is to open up two Covid-19 testing facilities this Thursday, though getting yourself checked won't come cheap.
    Passengers travelling through the airport will be able to partake in either a drive-thru or a walk-in test.
    Behind the initiative are private healthcare companies RocDoc and Randox.
    For Randox's walk-in test, prices begin at €99, and results take between 24 hours and 48 hours to be produced.
    RocDoc's drive-thru 'express' test is a little faster, with results available within five hours, but it's a little pricier at around €159.
    RocDoc launched a similar initiative in Cork and Shannon airports last week, and they claim that at Dublin Airport, they'll be able to roll out around 12,000 tests a day.
    "This will shortly be expanded to 15,000," the company added.
    Passengers will need to register and pre-book their tests for the time being while travelling through Dublin Airport, just as they have to do at Cork and Shannon airports.
    Dublin's testing facilities have been implemented to follow Ireland's adoption of EU's 'traffic light' system for international travel.
    The hope is that testing at the airport can be become efficient enough that passengers can move freely in and out of the country without delay, restriction or isolation.
    Last week, the Irish government granted Dublin Airport planning exemption to build the testing facilities on such short notice.
    "We have been keen to provide testing at Dublin Airport for some time and the Government's recent decision to grant planning exemption, which we welcome strongly, will enable two testing facilities to open this Thursday," said Vincent Harrison, the airport's Managing Director.
    "Ireland needs a rapid low-cost Covid-19 testing system for travel similar to those being trialled and used in other countries using antigen testing."

    Ireland faces THIRD lockdown if spread of Covid-19 cannot be contained over Christmas period

    Just as Ireland edges closer to the end of a second lockdown, rumours of a potential third are already beginning to swirl.
    The country is set to return to Level Three restrictions on December 1, and there's even hope that a drop down to Level Two might be possible before Christmas.
    But fears are mounting that the situation could take a turn for the worst after the festive period.
    Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has warned that unless the spread of Covid-19 is properly contained in the run up to Christmas, Ireland could be plunged into a third lockdown at the beginning of the new year.
    Speaking on Morning Ireland on Monday, Coveney urged the public to continue follow all necessary public health guidelines, even if the prospect of a potential vaccine and seeing family over a Christmas gives them reason to flout them and relax.
    "What we don't want to do is allow a situation where we are facing a third lockdown or in [the] position of tight restrictions in January because we have allowed the virus to spread significantly over the Christmas period," Coveney said.
    "We are asking people at the moment under Level Five restrictions not to move around, not to move between counties and not to move outside a 5km radius of their home.
    "In other words, we're asking people to stay at home and not move around.
    "Level Five restrictions, I hope, will end at the start of December, but I think it's too early to give definitive travel advice to people at this stage," he added.
    "We're going to have to see how successful the Level Five restrictions have been.
    "As we have been reminded by the Chief Medical Officer [Dr Tony Holohan], while we've made huge progress in the last month, in the last five days that progress has stalled somewhat in terms of the numbers.
    "We need to refocus on making sure that the next two weeks are as impactful as they possibly can be to get the numbers down.
    "We'll then, I think, be in a much more informed place in therms of advice that we give to people in the build-up to Christmas."

    There's currently no hand sanitiser on Dublin buses and Luas due to fears people will slip over and take legal action

    Dublin Buses and Luas carriages have refused to provide passengers with hand sanitiser throughout the pandemic.
    The reason is due to insurance claim concerns, with bosses fearing that people will slip over and sue.
    They've estimated that each case could cost upwards of €20,000 per fall, and for that reason, hand sanitiser facilities haven't been installed.
    However, eight months after the pandemic first hit Ireland, a new pilot scheme is to be launched, which will see dispensers set up on-board Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Go Ahead Ireland as well as at Luas stops.
    Darren O'Rourke, Sinn Féin's transport spokesman, told Dublin Live: "I welcome the news National Transport Authority is considering installing on-board sanitisers on public transport, but you would have to question why it has taken them so long to consider this simple measure.
    "I understand the slip concerns being considered, but surely this could have been avoided by a design change to dispensers or with appropriate positioning of them."
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 16:28

    'Weeks' before UK decision on Covid Christmas rules

    It could be weeks before there is an announcement on the UK's Covid Christmas rules, Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething has said.
    Officials from the four UK nations are in talks to agree on a single set of rules during the festive period.
    "You shouldn't expect there to be a definitive statement in the next few days or weeks," Gething told a press conference, adding that whatever happened, festivities would "not be like normal".
    Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has warned that parts of west Scotland could be put under the highest level of restrictions - level 4 - which is much like a full lockdown.
    The first minister says high prevalence of the virus in some areas might mean less flexibility to ease restrictions at Christmas, unless stronger controls are introduced soon.
    And Northern Ireland's chief scientific adviser has warned it is more likely than not that further Covid-19 restrictions will be recommended before Christmas.
    In England, a four-week national lockdown is set to end on 2 December - although the health secretary says it's "too early to say" whether or not restrictions will need to be extended.

    Canadian mum on ventilator after giving birth during coma

    A mother in British Columbia is fighting for her life after she caught Covid-19 near the end of her final pregnancy trimester, and was forced to undergo an emergency C-section to save her son while she was in an induced coma.
    Gillian McIntosh, 37, is in intensive care, while her husband takes time off work to look after the couple's daughter and newborn son, who they are waiting to name until she recovers.
    Dave McIntosh told the Canadian Press that the last time he heard from his wife was when she texted him on Tuesday to tell him about the emergency procedure.
    He and his children have since tested negative for coronavirus. He says that his wife was in good health and had only regularly been leaving home to take their three-year old daughter to daycare.
    Coronavirus - 16th November 3dea4f10
    Dave McIntosh holds his healthy son while the child's mother remains on a ventilator

    "It's been going on so long that everyone gets a little bit complacent,” he told the Canadian Press, adding that the family had tried to take every necessary health precaution.
    “But now, that clearly hasn't been enough. Everybody needs to, as much as it sucks, shut everything down right now,” he continued, adding: “It's time to really start taking this seriously.”
    Cases are currently climbing in the western Canadian province. On Friday, British Columbia set a new single-day record of 617 new cases recorded in one day.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 16:39

    Moderna hopes to supply 'substantial quantities' of vaccine to UK by spring

    The president of Moderna has said the company is hoping to be able to supply "substantial quantities" of its coronavirus vaccine to the UK by spring, if a deal is agreed.
    Early data shows the vaccine is nearly 95% effective at protecting against Covid-19 and Moderna plans to apply for approval to use it in the next few weeks.
    The UK government is still negotiating with Moderna as their vaccine is not one of the six already ordered - and it says Moderna's will not be available before spring next year.
    But the US firm's president, Stephen Hoge, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "We do have the ability to supply [to the UK] in the early part of next year, and certainly, we hope, substantial quantities by the spring.”
    He said the company was in "advanced discussions" with the UK government but when it was able to supply the country with the vaccine "depends a little bit on concluding those negotiations".

    Health secretary to lead Downing Street briefing

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock is to lead this evening's Downing Street briefing.
    He will be joined by Dr Susan Hopkins of Public Health England and the deputy chief medical officer for England, Jonathan Van-Tam.
    The briefing, which will begin in about half an hour, comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after being in contact with an MP who tested positive for coronavirus.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 16:41

    Outrage after Texas prisoners enlisted to move bodies

    Coronavirus - 16th November 76685010
    Prisoners move bodies of Covid-19 victims to mobile morgues

    Covid-related deaths have been rapidly climbing in El Paso, Texas, in the US. And now, local prisoners have been enlisted to help move bodies to refrigerated lorries that are being used as temporary morgues.
    The group of prisoners "refused to work unless they were compensated," a spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office told the Texas Tribune.
    They are being given $2 (£1.50) per hour, are being supervised by guards and are required to wear PPE. They are all low-level offenders and have been voluntarily working since last week, the spokesman added.
    The news has sparked an outcry in the community - with local media reporting that many were unhappy to see inmates being used, instead of trained healthcare experts, to move the bodies of covid patients.
    However, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego defended the decision saying: "If there’s no personnel, no one to help out, and there’s volunteers, even if they are inmates, then that’s what we’re left with."
    The judge also called upon the state's National Guard to intervene and relieve the prisoners of morgue duty.
    El Paso recorded 1,550 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths on Monday.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 16:49

    Will there be more than one coronavirus vaccine?

    Over the past two weeks, both Pfizer and BioNtech and Moderna have announced hugely successful trials of their Covid-19 vaccines.
    Others are in development, while a third major trial – from Belgian company Janssen – is under way in the UK.
    A vaccine would safely teach our bodies to fight the infection. It would either stop us catching the coronavirus in the first place or at least make Covid less deadly.
    The BBC’s health and science correspondent, James Gallagher, has put together this piece on the vaccines – from which ones look most likely to succeed to when they are likely to become available.
    Read this article here.

    Chinese media say local vaccines are '90% effective'

    Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
    Following US pharmaceutical company Pfizer's comments last week that it has a 90% effective vaccine, and Russia's comments that its own domestic vaccine is "92% effective", China appears to have added its own voice to the mix.
    Footage of China's leading medical expert Zhong Nanshan appearing at an international biological forum in southern Guangzhou is a key talking point in China’s media today, because Dr Zhong told the forum that "China's vaccine R&D is at the same level as the Pfizer vaccine"".
    Official media have interpreted this as him saying that China’s own vaccine candidates are in the remit of 90% effective.
    China was the first country to experience an outbreak of Covid-19, and has therefore often presented itself as ahead in finding the solution to the Covid-19 fight - although it was also accused of initially underplaying the impact and spread of the virus.
    Officially, it says that it has 13 vaccine candidates that are undergoing clinical trials, with four of those in Phase III clinical trials. However, there have been recent questions about the safety of China’s vaccine candidates after Brazil temporarily suspended its trials of China’s Sinovac vaccine due to a “severe adverse” incident.
    The trials have now resumed, and China’s foreign ministry has dismissed the idea that there were safety concerns, saying the decision to halt trials was not related to the vaccine itself. Sinovac also told Global Times “we are confident in the safety of the vaccine”
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 18:13

    'Fervent negotiations' behind the scenes

    Jessica Parker - BBC political correspondent
    It looks like some fervent negotiations have been going on behind the scenes. Just a few hours ago, the government said it was in advanced discussions with Moderna to gain access to the vaccine.
    Now Matt Hancock has announced a preliminary deal for 5 million doses.
    Some Tory MPs think ministers like Matt Hancock have pinned too much, in terms of their Covid strategy, on the prospect of a vaccine but of course early results from Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna have raised many people’s hopes that this could be crucial in helping the country emerge from restrictions.

    Answers needed soon on England lockdown end date

    Jessica Parker - BBC political correspondent
    Will England come out of lockdown on December 2nd? Boris Johnson’s always been keen to emphasize that the rules legally expire on that date.
    But Matt Hancock strikes a more cautious note, saying it’s too early to be sure although it’s his “hope” that it will be time to go back into the tiered system.
    This is a question that will need to be answered soon; MPs have been told they’ll get a vote on what happens next before the month-long lockdown is up.

    More conspiracy theories after latest vaccine news

    Marianna Spring - Specialist disinformation and social media reporter
    Baseless conspiracy theories about a coronavirus vaccine have been spreading on social media for months - and the latest vaccine news has led to a resurgence.
    One false claim circulating is that a vaccine is a means of inserting microchips into the population.
    Other popular, unsubstantiated claims include the idea that a vaccine will be used to alter our DNA or even as a weapon of genocide. Reality Check has debunked these claims.
    This kind of disinformation is a world away from legitimate concerns about whether a vaccine is safe and properly tested - concerns that were previously raised in the US, for example, over fears that vaccine approvals could be rushed through.
    Despite commitments to tackle falsehoods from social media sites and the government, the constant swirl of conspiracies online looks to have already eroded trust for some in an effective vaccine.
    The anti-vaccine movement, of course, pre-dates the pandemic - perhaps because vaccinations have always involved a combination of science that is difficult to understand, and emotive reactions, including worry, excitement, and anxiety about being jabbed by a needle.
    But it is not the only thing responsible for the latest spread of these conspiracy theories online.
    Pseudo-science figures with large online followings - who have spread other false claims such as linking coronavirus to 5G - have also turned their attention to vaccines.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 18:20

    Controversial Covid-advisor to Trump clarifies 'rise up' tweet

    Coronavirus - 16th November 7b145510
    Dr Scott Atlas was accused of inciting political violence

    Dr Scott Atlas - a controversial radiologist, member of the White House coronavirus taskforce and a skeptic of virus mitigation efforts such as mask- wearing - has clarified a tweet from yesterday condemning the Michigan's governor's newest lockdown order.
    In his tweet, he objected to the Democratic governor's order to close many businesses and schools for three weeks amid a surge in new Covid cases. "The only way this stops is if people rise up. You get what you accept," he wrote.
    The Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer, was the subject of an alleged kidnapping attempt last month by militia members opposed to virus mitigation efforts. Michigan's state house has also been the scene of several major protests, including one where gun-carrying protesters attempted to storm the legislature.
    Amid an online backlash, Atlas responded: "Hey. I NEVER was talking at all about violence. People vote, people peacefully protest. NEVER would I endorse or incite violence. NEVER!!"
    Social distancing and mask wearing are recommended by health agencies around the world, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as a way to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
    Read more: Michigan and Washington State clamp down
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 18:28

    What will replace England's lockdown on 2 December?

    Nick Triggle - Health Correspondent
    The government is adamant that it wants England’s lockdown to end on 2 December. But what replaces it is still very much a live discussion in the corridors of power.
    There was always a question mark about how much infections would fall during the lockdown. And clearly the impact has been undermined by the spike in cases last week, when the daily number jumped by 10,000 to over 33,000 on Thursday.
    That rise has been linked to a last bout of socialising before the lockdown came in.
    The hope is cases will start falling this week. But it will take much longer for that to filter through into fewer hospital cases.
    Hence the suggestion that the regional tiers may need to be strengthened when lockdown ends.
    One idea is to create a new tier four, which would see much tighter restrictions on hospitality opening.
    But do not expect an announcement soon. Ministers will want to see exactly what happens to cases over the rest of the month.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 19:56

    WHO warns against complacency after positive signs of vaccine

    Imogen Foulkes - BBC News, Geneva
    The head of the World Health Organization has warned against complacency in the fight against Covid-19, despite the news that some potential vaccines are showing very good results in testing.
    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus was surging in many parts of the world, and said countries letting it spread unchecked were playing with fire.
    The news that two vaccines being tested have shown a success rate of 90% or more have sent stock markets soaring, and sighs of relief rippling through governments.
    But today the WHO offered a reality check: it is likely to be months before vaccines are widely available, in the meantime Covid-19 is surging across Europe and North America.
    For now, there is no alternative to laborious testing, tracing and isolating.
    The WHO also wants to ensure vaccines are fairly distributed and has called on G20 leaders to commit to provide vaccines to poorer countries.

    Breaking News 

    UK reports 213 further Covid deaths

    A further 213 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, according to figures from the UK government, bringing the country's total death toll to 52,147.
    And 21,363 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the past day. There have been 1,390,681 cases reported in the UK in total.
    Last week the UK became the first country in Europe to reach the grim milestone of 50,000 deaths.

    Risks of return to tiered system

    Reality Check
    Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked at the briefing about advice from the government modelling group SPI-M that suggested returning to the three-tiered system in December risked the R value rising again, and undoing any decline in the rate of new cases achieved during England's lockdown.
    Hancock responded that that was not what the scientific advice had said - that it wasn’t just about the tiered system but “also about what measures are in each tier”.
    You can read the SPI-M advice here.
    It says that what happens to the outbreak depends on what measures are taken after 2 December and that: “If England returns to the same application of the tiering system in place before 5 November, then transmission will return to the same rate of increase as today.”
    But clearly that allows for the government to introduce a different application of the tiering system, having different restrictions in each of the tiers than it had before the second lockdown.
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 20:00

    No traces of Covid found on train surfaces

    No traces of coroanvirus have been found on trains used by Britain's largest rail franchise, it has said.
    Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said checks on a random selection of carriages used by its Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern brands all returned negative results.
    The tests were carried out up to 23 days after surfaces frequently touched by passengers and staff were treated with an anti-viral disinfectant. The surfaces included grab rails, tables, toilet handles and door buttons.
    As well as long-lasting disinfectant, all 2,700 GTR carriages are sanitised overnight using short-term anti-viral sprays and an additional 100 cleaners have been deployed.

    Recap: What has happened in the UK today?

    We'll be pausing our live coverage for the evening shortly so here's a quick summary of the main coronavirus stories in the UK today:

    • A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows
    • The UK has secured five million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 2.5 million people, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said
    • England's tier system may need to be "strengthened" in order to "get us through the winter months", according to Dr Susan Hopkins, a Public Health England director
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson, six Tory MPs and two political aides are self-isolating following a meeting inside Downing Street involving an MP who later tested positive
    • The government aims to have coronavirus testing available to allow visits in all care homes in England by Christmas, it has been announced
    • Introducing tougher Covid restrictions in the west of Scotland now could help pave the way to easing the rules over Christmas, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said
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    Post by Kitkat Mon 16 Nov 2020, 20:03

    Main stories from around the world today

    Here are some of the main stories from around the world today:

    • Some US states are bringing in strict measures to try and curb the spread of the virus. Covid cases have now topped 11 million in the US with hospital admissions at record levels
    • Places of worship have reopened in India’s Maharashtra state after an eight-month closure due to the pandemic
    • Sweden is banning public events of more than eight people from 24 November. Previously, public events had a 300 person limit. Prime Minister Stefan Lofvren warned the situation “is going to get worse”
    • The Navajo Nation Native American tribe in the south-east of the US has announced a three-week lockdown to curb rising infections. On Saturday, the tribe’s health officials said over 170 new infections had been recorded


    Today's live page was brought to you by our teams in London and Washington DC.
    The writers were Sophie Williams, Alice Evans, Alexandra Fouche, Becky Morton, Max Matza and Doug Faulkner, and the editors were Helier Cheung, Martha Buckley, Holly Wallis and Sarah Fowler

      Current date/time is Thu 28 Mar 2024, 13:21