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    Coronavirus - 7th March 2021

    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 7th March 2021 Empty Coronavirus - 7th March 2021

    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 09:41

    Summary for Sunday, 7th March

    • UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to face questions shortly from Andrew Marr on the return of schools
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges caution as England takes the first step on his roadmap to ending lockdown with the reopening of schools on Monday
    • Two-thirds of parents are worried about lost learning, but most are happy to see their children go back to the classroom, a survey suggests
    • People aged 56 to 59 are being invited to make vaccination appointments this week in England as the rollout continues
    • Nurses are calling for updated guidance on protective equipment, arguing current recommendations are out of date
    • The US Senate has approved a $1.9tn Covid relief package, including payments of $1,400 (£1,012) for most Americans


    Good morning and welcome to today’s live coverage. We’ll be bringing you updates on the pandemic in the UK and around the world throughout the day. Here’s a look at this morning’s main headlines to get started:


    Summary of recent global events

    The Guardian

    • Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city, emerged on Sunday from a strict weeklong lockdown imposed after a community cluster of the more contagious UK coronavirus variant.
    • The reopening of England’s schools to all pupils on Monday will mark the first step back towards normality, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. A
      further 158 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of Saturday, bringing the total to 124,419.
    • France reported 23,306 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Saturday, down from 23,507 on Friday. The French health ministry reported 170 new deaths, taking the total to 88,444.
    • Italy has reported 307 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday against 297 the day before, the health ministry said. The daily tally of new infections fell to 23,641 from 24,036 the day before.
    • In England, the National Health Service has invited people aged 56 to 59 to book Covid-19 vaccinations in the coming week, while schools will reopen on Monday for the first time in two months. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to remain “cautious” in loosening coronavirus restrictions.
    • Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France have been placed under lockdown. The residents of Pas-de-Calais on the north coast joined those in the region’s port of Dunkirk – and the Mediterranean resort of Nice – already shut down on Saturdays and Sundays.
    • New Zealand’s largest city Auckland has come out of a weeklong lockdown. Restrictions had been imposed following a community cluster of the more contagious UK coronavirus variant. There were no new local Covid-19 cases recorded on Sunday.
    • Ireland has reached the milestone of half a million coronavirus jabs administered. The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, hailed progress made fighting the pandemic. He said he was inspired by recent visits to vaccination centres where thousands of frontline healthcare workers are receiving the vaccine doses.
    • The Dalai Lama has urged people to be brave and get vaccinated, after he received a shot on Saturday at a hospital in the north Indian hill town of Dharmsala.
    • In Vienna, thousands turned out on Saturday to protest against coronavirus restrictions, the latest demonstration opposing the public health measures.
    • The US Senate has passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan. The all-night session saw Democrats battling among themselves over jobless aid and the Republican minority failing in attempts to push through some three dozen amendments.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 13:55

    Lunchtime round-up

    Here's a look back at some of the main stories this lunchtime:

    • Pupils in England could have longer school days, a shorter summer break or a new five-term year to help them recover the lost learning time during the pandemic, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson compared the situation to the one after World War Two when the school leaving age was raised.
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended the decision to offer NHS staff a 1% pay rise, saying the government has tried to "give them as much as we can" at a time when the pandemic has hit public finances.
    • Labour criticised the offer, with shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth saying NHS staff were being made to pay the price for the debt run up due to the pandemic.
    • Wales is considering ending its "stay at home" message from Friday and asking people to "stay local" instead. With the lowest infection rate in the UK, the government said it wanted to restore more freedoms.
    • Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France have spent the weekend in lockdown as the government tries to avoid imposing severe nationwide restrictions. The Alpes-Maritime region will face a total of four weekend lockdowns as part of targeted measures.
    • With the Scottish Premiership title on the brink of being settled, fans of league leaders Rangers have been warned to stay home. Thousands of supporters broke coronavirus regulations yesterday to gather at Ibrox.
    • And the US Senate has backed President Joe Biden's $1.9tr (£1.4tr) Covid relief package, which will include a one-off $1400 payment to most Americans.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 16:41

    Stay home or risk losing the Euros, Rangers fans warned


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    Crowds gathered at Ibrox on Saturday despite coronavirus regulations

    Scotland's Justice Secretary has urged Rangers fans to stay at home if the club wins the Scottish Premiership today.
    It comes after supporters broke coronavirus restrictions to gather at Ibrox stadium yesterday before the club's 3-0 victory over St Mirren.
    Rangers will take the title if Celtic fail to beat Dundee United at their match this lunchtime, but Humza Yousaf said: "Stay at home, otherwise you are putting your life, and many others in danger."
    He said that while public health reasons were paramount, football fans should be aware that Uefa will be paying "close attention" in anticipation of Scotland hosting matches in the delayed European Championship this summer.
    Under current guidance, public gatherings are banned and a maximum of two people from two households are allowed to meet outdoors.

    Tweet  Humza Yousaf:
    Our primary reason for asking fans to obey the stay at home message is for public health reasons. However, be in no doubt UEFA will also be paying close attention as the EUROs are around the corner. Stay at home, otherwise you are putting your life, and many others in danger.

    Coronavirus - 7th March 2021 DzXNTx9S_normal Tweet  Radio Clyde News:
    'Unforgivable' scenes at Ibrox could put Scotland hosting Euro 2020 games at risk, warns Humza Yousaf.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 16:50

    Wales considers shift from 'stay home' to 'stay local'


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    First Minister Mark Drakeford has said a review of Wales's coronavirus regulations on Friday could see a relaxation of stay at home rules banning all but essential travel.
    Instead, people in Wales would be asked to "stay local" as the nation tries to "restore more freedoms".
    "I think there is a case for an intermediate step between stay at home and being able to travel anywhere across Wales," Drakeford said.
    He says the aim is to relax restrictions "carefully, cautiously, step by step, not doing too many things at once" and monitoring the impact at each stage.
    Wales has the lowest infection rate in the UK at 48 cases per 100,000 people on average over the last seven days. That has fallen from 437 cases per 100,000 people in the run-up to Christmas, after 11 weeks in lockdown.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 16:53

    Rules eased to let pubs expand beer gardens


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    Relaxed rules on outdoor drinking spaces are "here to stay" this summer, ministers say

    Pubs are expected to be able to convert areas such as car parks into beer gardens to make more space for drinkers when outdoor hospitality reopens this spring.
    UK Hospitality has already said pubs have been deluged with bookings for beer gardens in anticipation of reopening on 12 April - the earliest date in the government's roadmap.
    Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said rules introduced last June to make it easier to open up more outdoor space were "here to stay" for summer 2021. Outdoor socialising is believed to be considerably safer than meeting indoors during the pandemic.
    It means pubs, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve customers in car parks or terraces using their existing seating licenses, and there will be a cheaper, quicker route to obtain a pavement licence.
    The need for a planning application to put up outdoor marquees will also be removed.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 16:58

    After Covid, expert warns of a 'hard winter' for flu

    The UK may face a "hard winter" for flu at the end of this year because population immunity to respiratory viruses will be low after months of social distancing, a Public Health England expert has said.
    Dr Susan Hopkins said the NHS will need to be ready for surges in flu or other illnesses.
    "I think we have to prepare for a hard winter, not only with coronavirus, but we've had a year of almost no respiratory viruses of any other type. And that means, potentially the population immunity to that is less," she told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
    Hopkins, who leads PHE's Covid response, said her role as a government adviser was to "prepare for worst-case scenarios".
    "It doesn't mean that they'll necessarily happen, but my job is to make sure that we have options available for the country in case things are not as satisfactory as we'd all like them to be," she said.

    'Tears and tantrums' - parents on the end of home schooling


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    Stacie is looking forward to some peace when the stresses of home school are over

    Across England, families are packing pencil cases and polishing shoes ready for the return to school tomorrow. But how are they feeling about their kids getting back into the classroom?
    Stacie, from Devon, says she is "excited" for her nine-year-old son to return to school - and she's ready for five minutes' peace.
    "It's been so hard - there's been tears and tantrums. I have so much respect for teachers,” she says.
    "I've got no doubt that once he goes back to his friends and a proper teacher - because I am no teacher - he'll be loving it."

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    Antonio, whose wife is six months' pregnant, says he would be distraught if his son brought the virus home

    But Londoner Antonio says he's "disappointed" there isn't a more cautious, phased return - he and his 10-year-old son both have asthma and his wife is six months' pregnant.
    "I'm not trying to live in fear," he says, but adds he would be "distraught" if his son brought the virus home. "I don't think necessary precautions are being put in place to make me feel safe."
    Read more from parents on the return to school here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:01

    How will testing work in schools?


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    After months of home-schooling, children in England are returning to their classrooms on Monday.
    But it won't be lessons as usual, as they will face major changes to the normal school experience.
    A key difference will be the coronavirus testing regime.
    Want to know more about this? Here's our explainer

    Scotland reports 390 cases and zero deaths

    Scotland has recorded its second lowest number of infections this year, with 390 new confirmed cases.
    On Monday, 386 cases were reported, the lowest total since November.
    The nation has also reported zero deaths, although days without any reported deaths have been relatively common at the weekends. It means the total number of deaths by the daily reported measure still stands at 7,421.
    Meanwhile, NHS England said 90 more people have died within 28 days of a positive test.
    In Wales, 18 more deaths were reported and 152 new confirmed cases - bringing the average infection rate over seven days to its lowest point since 18 September.
    A further three people have died in Northern Ireland, while 138 people have tested positive in the last 24 hours.
    UK-wide figures are due to be published at about 16:00 GMT, but they may not match the totals of the four nations as they use different reporting periods.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:04

    Commonwealth Games to be 'catalyst' for recovery in Birmingham


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    About 30,000 jobs are expected to be created by the Commonwealth Games

    Hosting the Commonwealth Games next year should be a "catalyst" for Birmingham's recovery from the pandemic, the chief executive of the games has said.
    Ian Reid said the Games would provide up to 30,000 jobs as well as volunteer roles.
    The West Midlands has been hard hit when it comes to unemployment, with an estimated 100,000 jobs lost since the start of the pandemic.
    Plans for a £500m athletes' village were abandoned last year due to delays in construction caused by Covid-19. Instead, athletes will be housed in student accommodation and at the National Exhibition Centre.
    But Reid said the estimated £800m cost of the games would be a "real opportunity for the region".
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:10

    Anti-lockdown protesters march through Prague


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    A few hundred demonstrators shouting "freedom" and carrying signs reading "we don't want benefits, we want to work" marched through Prague to oppose the Czech Republic's lockdown.
    Police used coronavirus regulations to turn away people who live outside the capital city because, while a right to protest is still guaranteed under the country's constitution, people are banned from travelling outside their local area.

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    Riot police confronted the crowd of anti-lockdown protesters

    Several buses of demonstrators from Moravia were turned around and sent home.
    Demonstrators later marched through the city centre and - while the protest began without unrest - photographs later showed several people being arrested and riot police confronting the crowds.

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    A person in a plague doctor mask, who travelled by Metro, was among the crowd of demonstrators
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:13

    Rangers fans defy 'stay away' calls to celebrate title


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    Calls for the fans of Glasgow football club Rangers to stay at home and not gather to celebrate their team clinching the Scottish Premiership title for the first time in 10 years appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
    Hundreds of supporters descended on the team's home ground, Ibrox Stadium, and the city's George Square to celebrate.
    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged the fans to delay their celebrations and go home.
    Rangers won the title after Glasgow rivals Celtic failed to beat Dundee United.
    Under current guidance, public gatherings in Scotland are banned and a maximum of two people from two households are allowed to meet outdoors.
    You can read more on this story here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:16

    Evening round-up

    As we near the end of today's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and elsewhere, here's a summary of some of today's main events:

    • Longer school days, a shorter summer break or a new five-term year to help children in England recover the lost learning time during the pandemic could be on the cards, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told the BBC. He compared the situation to the one after World War Two when the school leaving age was raised.
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended the decision to offer NHS staff a below-inflation 1% pay rise, saying the government has tried to "give them as much as we can" at a time when the pandemic has hit public finances.
    • Labour criticised the offer, with shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth saying NHS staff were being made to pay the price for the debt run up due to the pandemic.
    • Rangers fans have descended on Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow to celebrate the club winning the Scottish Premiership for the first time in 10 years. Thousands gathered in the city's George Square despite warnings to stay at home.
    • Wales is considering ending its "stay at home" message from Friday and asking people to "stay local" instead. Amid the lowest infection rate in the UK, the Welsh government said it wanted to restore more freedoms.
    • Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France have spent the weekend in lockdown as the government tries to avoid imposing severe nationwide restrictions. The region around the port of Calais will face a total of four weekend lockdowns as part of targeted measures.
    • Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters have marched through the Czech Republic's capital, Prague. Police tried to keep numbers down by barring people from entering the city from other areas.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 07 Mar 2021, 17:19

    Thanks for joining us

    That's all from us this evening but we'll be back again on Monday morning with all the very latest developments and updates.

    Today's coverage was the work of Joseph Lee, Adrian Dalingwater, Julian Joyce and Marie Jackson.

      Current date/time is Thu 28 Mar 2024, 14:33