Coronavirus latest news: AstraZeneca may run new global vaccine trial, chief executive says
AstraZeneca may run further trials to assess the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine, the company's chief has said, after experts raised concerns over the validity of its data.
AstraZeneca and Oxford University on Monday reported that a lower initial dose of the vaccine, followed by a full dose, produced a 90 per cent efficacy rate, compared with 62 per cent for two full doses.
However, Moncef Slaoui, the scientific head of the US's Operation Warp Speed - the programme to supply America with vaccines - told US reporters that the half-dose regime, which was discovered by accident, was only given to adults aged 55 and under - throwing the validity of the results into question.
“Now that we’ve found what looks like a better efficacy we have to validate this, so we need to do an additional study,” chief executive Pascal Soriot told Bloomberg.
Mr Soriot said he didn’t expect the additional trial to hold up regulatory approvals in the UK and European Union.
Clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may take longer because the regulator is unlikely to approve the vaccine on the basis of studies conducted elsewhere, especially given the questions over the results, he said.
Follow the latest updates below.
06:49 PMVirus hunters: WHO unveils team of 10 scientists to trace Covid-19 origins
Virus hunters: WHO unveils team of 10 scientists to trace Covid-19 origins
The World Health Organization has unveiled the names of 10 scientists set to travel to Wuhan “as soon as possible” to trace the origins of Sars-Cov-2.
The international team, which includes England's former deputy chief medical officer, John Watson, will work with Chinese experts to investigate how Covid-19 jumped from animals to humans.
Since the virus first emerged experts have been keen to track its emergence, with the WHO identifying this a “priority research area” in February and sending a preliminary “scouting mission” to China over the summer, though this team didn't visit Wuhan.
But Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies programme, said the scientists - who were chosen by the UN agency and finalised in consultation with Beijing last month - will travel to the original epicenter of the pandemic.
He added that the first virtual meeting between the international team and their Chinese counterparts was held on October 30, with “regular zoom calls” having continued ever since.
Sarah Newey has more on this here.
06:46 PMInfections jump in South Africa as concerns emerge over vaccine rollout
Infections jump in South Africa as concerns emerge over vaccine rollout
South Africa has sounded the alarm on a Covid-19 infection resurgence amid warnings that the entire continent is ill-prepared to roll out a vaccine.
In the last week, the country has seen between 2,000 and 3,000 daily cases, with infections topping 3,250 on Wednesday and 118 deaths.
New cases in the Western Cape, the area surrounding South Africa's second biggest city and major tourist destination Cape Town, have jumped by 52 per cent.
Hospitalisations have also more than doubled, the leader of the Western Cape province, Premier Alan Winde, said. “My biggest concern is for our health platform, which is under growing pressure," Premier Winde said. "We need to ensure that every person gets healthcare when they need it."
South Africa is the worst-hit country on the continent. More than 775,500 people have contracted Covid-19 and more than 21,200 have died, despite the imposition of one of the strictest lockdowns in the world and a huge hit to its economy. The restrictions loosened in September, but a second lockdown is seen as unlikely because of the huge economic cost of the first.
06:32 PMTop UK scientific adviser says AstraZeneca vaccine works
Top UK scientific adviser says AstraZeneca vaccine works
The British government's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said on Thursday the main point about the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 was that it worked, when asked about doubts that have been raised about the vaccine.
"The headline result is the vaccine works and that's very exciting," Vallance said during a news conference with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Chief Medical Adviser Chris Whitty, answering the same question, said there was always scientific debate about virtually everything.
"The key thing from our point of view is to leave this in the hands of the regulator ... They will make an assessment with lots of data that is not currently in the public domain on efficacy and on safety," Whitty said.
06:28 PMFrance reports 13,563 new coronavirus cases
France reports 13,563 new coronavirus cases
France reported 13,563 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, compared with 16,282 on Wednesday and 21,150 a week ago, suggesting the spread of the virus continued to slow in the fourth week of a national lockdown.
The number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 continued falling by a further 662 to 29,310, while the number of people in intensive care fell by 130 to 4,018, continuing a trend dating back two weeks, health ministry data showed.
06:21 PMGlobal HIV toll likely to be far higher owing to Covid-19, warns UNAIDS
Global HIV toll likely to be far higher owing to Covid-19, warns UNAIDS
Citing new data showing the pandemic’s long-term impact on global HIV response, UNAIDS said that there could be up to nearly 300,000 additional new HIV infections between now and 2022, and up to 148,000 more AIDS-related deaths.
"The collective failure to invest sufficiently in comprehensive, rights-based, people-centred HIV responses has come at a terrible price," said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
"Implementing just the most politically palatable programmes will not turn the tide against Covid-19 or end AIDS. To get the global response back on track will require putting people first and tackling the inequalities on which epidemics thrive."
06:12 PMWhat the experts say on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine news
What the experts say on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine news
Dr Charlie Weller, Head of Vaccines at Wellcome, said:
“It is important to take a step back and remember that these are interim results, so there are still many unanswered questions. Before drawing full conclusions, we must wait for the trial to finish and for the complete data to be independently and rigorously assessed.
“Safety is the most important consideration for any vaccine trial, which is why independent regulatory bodies like the MHRA and FDA will fully review the data and ensure vaccines are safe and effective before being rolled out to the wider population. It is very encouraging to see that the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca reported no serious safety events related to the vaccine.
“Months ago, we would have been delighted to see any of the first Covid-19 vaccines reported 70% efficacy. This would be hugely impactful for public health and highly effective in protecting against serious illness from Covid-19. We must not lose sight of this."
Prof Stephen Evans, Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:
“The data released so far do not give any details about different countries or dosing regimes. The protocol originally registered in May 2020 gives details of all arms and interventions used. There have been a series of amendments to those – the idea that no protocol has been published is simply not true. AstraZeneca published the full protocol after one of the early press releases before the phase 3 data.
“The variety of age groups and dosing regimes is a feature of a number of the vaccine trials and not just the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
“The way the data are put together will have been specified in the protocol and scrutinised very carefully by regulators to ensure that there is no “cherry picking” of the results.
“We have good grounds for trusting that the regulation in this high profile area will be done as carefully or more carefully for these vaccines than for any others in the past."
06:07 PMTier 3 businesses hit hard by new restrictions
Tier 3 businesses hit hard by new restrictions
With the announcement that swathes of England will be placed into a newly-toughened Tier 3 after lockdown, thousands of business which could previously operate have found themselves forced to shutter.
Under the 'very high alert' Tier 3 rules pubs and restaurants have been forced to operate on a takeaway-only basis, while indoor entertainment and tourist venues cannot open, forcing the closure of casinos, bingo halls, theatres, cinemas, bowling alleys, and other premises.
The Telegraph spoke to some of the businesses that have been adversely affected by the new rules and restrictions.
06:00 PMTen new travel corridors announced, but none are open to British tourists
Ten new travel corridors announced, but none are open to British tourists
A clutch of new destinations have been added to the travel corridors list – but most are closed to tourists and none are feasible holiday options.
The weekly review of the green list, announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Twitter, saw the addition of Mongolia, Bhutan, Aruba, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Micronesia, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga.
Bhutan is unlikely to welcome tourists until at least February, Mongolia’s borders are still closed, as are Samoa’s, Vanuatu’s, Kiribati’s, Tonga’s and Micronesia’s.
Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands is quarantining all arrivals for 14 days, and Aruba can only be reached via the Netherlands or the US.
Two countries – Estonia and Latvia, both of which are already quarantining UK arrivals – lost their travel corridors.
Our Travel blog has the latest.
05:55 PMBoris Johnson pledges to remember the people of Liverpool
Boris Johnson pledges to remember the people of Liverpool
Boris Johnson is then asked about the low take-up of testing in Liverpool because people cannot afford to self-isolate.
He is also asked if he will remember the people of Liverpool, noting he doesn't have the best relationship with the city.
He says that this is what part of the levelling up promise is about, saying "we are going to keep supporting you throughout Covid and beyond".
He says that he is "studying the way the Liverpool experiment went" to make sure they reach all groups.
And that is the end of the press conference.
05:51 PMProf Chris Whitty: Hugging and kissing relatives at Christmas 'does not make sense'
Prof Chris Whitty: Hugging and kissing relatives at Christmas 'does not make sense'
Boris Johnson and the chiefs are then asked if it is "a good idea" to allow people to travel across the country, and hug and kiss relatives.
The Prime Minister says it is an incredibly difficult decision, noting the strong desire to see family which people will "frankly do so anyway".
The measures they have put in place strike a sensible balance, he adds. "Until the vaccine comes on stream we are not out of the woods yet... everybody's individual behaviour at Christmas will matter a great deal."
Prof Chris Whitty says he would not encouorage people to hug and kiss their relatives.
It is not against the law "but it does not make sense" because you could be carrying the virus and may infect an elderly relative.
05:47 PMSir Patrick Vallance: Wrong to think we can relax now
Sir Patrick Vallance: Wrong to think we can relax now
Boris Johnson is then asked about support for companies further down the supply chain in hospitality.
The Prime Minister says he is "quite right" to draw attention to this. That is why other measures have been instituted such as grants, the furlough and VAT and business rates cuts.
The best thing for all these companies is to get them on their feet again by getting the virus down, he says.
The vaccine offers "real, real hope" alongside the mass testing combined with "really tough adherence to the measures we are announcing today".
Sir Patrick Vallance notes that it will "not be an overnight thing" to get vaccines approved and then rolled out.
"This is going to take months into spring," he adds. And testing only works if people then self-isolate.
It would be the 'wrong thing to relax now', says Sir Patrick.
05:43 PMProf Chris Whitty: Christmas is just one of many risks this season
Prof Chris Whitty: Christmas is just one of many risks this season
They are then asked if the higher Tiers are in anticipation of a Christmas impact on cases.
Prof Chris Whitty says of course Christmas will have an impact, "that's not a secret at all" but that is the only risk of this season "at all".
The most difficult period for the NHS is always January and February, he says, with the flu season, pneumonia and "more slips and falls" taking place.
"Things are going to be fairly difficult,,, for several months now."
He urges people not to do nncessary things "just because they can".
05:42 PMBoris Johnson: Army and local leaders essential to making mass testing success
Boris Johnson: Army and local leaders essential to making mass testing success
Boris Johnson is then asked about the logistical requirements for mass testing to be successful and whether he will have to "deploy the entire British army" to do so.
He says he doesn't want to oversell the challenge, which will be reliant on local leaders. It is just one of the panoply of measures required to defeat the disease, he adds. We get another alas.
The army will be relied on where necessary, but local leaders and communities will need to come together. "You can't just compel people to take a test," he adds.
"Where there is local will.... we are certainly working hard to get it done."
The key is to ensure there are enough tests, and they do.
05:35 PMBoris Johnson: We will need fiscal prudence, and you will get that from us
Boris Johnson: We will need fiscal prudence, and you will get that from us
Boris Johnson is then asked about the prospects of a tax rise.
He says Rishi Sunak yesterday set out a package to help bounce back from Covid and put in the building blocks for long-term prosperity for the UK.
"I m very very confident about the path we are on, but we will need fiscal prudence and you will get that from this Government," he adds.
The Prime Minister is also asked why "whack a mole" didn't work. He says the original Tiered approach was working, which is why it is the way to go now.
He says he knows some people will feel they have been unfairly put in a higher Tier, but says people can work together on mass testing and following the rules to drive the rates down.
Prof Chris Whitty also notes the "seasonality" which allowed us to "hold things at quite a low level" during the summer but we are now about to hit the flu season. That also applies to the NHS which has less "headroom" in the winter months.
05:32 PMProf Whitty: Tiers 'least damaging thing we can do'
Prof Whitty: Tiers 'least damaging thing we can do'
Prof Chris Whitty has defended the decision to place large chunks of the country into the higher tiers, saying it is "the least damaging thing we can possibly do".
He added that they have "only put places into Tier 3 when rates are high or rising" while "if rates are broadly stable or falling from relatively low base" they have been put into Tier 2.
Asked about reports that AstraZenaca data might be flawed, he says it is important to wait for the independent regulator's decision.
Sir Patrick Vallance agrees.
05:29 PMBoris Johnson: Tiers are 'a very different thing' to lockdown
Boris Johnson: Tiers are 'a very different thing' to lockdown
Turning to questions from journalists, Boris Johnson is asked what the point of the national lockdown was if more people are moving into tougher restrictions now.
The Prime Minister says that next week is "not continuing the lockdown - across all tiers, shops will be open, hairdressers, personal services, gyms will be functioning, laces of worship will be open as well".
"This is a very different thing," he adds.
But in"just a few weeks" the vaccine will be here and "by April things will be much, much better."
But we must not "take our foot off the beast now", he says. "We are not abandoning the fight yet."
05:27 PMSir Patrick Vallance: We have lots of vaccine options if and when the virus mutates
Sir Patrick Vallance: We have lots of vaccine options if and when the virus mutates
The next question is about whether the vaccines will work if Covid mutates.
Sir Patrick Vallance says they are showing good efficacy, which means there will be "lots of vaccine options".
Coronavirus doesn't mutate as often as flu, although it does mutate. But so far it doesnt seem to change the virus significantly.
It may be in due course that it does and new vaccines will be required but new flu vaccines are made every year.
Prof Chris Whitty adds that there are many diseases were you have to "top up" a vaccine every two or three years because immunity begins to wane.
05:25 PMBoris Johnson signals no shift to remote learning to avoid self-isolation over Christmas
Boris Johnson signals no shift to remote learning to avoid self-isolation over Christmas
Boris Johnson then turns to questions from the public. The first question is about whether schools should shift to remote learning in the final week, to avoid any self-isolation over Christmas.
He says the Government wants to keep students in schools as much as possible, although remote learning is a good thing.
"On the whole we want to see kids in schools wherever possible... we also want to see exams go ahead," he adds. "That's why we are taking these tough decisions."
05:24 PMProf Chris Whitty offers clarity on Tier decisions
Prof Chris Whitty offers clarity on Tier decisions
Chris Whitty now talks through an animation which he says shows the infection coming down in many areas.
He explains the factors which inform the decision to put certain areas into certain tiers.
Prof Chris Whitty says that the experts have gone through the various data to decide which regions have been placed in which Tiers.
Case rates among the over-60s is critical because of the high mortality rates in this age group.
The speed at which cases are increasing is also important, and why Kent has been placed into Tier 3, he says.
"Tier 1... slowed things down but did not stop things anywhere," he says. "Almost certainly anywhere that goes in Tier 1 will rise."
Tier 2 stops rates but "not reliably" whereas Tier 3 "pulls things down", he says.
05:23 PMCases have 'turned the corner', says Vallance
Cases have 'turned the corner', says Vallance
Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, shows data on the number of people testing positive for Covid.
He says cases started to increase in September. When tiers were first introduced, the rate of increase continued - but then started to come down a little.
He said tier one did not seem to slow increases in rates, where tiers two and three did. In some tier-three areas, there was a decrease in cases.
Sir Vallance says it looks as though there has now been a flattening of cases, following the introduction of national restrictions. Cases are no longer going up and it looks as though they are starting to go down.
Cases have "turned the corner", he says. He adds he would expect to see a potential decrease in cases in the next few weeks.
But with the latest data showing one in 85 people has the virus, cases are still high.
05:17 PMBoris Johnson: Your Tier is not your destiny
Boris Johnson: Your Tier is not your destiny
Boris Johnson says tiers will be reviewed fortnightly, adding "your Tier is not your destiny".
He adds that he has "no doubt" that the country will get through the winter and "reclaim all the things we love".
05:11 PMBoris Johnson: Mass testing to 'accelerate the escape'
Boris Johnson: Mass testing to 'accelerate the escape'
Boris Johnson says the new Tiers have been designed to help bring the R-rate down below one "opening a path for areas to move down the scale as soon as the situation improves".
He says the previous tiers system slowed infection rates but "were never quite enough".
He says mass testing provides the opportunity "accelerate the escape".
At least one in three people with Covid have no symptoms at all and may be spreading the disease, he says. The only way to identify them is through mass testing.
He points to the successful pilot in Liverpool, which has helped reduce the number of cases by more than two-thirds, allowing the region to enter a lower Tier 2.
Mass testing will now be made available to all regions in Tier 3, he says.
However there have been some questions about how that is logistically possible, which is likely to come up during the Q&A.
05:09 PMPM: new measures less intrusive than lockdown
PM: new measures less intrusive than lockdown
Boris Johnson says he wishes he did not have to introduce these measures. But they are essential if the government is going to keep schools open.
The PM says "all our friends around the world" are grappling with the same problem.
Italy has a nightly curfew, while France has closed hospitality. However in England we have a tiered set of restrictions, he notes before going back over the five criteria.
He says these measures will be less intrusive than the lockdown:
"In all tiers shops, gyms, the leisure sector, hairdressers other forms of personal care and places of worship will reopen.
"You’re no longer be instructed to stay at home, though you should continue to work from home if you can."
05:05 PMFollow the restrictions or risk new year lockdown, PM warns
Follow the restrictions or risk new year lockdown, PM warns
Boris Johnson starts by saying there is "reason to hope" testing and vaccines will end the era of restrictions by spring.
National lockdown has slowed, and in some cases reversed, the trend of growth and protect the NHS but "those dangers have not gone away," he adds.
If we do not keep on following the rules we risk losing those gains and ending up in a "new year lockdown", the Prime Minister warns.
05:01 PMScots told to observe eight-person cap for Christmas bubbles under harsher festive rules
Scots told to observe eight-person cap for Christmas bubbles under harsher festive rules
Scots have been told that family get-togethers over Christmas should be limited to eight people, as Nicola Sturgeon unveiled harsher rules for the festive season than the rest of the UK.
In guidance issued by the Scottish Government, those taking advantage of five days of relaxed rules were also told to observe two-metre distancing wherever possible while only one ‘extended household’ will be allowed as part of a three household “bubble” next month.
Ms Sturgeon was accused of confusing the public by signing up to a four-nations plan, only to then issue tighter guidance than other UK nations and urge people not to take advantage of the more relaxed rules which she has agreed to put in place.
04:49 PMSanta cleared to enter Irish airspace as 'essential worker'
Santa cleared to enter Irish airspace as 'essential worker'
Santa Claus has been deemed an essential worker and will not be subject to coronavirus travel restrictions when he arrives in Ireland next month.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney confirmed the Government's decision to the Dail parliament in a move that will be met with relief by children across the country.
"As minister for Foreign Affairs we've been working on the Santa Claus issue for a number of weeks now," said the minister.
"And it's important to say to all children in the country that we regard Santa Claus's travels as essential travel for essential purposes and therefore he is exempt from the need to self-quarantine for 14 days and should be able to come in and out of Irish airspace and indeed in and out of Irish homes without having to restrict his movement."
04:47 PMComing up: Boris Johnson to address the nation
Coming up: Boris Johnson to address the nation
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to lead a Downing Street press briefing at 5pm
He'll be joined by England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, and chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.
We'll bring you updates here.
04:41 PMWorld needs a 'sustainable approach to Covid-19, Sweden's head epidemiologist has warned
World needs a 'sustainable approach to Covid-19, Sweden's head epidemiologist has warned
Anders Tegnell, chief epidemiologist in Sweden, and the man who has been both lauded and criticised for the country's approach to the pandemic, said Covid-19 was not about to be fixed as a public health problem.
Speaking at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) conference, held virtually, he said: "We need a sustainable approach, as we are not going to solve this very quickly," he said, adding that this was the case even with the recent news about the efficacy of the newly developed vaccines.
Sweden has been accused of aiming for a "herd immunity" policy, letting the virus run through the population, which Dr Tegnell said was not true.
Rather, he said, the country had relied on a mixture of voluntary and enforced measures to try to control the virus.
Like many countries, Sweden had a very high fatality rate from the virus among the elderly and vulnerable in care homes, which is something the world must address, he said.
"It really hit different parts of the population differently," he said. "How can we protect vulnerable groups better?"
Jennifer Rigby reports.
04:35 PMThe pandemic is far from over, leading scientists warn
The pandemic is far from over, leading scientists warn
The pandemic is far from over, leading scientists have warned, although the recent vaccine developments may point towards the beginning of the end.
Speaking at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) conference, held virtually, Professor Devi Sridhar of Edinburgh University said Covid-19 was still "taking off" across the world.
"Every day we see new record numbers of cases and deaths. In some countries there is a sense that this is wrapping up, but globally we are still in about chapter two. There is still a long way for this to run," she said.
However, she added that she was "optimistic" that there would be an available vaccine within the next six months to a year.
Jennifer Rigby reports.
04:25 PMRecap: Manchester, Birmingham, Kent to go into Tier 3, London in Tier 2
Recap: Manchester, Birmingham, Kent to go into Tier 3, London in Tier 2
Just in case you missed it: Manchester, Birmingham and Kent are all to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions, Matt Hancock has announced.
London and Liverpool will both be in Tier 2, meaning pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants, meaning they must serve substantial meals and may only serve alcohol with such a meal.
Addressing the Commons, the Health Secretary, said only three areas of England will be under the lowest Tier 1 measures - Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
A vast majority of regions are to face the toughest measures with Bristol, Yorkshire and the North East, all placed into the highest tier.
Lancashire, Blackpool, Blackburn and Darwen are all in Tier 3 along with Middlesbrough, Sunderland, County Durham and Northumberland.
The Humber, West and South Yorkshire, the West and East Midlands will also face the highest level of restrictions.
In the South, Slough, Kent, south Gloucesterhsire and North Somerset are in Tier 3.
Most of the South East and South West is in Tier 2.
04:19 PMBritain records 17,555 new Coronavirus cases
Britain records 17,555 new Coronavirus cases
Britain recorded 17,555 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 498 new deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, official data showed.
Both measures were lower than on Wednesday, when there were 18,213 new coronavirus infections and 696 deaths.
04:14 PMWATCH: London, Birmingham and Manchester residents react to new tiers
WATCH: London, Birmingham and Manchester residents react to new tiers
Under the new tier system, which was announced this morning, London will be in Tier 2, while Manchester and Birmingham will move to Tier 3.
These new measures will come into place on December 2nd when national lockdown ends.
This is how residents in London, Birmingham and Manchester reacted to the news.
04:01 PMBerlin races to open mass vaccination centres to administer 900,000 shots
Berlin races to open mass vaccination centres to administer 900,000 shots
Berlin is racing to open six mass vaccination centres capable of handling up to 4,000 people per day by mid-December, the project coordinator told Reuters on Thursday, as the city waits for authorities to approve the first vaccines.
An empty trade fair hall, two airport terminals, a concert arena, a velodrome and an ice rink will be turned into six vaccination centres where it plans to administer up to 900,000 shots against the coronavirus in the first three months.
Albrecht Broemme said plans envisage 3,000 to 4,000 people per day being ferried through each centre in the same way as shoppers are guided through IKEA stores in one direction.
“The biggest challenge will be succeeding in getting the right people at the right time at the right vaccination centre,” Broemme said on the sidelines of a fire drill at the city’s makeshift Covid-19 hospital in a trade fair hall.
03:48 PMCovid case rates fall across all ages and regions
Covid case rates fall across all ages and regions
Public Health England has published its weekly Covid surveillance report.
Case rates have fallen across all age groups between 16 and 22 November. The highest case rates were seen in those aged 40 to 49, with a rate of 242.62 per 100,000 population.
Hospital admission rates have also fallen overall. Significant falls were observed in the North West, Yorkshire & Humber and East Midlands, but rises were seen in all other regions, with the steepest rises in the North East, South West and London.
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and over.
In response to the findings Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:
“That this virus continues to claim an increasing number of lives is a tragedy. But there is now reason for hope as it looks as though rates are coming down, thanks to everyone’s hard work. Case rates have fallen across every age range and in all regions, and positivity in both pillars has also decreased.
"Over time we can expect that to lead to fewer hospitalisations and deaths. The huge efforts people have made over the past few weeks are starting to pay off.
“However, we must not be complacent and squander the gains we have made, even when some measures are eased. By mixing with fewer people, we can help to slow the spread of Covid-19 and bring down the number of infections. This is what will help us to control the virus and protect our family and friends.”
03:37 PMLithuania finds its first coronavirus cases in mink
Lithuania finds its first coronavirus cases in mink
Lithuania's health agency said on Thursday it had found the first cases of coronavirus among its mink, as 22 dead mink on a farm in central Lithuania tested positive.
The tests at the 60,000-strong mink farm started after minks began dying unexpectedly, and the farm now suspects the mink got the virus from an infected worker, its director told local media.
"At this moment the farm is in isolation, but we only told to cull 40 mink who were in close contact with the infected. The rest are under close surveillance and any decisions would be taken as the situation develops", said a health agency spokeswoman.
Lithuania has 1.6 million mink on 86 farms, she added.
Denmark said last week a new, mutated strain of the coronavirus stemming from mink farms in the country was "most likely" extinct.
All farmed minks in Denmark have been culled because of coronavirus outbreaks among the animals and the discovery of the mutated strain, which authorities said showed reduced sensitivity to antibodies, has caused fears it could compromise vaccines.
03:28 PMWales reports more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases
Wales reports more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases
There have been a further 1,251 cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 75,986.
Public Health Wales reported another 28 deaths, taking the total in Wales since the start of the pandemic to 2,474.
03:27 PMFurther 351 people die with coronavirus in English hospitals
Further 351 people die with coronavirus in English hospitals
A further 351 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 39,570.
Patients were aged between 30 and 102 years old. All except 11, aged between 38 and 90 years old, had known underlying health conditions. The date of death ranges from 29 October to 25 November 2020 with the majority being on or after 23 November.
The North East & Yorkshire was the worst-affected region with 82 deaths, followed by the North West, with 81, and the Midlands, with 78.
There were 41 deaths in the South East, followed by London with 28 deaths, the South West with 23 and the East of England with 18.
Today's figure is broadly in line with the totals for yesterday (353) and a week ago today (346), and up on the total for two weeks ago today (317).
03:26 PMCoronavirus world news - in pictures
Coronavirus world news - in pictures
Here's a snapshot of how countries across the world are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Medical staff take part in a fire drill to evacuate the Corona Treatment Center Jaffestrasse in Berlin
A restaurant owner wearing a face mask poses with a coffin as restaurants, cafes and bars owners attend a demonstration to protest against government closure measures in Marseille, France
Keith Littlemore, a London taxi driver, rests on a home bed bed in the back of his cab, as he waits to move to front of the queue in a holding area at Heathrow Airport.
The global pandemic has seen a massive drop in international travel, with drivers now waiting for up to 35 hours for the chance to pick up a single fare. Many are sleeping in their vehicles to ensure that they remain in line.
03:13 PMFormer Tory minister accuses Government of 'authoritarianism'
Former Tory minister accuses Government of 'authoritarianism'
A former Tory minister has called on the Government to publish a full analysis of the reasoning behind England's latest tier restrictions.
Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group which has been critical of lockdown measures, said: "The authoritarianism at work today is truly appalling. But is it necessary and proportionate to the threat from this disease?
"The Government must publish its analysis of the impact interventions are likely to have on controlling Covid, as well as the non-Covid health impact and the impact on society, people's livelihoods and businesses.
"I am open to supporting measures where it can clearly be demonstrated that the Government intervention will save more lives than it costs - as long as this data and analysis is published in full and in time ahead of any votes in Parliament, so that MPs and the public have a chance to scrutinise it."
03:05 PMAfrica may struggle to roll out mass vaccination, agency warns
Africa may struggle to roll out mass vaccination, agency warns
Mass vaccination against Covid-19 is unlikely to start in Africa until midway through next year and keeping vaccines cold could be a big challenge, the continent’s disease control group said on Thursday.
Some European countries expect to start rolling out vaccination campaigns as early as January. But health campaigners are worried that Africa will find itself near the back of the queue for Covid-19 vaccines after wealthier nations signed a raft of bilateral vaccine supply deals with pharmaceutical companies.
“We are very concerned as a continent that we will not have access to vaccines in a timely fashion,” said John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, an African Union agency.
02:57 PMItalian airport to run Covid-tested transatlantic flights
Italian airport to run Covid-tested transatlantic flights
Rome's Fiumicino airport will run Covid-tested flights to and from the United States operated by Delta Air Lines and Alitalia, it said on Thursday, adding it will be the first airport in Europe to offer the service on transatlantic flights.
From December, passengers flying between Rome and some U.S. destinations can be tested for the coronavirus 48 hours before departure and on arrival at the airport, to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine Italy imposes on incoming travellers.
Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), the unit of Italian infrastructure group Atlantia that runs Fiumicino airport, said the new protocol will be valid for those flying from New York JFK, Newark and Atlanta.
In a separate statement, Delta Air Lines said it would reopen its routes between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, in Georgia, and Rome on December 19 to those travelling for work, health or study reasons.
"Carefully designed Covid-19 testing protocols are the best path for resuming international travel safely and without quarantine until vaccinations are widely in place," said Steve Sear, Delta President.
02:44 PMThe Government's reasoning for every tier allocation in England
The Government's reasoning for every tier allocation in England
Every area of England has been allocated a tier under the Government's new rules for post-lockdown living after December 2.
Just one per cent of the population will be in 'medium' Tier 1, with 57 per cent of people in 'high' Tier 2 and the remaining 42 per cent in 'very high' Tier 3, the strictest level of the tiered system. The restrictions will vary greatly between the tiers, with those in the highest tranche facing strict limits on their freedoms still.
Click here to find a comprehensive list of each region in the UK, along with the Government's justification for its decision.
02:34 PMBusy bars and banyas in Belarus – where Covid is largely ignored
Busy bars and banyas in Belarus – where Covid is largely ignored
The axial, neoclassical, facades, colonnades and avenues of central Minsk – somewhat like Berlin's Karl-Marx-Allee on an even bigger scale – are so covered in government propaganda that it sometimes has the feel of a diluted Pyongyang.
'Tax is health', 'For Belarus!', 'Belarus – it's ours' and 'I love Belarus' placards hang alongside colour-saturated images of airbrushed families at the park or the circus, and national flags swing from Soviet-era three-pronged fastenings.
This is the nomenclature of Alexander Lukashenko's regime, but there is little sign of it shifting its message to resemble the Covid agitprop currently taking up the available flat surfaces of most Western cities.
Belarus has so far taken a measured approach to Covid-19, balancing the threat against other dangers and the collateral damage of measures to which conclusive proof of their effect in fighting the virus has still yet to be seen.
The country's anti-lockdown stance has also been a rare point of mutual understanding between the authorities and the opposition.
Daniel Hardaker has more on this story here.
02:22 PMCovid protests halt public transport in Athens
Covid protests halt public transport in Athens
Athens city buses, metro lines and trams ground to a halt Thursday with public workers pressing for better protection against coronavirus as Greece extended Covid-19 restrictions until December 7.
Shipping also closed for a day in the coastal nation, disrupting maritime trade as well as transport linking its numerous islands.
A second wave is raging through Greece, with daily infections now between 2,500 and 3,000 compared with 667 on October 20. The death toll has just crossed 1,900 and more than 500 people are in intensive care.
Scores of motorcyclists briefly demonstrated outside the labour ministry in Athens shouting slogans such as "Riot police everywhere, intensive care units nowhere".
Medical workers also called for a rally outside the health ministry to demand Christmas bonuses and better health protection, including increased testing for those on the frontline.
02:06 PMMass testing available to all Tier 3 areas
Mass testing available to all Tier 3 areas
Downing Street insisted mass testing would be available to all Tier 3 areas.
With 23 million people going into the restrictions from December 2 it remains to be seen how this will be achieved, with details expected to be published next week.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Local authorities that fall into Tier 3 will be able to apply for support from NHS Test and Trace and the armed forces to deliver a six-week, rapid community testing programme.
"That will include access to a supply of lateral flow tests, support with planning and logistics and funding and communication support."
In Liverpool, around 2,000 military personnel were involved in a pilot scheme but it was unclear how many troops would be available across all Tier 3 areas.
02:04 PMSwedish royals in isolation after Covid-19 spread at funeral
Swedish royals in isolation after Covid-19 spread at funeral
Sweden's Royal Family has been forced into self-isolation after Prince Carl Philip and his wife Princess Sofia tested positive for coronavirus following a private family funeral.
"Carl Philip and Sofia tested positive on Wednesday. They have mild symptoms and they are in isolation now together with their children," Johan Tegel, press secretary to the Royal Court, told the Daily Telegraph.
The couple appears to have contracted the virus when attending the funeral of Queen Silvia's brother, Walther Sommerlath, who died last month, aged 86, at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, where he had moved recently to be close to his sister.
"Just before the funeral they all tested negative and so they could all participate in the ceremony, there were a lot of precautions in place," Mr Tegel said.
According to the court, "fewer than ten" of Mr Sommerlath's closest family had attended the church service in person, with most participating in the ceremony via a video link.
Richard Orange has more on this story here.
01:55 PMThousands of Pakistani volunteers join Chinese-made vaccine trials
Thousands of Pakistani volunteers join Chinese-made vaccine trials
Thousands of volunteers are flocking to research hospitals across Pakistan to join final-stage clinical trials of a Chinese-made vaccine for the coronavirus.
It is the first time Pakistan has participated in such a trial, which comes amid a string of positive vaccine announcements by Western pharmaceutical companies this month.
The vaccine is being developed by CanSinoBio and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology China.
“I have volunteered myself for a noble cause that will help humanity,” said a volunteer at Islamabad’s Shifa hospital, where hundreds of participants are being paid about $50 for their trouble.
Others should “step forward and take part in this noble cause which will save lives”, he added.
For years, China has focused much of its attention in Pakistan on mammoth development projects, bankrolling the construction of roads, power plants and a strategic port.
Beijing has now tapped one of its closest allies to participate in the vaccine trials, despite Pakistan’s chequered history with inoculation campaigns.
01:49 PMDominic Raab: Government cutting overseas aid budget 'with regret'
Dominic Raab: Government cutting overseas aid budget 'with regret'
Returning to the Commons now, where Dominic Raab is answering questions on plans to cut the overseas aid budget from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent.
He told MPs the reduction was being made "with regret" but that "every penny of public spending will rightly come under intense scrutiny".
The Foreign Secretary added: "Britain is responding to a health emergency but also an economic emergency. Every penny of public spending will rightly come under intense scrutiny by our constituents.
"Given the impact of this global pandemic on the economy and as a result of public finances, we have concluded after extensive consideration, and I have to say with regret, that we can't for the moment meet our target of spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA (official development assistance) and we will move to a target of 0.5 per cent next year.
"Let me reassure the House, this is a temporary measure. It is a measure we take as a matter of necessity and we will return to 0.7 per cent when the fiscal situation permits."
01:45 PMEconomic factors did not influence tier-decision, No 10 says
Economic factors did not influence tier-decision, No 10 says
Downing Street denied that economic factors had played a part in the tier decision-making process and said that London did not receive a special exemption from the toughest restrictions.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing:
"We have based tiers on the criteria that we have set out.
"We have been clear on the criteria that we have based the tiering system on and you have got the WMS (written ministerial statement) that explains the rationale for each area."
The spokesman was also asked why some areas that were in Tier 1 previously are now in Tier 3.
"We've seen over the course of the pandemic transmission rates rise and fall in different areas at different times.
"Obviously we introduced the tiers in advance of the national lockdown, which did play a part in stemming the transmission rates and the R rate of the virus.
"And then we've recently seen data starting to reflect the impact of the national lockdown. As we always have, we will continue to keep all the data under review."
01:39 PMConfirmed coronavirus cases in Netherlands pass 500,000
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Netherlands pass 500,000
The Netherlands reached over half a million in total coronavirus cases, with 503,123 confirmed infections, data released on Thursday showed.
The daily tally of new infections in 24 hours was 4,470 which was a slight drop from a day earlier in the country, one of the worst hit in Europe's second Covid-19 wave.
01:26 PMLifting of lockdown doesn't mean party season should commence, warns scientists
Lifting of lockdown doesn't mean party season should commence, warns scientists
Professor Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology at the University of Nottingham, has issued a stark warning for the public following England's new coronavirus tiers announcement.
Responding to Matt Hancocks address in the commons, Prof Ball said:
“There has been much focus on what the Christmas festivities will be like, but the announcement that much of England will be experiencing severe restrictions up to then is a stark reminder that the virus is very much out there and still circulating freely.
"It will be important for everyone to take the threat seriously and to minimise the risk to themselves and others by reducing social interactions – especially indoors – as much as possible.
"The announcement of the real possibility of effective vaccines being ready soon provides light at the end of the tunnel, so we need to do all that we can between now and then to minimise the harm that the virus can do to vulnerable people in our society and to our NHS.
"We might have come out of lockdown but that doesn’t mean the party season should commence.”
01:18 PMCoronavirus puts French ski holiday plans on ice
Coronavirus puts French ski holiday plans on ice
French winter sports resorts are free to open for the Christmas holiday season, prime minister Jean Castex said on Thursday, but ski lifts will have to remain shut.
President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that coronavirus risks made it “impossible” to allow winter sports to resume quickly, adding he hoped that restrictions could be lifted in January.
France’s 350 ski resorts have been up in arms over the decision, saying the weeks around Christmas and New Year are crucial for their survival as they account for up to a quarter of their annual revenues.
Castex said mountain holidays were still on the cards but downhill skiing - by far the most popular pastime for crowds of French and foreign skiers in Alpine and Pyrenees resorts - was effectively ruled out.
“Naturally, everybody is free to travel to resorts to enjoy the clean air of our beautiful mountains, and the shops which will be open, although bars and restaurants won’t be,” Castex told a news conference.
01:10 PMOxford AstraZeneca vaccine data called into question
Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine data called into question
The dose of AstraZeneca and Oxford University's Covid-19 vaccine that was shown to be 90 per cent effective was only tested in people aged 55 and under, according to a US official.
Moncef Slaoui, the scientific head of the US's Operation Warp Speed - the programme to supply America with vaccines - told US reporters that the half-dose regime, which was discovered by accident, was only given to younger age groups.
Scientists across the globe are hoping to find vaccines that work in older people, who are most at risk from Covid-19.
Oxford's overall efficacy from two different dosing regimes in a phase three trial was announced last week at a combined figure of 70 per cent.
A half dose followed by a full dose was found to be 90 per cent effective according to a subset of data, but efficacy was 62 per cent for people given two full doses.
Results from an earlier phase two study of the vaccine published in The Lancet medical journal showed the vaccine produced a strong response in all age groups.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, told reporters at a UK-based press briefing last week that the 90 per cent effectiveness finding had already met the "necessary statistical evidence as required by regulators".
He said further evidence will probably be available next month but it is "a highly significant result even with the numbers that we have".
The 90 per cent efficacy was based on a dosing regime given to 2,741 people.
The other regime (two doses) involved 8,895 people.
Neither AstraZeneca nor Oxford disclosed at the briefing that the 90 per cent figure was based on adults aged 55 and under.
01:04 PM South Korea sees most new coronavirus cases since March
South Korea sees most new coronavirus cases since March
The number of daily new cases of coronavirus in South Korea has surpassed 500 for the first time since March, health officials have confirmed.
Social distancing rules have been reimposed in Seoul and the surrounding regions, the armed forces have ordered a 10-day ban on leave following several outbreaks in military camps, and students have been asked to avoid cram schools and private study sessions ahead of college entry exams, amidst a growing concern at the rate of infection among young people.
"Covid-19 has arrived right beside you and your family," said Health Minister Park Neung-hoo. "The spread of infections among young generations is extraordinary."
12:58 PMCoronavirus pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality, new data from UN suggests
Coronavirus pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality, new data from UN suggests
Economic and domestic turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality, new United Nations data suggests.
Lockdowns, job losses, school closures and dwindling income from the coronavirus have seen women take on significantly greater shares of housework and childcare.
Employment and education opportunities are likely to be lost and women may suffer from poorer mental and physical health.
"Everything we worked for, that has taken 25 years, could be lost in a year," the UN Women deputy executive director Anita Bhatia told the BBC.
Women's new burden of care posed a "real risk of reverting to 1950s gender stereotypes", she said.
Ben Farmer has more on this here.
12:47 PMMPs call for Covid appeal system in light of new restrictions
MPs call for Covid appeal system in light of new restrictions
Matt Hancock was encouraged to introduce an appeal system to allow areas to challenge their Covid-19 tier.
Conservative MP Sir Robert Syms (Poole) said there would be "bitter disappointment" in Dorset at the area being placed in Tier 2 given the infection rate is "falling quite rapidly".
He told the Commons: "If we're going to have regular reviews, ie weekly, that's great and that's fine but if we're not, if we're stuck in that tier for two or three weeks, I wonder whether the Secretary of State would consider some kind of appeals process?"
The Health Secretary said the initial decisions on tiers will be reviewed in a fortnight after they come into force - December 16 - and then regularly after that, adding: "By which he can reasonably take weekly."
Conservative former minister Jeremy Wright (Kenilworth and Southam) suggested the restrictions should be applied on smaller geographical areas, such as boroughs and districts.
Mr Hancock highlighted Slough as an example of a Tier 3 location despite the county of Berkshire being in Tier 2, adding: "We are prepared to take those decisions at a lower-tier local authority area level. That is the exception rather than the norm but we will look at it every single week."
12:40 PM'Lockdown must not become limbo,' says Sheffield mayor
'Lockdown must not become limbo,' says Sheffield mayor
"Lockdown must not become limbo," sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis has said.
Mr Jarvis, who is also Labour MP for Barnsley Central, said: "I welcome Government plans to review our tier arrangements every two weeks, because every extra day we are under restrictions could be the difference between a business surviving the pandemic or going under.
"It is now essential we get a roadmap to get us out of Tier 3 as a matter of urgency."
12:38 PMNorthern MPs to grill ministers over Greater Manchester criteria
Northern MPs to grill ministers over Greater Manchester criteria
Northern MPs are planning to grill ministers this afternoon over the decision to place Greater Manchester into Tier 3, while London has been placed into Tier 2.
This is despite some parts of the capital having higher case rates than the northern city.
The GM MPs have a meeting with one of the Health Ministers this afternoon. I want to know what the criteria has been for these decisions and how areas exit the tiers once in them https://t.co/XHOrWc5Ixj
— Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) November 26, 2020
12:34 PMGovernment will consider localised restrictions, Matt Hancock says
Government will consider localised restrictions, Matt Hancock says
Jeremy Wright, former attorney general and MP for Kenilworth, has hit out against regional tiers, saying businesses in his constituency will not be able to reopen next week "not because of rates where they are but because rates somewhere else".
He says it would be more sensible to base decisions on "the smallest geographical areas where data is available" - boroughs and districts. He asks that Matt Hancock considers whether "area are properly constituted" in the next review.
The Health Secretary says "the human geography in which people live" is a consideration, noting the example of Slough being in Tier 3 as proof that "we are prepared to take those decisions... [although this will be] the exception rather than the norm".
12:26 PMAround two in five people under Tier 3 restrictions
Around two in five people under Tier 3 restrictions
A total of 23.3 million people in England - 41.5 per cent of the population - will be in Tier 3 of the Government's Covid-19 restrictions from December 2.
Find out which tier your region is in here.
12:23 PMMP asks for Tier 'appeals process'
MP asks for Tier 'appeals process'
Mr Hancock is asked if an "appeals process" will be available for regions wanting to get out of restrictions early.
But he says the tiers will be reviewed in two weeks, and after that they may be able to be reviewed weekly with comments welcomed from local leaders.
12:20 PMSadiq Khan criticises pub restrictions
Sadiq Khan criticises pub restrictions
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanks Londoners for helping the capital move to Tier 2 restrictions, but criticised the Government for measures such as the curfew on pubs.
"Whilst I welcome the Government's decision to place London in Tier 2, I am extremely disappointed that the Government is sticking with specific measures that seem to cause more harm than good," he said.
"I am pleased we managed to persuade the Government to get rid of the 10pm curfew but extending it to 11pm, when it should be scrapped altogether, is a mistake.
"It is a real blow to pubs, bars and restaurants who have endured such a difficult year and deserve better."
12:17 PMBefore and after...
Before and after...
The map below shows the change to the local tier restrictions from before and after the national lockdown.
12:16 PMTesting for care homes pledge
Testing for care homes pledge
Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, "nothing would be more crazy than taking over feet off the accelerator" when it comes to allowing people to meet at Christmas.
But he goes on the urge Mr Hancock to get mass testing for care homes in place so visitors can once again see their loved ones.
Mr Hancock says using testing to facilitate visits in care homes is the "kind of technology" available to get life back to normal.
12:12 PMBringing down R rate is the Government's 'goal'
Bringing down R rate is the Government's 'goal'
Mr Ashworth asks the Health Secretary if he can guarantee the measures announced today will be enough to bring down the R rate below 1 and control the virus until the vaccine roll out next year.
Mr Hancock says bringing the R rate below 1 is the Government's "goal".
He adds the statement he outlined "is the exit strategy" for keeping the virus down until we get a vaccine, along with widespread community testing, to have the minimum damage to the economy.
12:06 PMWhich tier will I be in? Use our postcode search for the latest Covid rules
Which tier will I be in? Use our postcode search for the latest Covid rules
The Government's postcode tool may have crashed as soon as it launched this morning...
But have no fear, The Telegraph's data team have you covered with all the information on which area is under which Tier.
Click here to find out which tier your local area will come under from next week.
12:03 PM'We are still in the tunnel', Jon Ashworth says
'We are still in the tunnel', Jon Ashworth says
We must all "dig deep" and "not give up now", Mr Hancock says as he wraps up his statement.
Jon Ashworth, Shadow Health Secretary, begins by saying here is "light at the end of the tunnel" due to the recent vaccine news, but we are "still in the tunnel".
He asks Mr Hancock what role local leaders have in informing the tier levels, and what financial support is being offered to Tier 3 areas.
12:00 PMHancock praises people of Liverpool
Hancock praises people of Liverpool
Mr Hancock pays tribute to the people of Liverpool for their "leadership, responsibility and true sense of public service", for getting the virus under control and being moved down into Tier 2.
11:58 AMTiers to be reviewed in a fortnight
Tiers to be reviewed in a fortnight
Mr Hancock says the tier levels will be reviewed in two weeks.
"Regardless of your tier, I ask everyone, we must all think of our own responsibilities to keep the virus under control," he says.
"The less any one person passes on the disease, the faster we can get this disease under control together," he adds.
11:56 AMHancock's constituency remains in Tier 2
Hancock's constituency remains in Tier 2
Mr Hancock says he "knows" more areas will want to be under Tier 1, including his own constituency in Suffolk.
"But despite the fact Suffolk overall has the lowest case rate overall outside of Cornwall and the Isle of Wight, our judgement based on all of the indicators and based on the public health advice is that Suffolk needs to be in Tier 2 to get the virus under further control," he says.
The majority of England will be under Tier 2, Mr Hancock confirms.
11:54 AMOnly three areas under Tier 1
Only three areas under Tier 1
He says there are more areas than before in the top two tiers and this is "necessary to keep the virus under control and protect the NHS".
"The lowest case rates are in Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly, which will go into Tier 1, in all three areas they've had very low case rates throughout and I want to thank residents for being so vigilant during the whole pandemic," he says.
11:49 AMHancock: 'These decisions are not easy'
Hancock: 'These decisions are not easy'
Mr Hancock says the country will return to a tiered approach from next week, to control the virus where cases are highest and retain "greater freedom" in areas where cases are lowest.
"We must make the tiers tougher than they were before, to protect the NHS through the winter and avert another national lockdown," he says.
"In Tier 1 if you can work from home you should do so, in Tier 2 alcohol must only be served in hospitality settings as part of a substantial meal," he adds.
In Tier 3 indoor entertainment and other hospitality will close except for takeaway, he says.
"These decisions are not easy but they are necessary," he says.
11:46 AMMatt Hancock addresses the Commons
Matt Hancock addresses the Commons
The Health Secretary has begun address the House of Commons on the new tier restrictions.
He says it's "vital we safeguard the gains we made" in protecting the NHS.
But, he adds, "we must remain vigilant" as he sets out the latest figures.
"As tempted as it may be we can't simply flick a switch and return life back to normal," he says.
11:37 AMTier reaction: 'Emperor Boris is fiddling the data while the West End burns'
Tier reaction: 'Emperor Boris is fiddling the data while the West End burns'
Responding to the news that London will enter Tier 2 restrictions Simon Thomas, CEO, Hippodrome Casino said it was "good news" the capital was not entering the toughest tiers.
But he added it was "frankly ludicrous" that continued restrictions on the hospitality sectors will mean "thousands of businesses closing and tens of thousands out of a job".
"Government thinking on this can now only be considered wreckless and dangerous. Its own figures show London is behaving responsibly and our restaurants, bars and casinos have the lowest transmission rates and the highest level of hygiene and safety measures," he said.
"We’re following the Government’s own rules to the letter and being penalised further. Emperor Boris is fiddling the data while the West End burns. I have never seen the business community so united. We’re all shaking our heads in disbelief."
11:28 AMSwathes of England to enter toughest tiers
Swathes of England to enter toughest tiers
Manchester, Birmingham and Kent are all expected to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions, Matt Hancock will announce.
Addressing the Commons, the Health Secretary, is expected to say only three areas of England will be under the lowest Tier 1 measures - Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
A vast majority of regions are to face the toughest measures with Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Kent and Yorkshire and the North East, all placed into the highest tier.
London and Liverpool will both be in Tier 2, meaning pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants, meaning they must serve substantial meals and may only serve alcohol with such a meal.
11:23 AMNew Govt postcode search tool 'experiencing technical difficulties'
New Govt postcode search tool 'experiencing technical difficulties'
A postcode checker on the Government website for people to determine which tier they would be in appeared to crash as shorty after it went live.
It initially showed that Kent would be in the toughest Tier 3, but people checking later were faced with the message: "Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties."
11:17 AMONS: Covid cases rising among school children
ONS: Covid cases rising among school children
When modelling the level of infection among different age groups, the ONS said increases in the positivity rate can only be seen in secondary school-age children (school years 7 to 11).
Rates have decreased in adults aged 35 and over, and appear to be levelling off among young adults (school year 12 to age 24), 25 to 34 year-olds, and children of primary school age and below.
Rates remain highest among secondary school-age children and young adults.
11:07 AMONS: Covid rates varying 'substantially' across England
ONS: Covid rates varying 'substantially' across England
Positivity rates continue to vary "substantially" between different regions of England, the ONS said.
Rates have increased in the East Midlands but are still falling in north-west England.
In the West Midlands, eastern England, London, south-east England and south-west England, rates "now also appear to be decreasing".
The highest rates continue to be in Yorkshire & the Humber (with an estimated 1.9 per cent of people in private households testing positive for Covid-19), north-west England (1.8 per cent) and north-east England (1.7 per cent).
The lowest rates are in eastern England (0.6 per cent) and south-west England (0.7 per cent).
10:58 AMONS: Positivity rate shows 'signs of levelling'
ONS: Positivity rate shows 'signs of levelling'
An estimated 633,000 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between November 15 and 21, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is the equivalent of around 1.16 per cent of the population.
The figures represent a slight decrease from 664,700 people, or 1.22 per cent of the population, who were estimated to have Covid-19 in the period November 8 to 14.
The ONS said in recent weeks the positivity rate for England "has shown signs of levelling".
The figures do not include people staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
10:50 AMMoscow extends Covid-19 restrictions until January
Moscow extends Covid-19 restrictions until January
Moscow has extended its coronavirus restrictions until mid-January, including mandatory self-isolation for people over 65 and orders for local companies to get at least 30 percent of their staff to work from home, Nataliya Vasilyeva reports.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement on Thursday that it would be “premature and reckless” to lift the current restrictions which should be kept in place until January 15.
He also cited health experts, arguing that there was “no need” to roll out a new lockdown.
The number of daily hospitalisations in Moscow went up by 3 per cent last week compared to the week before, which is much lower to the growth rates seen in October, Mr Sobyanin said, adding that it gives him grounds to believe that “we are seeing a gradual flattening of the rise in new infections.”
“But it is still too early to talk about a decline in infections,” he said. “The health care system is still under great strain.”
Moscow, a city of 12 million, was badly hit by the Covid-19 epidemic in the spring and went through six weeks of a tough lockdown.
But unlike the rest of Russia, Moscow appears to be managing the second wave without having to shut down parts of its economy.
The Russian capital posted 6,075 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, about a quarter of the country’s overall tally.
Moscow’s museums were shut down earlier this month and theatres ordered to sell no more than 25 percent of their seats but shops and the hospitality industry are open albeit with certain restrictions.
10:42 AMLiverpool mayor praises city for tackling virus
Liverpool mayor praises city for tackling virus
The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has paid tribute to the people of the city for their co-operation during lockdown.
Merseyside's leaders hope to move to Tier 2 after the national England lockdown ends, in recognition of Liverpool's efforts in tackling the virus. The city was in Tier 3 before the national restrictions were introduced.
"We are waiting to hear about the end of the national lockdown and what it means for Liverpool, but I want to pay tribute first to the people of Liverpool for taking to heart the dangers of #Covid19 and taking action," Mr Anderson tweeted.
"It is only because you took steps to control this virus that our rates have come down so far.
"Liverpool has always been a pioneer in Public Health because we care about each other, and that's why the mass test pilot has been so successful."
10:22 AMMexico City ICU sees virus surge
Mexico City ICU sees virus surge
Mexico City has warned its intensive care wards are again quickly filling with Covid-19 patients, as Mexico and other parts of Latin America see the beginnings of a second wave of infections, Ben Farmer reports.
Cases are rising again, along with deaths, only weeks after the country appeared to be finally conquering its long summer surge in infections.
Mexico reported 10,335 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday night, bringing the total to 1,070,487, according to data released by the Health Ministry.
Deaths rose 858 to 103,597.
The country has long been criticised for testing too little, and has said it is instead focusing on boosting hospital capacity. But the latest figures show that in the capital, 61 per cent of hospital beds with ventilators are occupied, up from 53 per cent a week earlier.
Cases have also begun to rise again in Brazil, which in the summer was one of the global epicentres of the pandemic.
09:57 AMToday in pictures
Today in pictures
Millions of people in England await the news of which tier their area will be placed in today by the Health Secretary. Here's a snapshot from around the world showing how other countries continue to tackle the pandemic.
09:35 AMTop five stories to read this morning
- Tier fear: Use our Covid postcode search to find out which tier your area may be placed in
- Questions raised: Manufacturing error clouds Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine study results
- Travel latest: Millions of Britons to learn if they can travel after December 2
- Immunity: Can you catch Covid-19 twice, and how long do antibodies last?
- Financial hit: Mitchells & Butlers axes 1,300 jobs as pub closures take their toll
09:20 AMUniversity students 'sold a lie', says NUS
Top five stories to read this morning
- Tier fear: Use our Covid postcode search to find out which tier your area may be placed in
- Questions raised: Manufacturing error clouds Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine study results
- Travel latest: Millions of Britons to learn if they can travel after December 2
- Immunity: Can you catch Covid-19 twice, and how long do antibodies last?
- Financial hit: Mitchells & Butlers axes 1,300 jobs as pub closures take their toll
09:20 AMUniversity students 'sold a lie', says NUS
University students 'sold a lie', says NUS
University students feel like they were "essentially sold a lie" about what was going to be safely possible this term during pandemic restrictions, Larissa Kennedy, president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said.
"It just feels like the Government is failing to recognise the levels of student anger and student dissatisfaction with how they've been treated," she told BBC radio 4's Today Programme.
Ms Kennedy said all teaching is online for the vast majority of students, adding that some have about two hours of contact time, which students see as universities "just trying to cover their backs".
09:03 AMMerkel: Restrictions in Germany to remain until January
Merkel: Restrictions in Germany to remain until January
Restrictive measures designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Germany will be in place until at least the end of December and possibly longer, Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament on Thursday.
"Given the high number of infections, we assume that the restrictions which are in place before Christmas will be continue to be valid until the start of January, certainly for most parts of Germany," said Merkel.
"We have to say, unfortunately, that we cannot promise an easing for Christmas and New Year's," she added.
08:47 AMCovid-19 now under control in Liverpool, says Mayor
Covid-19 now under control in Liverpool, says Mayor
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said the virus has been brought back under control in the city, adding that it is now ready for Tier 2.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there have been no conversations about what tier the city will be in, but added: "I think the figures and the data justify Liverpool being at least, at least, in Tier 2."
Asked if he would encourage other areas that are put in Tier 3 to put up with the restrictions, Mr Anderson said: "Yes, absolutely, because it's about saving lives.
"There's no question that the action that we've taken in Liverpool has saved lives.
"That's what national government and local government should be about. It's protecting your people and saving lives."
08:28 AMFinland's Covid-19 situation worsening, says PM
Finland's Covid-19 situation worsening, says PM
Finland's coronavirus situation has worsened rapidly in recent days, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday.
Finland's 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 75.8 on Wednesday, Europe's second lowest level behind Iceland, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control data showed, but the Finnish government warned the number of new cases was rising at a worrying pace.
08:18 AMIs a tax rise on the horizon?
Is a tax rise on the horizon?
Rishi Sunak declined to comment on whether taxes would rise next year to pay for the fall out from the coronavirus crisis.
The Chancellor told BBC Breakfast: "It wouldn't be appropriate for chancellors - any chancellor - to speculate about future tax policy because that has real-world implications.
"As you would find from any chancellor, they would talk about fiscal policy at a Budget, and obviously we will have one in the spring - we normally have them in the autumn."
Mr Sunak said the scale of borrowing undertaken this year is "not sustainable" but that "now is not the time to address that".
"But once we get through this and we have more certainty about the economic outlook we will need to look at how we can make sure we have a strong set of public finances."
Read more: Our economic emergency has just begun, Rishi Sunak warns
08:05 AMPubs await tiers announcement with 'trepidation'
Pubs await tiers announcement with 'trepidation'
Simon Emeny, chief executive of pub owner Fuller's, said that like everyone in his industry he awaits the England tier announcements with "some degree of trepidation".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the really difficult pill for us to swallow this week is that the extra restrictions that have been placed in Tier 2 will render something like 73 per cent of sites in the industry in Tier 2 unprofitable and they're unlikely to open."
Mr Emeny said it's a "great worry" for the entire sector, and also the Chancellor, as pubs will not be contributing "much-needed tax revenues".
He said the attitude towards the hospitality sector "seems to have completely turned on its head".
"Whilst we can now go to gyms, we can now have our hair cut and go to all shops in all tiers, in pubs they are being singled out for their own unique tier system, which not only is unjustified, but depriving many communities of a vital local amenity over the Christmas break," he said.
07:53 AMRishi Sunak: Tiers will feel different to lockdown
Rishi Sunak: Tiers will feel different to lockdown
People will "see a difference" when England's national lockdown ends next week, Rishi Sunak has said, despite an expectation that most of the country will be under Tier 2.
The Chancellor told Sky News: "Whichever tier you're in I think people will see a tangible change.
"That said, things are obviously not normal and I can't pretend that next week things are going to feel like they were before the spring."
Mr Sunak also confirmed that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lead a press conference in Downing Street later today, with the time still to be confirmed.
07:28 AMWorldwide cases continue to rise
Worldwide cases continue to rise
Ukraine registered a record 15,331 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, health minister Maksym Stepanov said on Thursday, up from a previous record of 14,580 reported on Nov. 21.
He said the total number of cases had climbed to 677,189, with 11,717 deaths.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 22,268 to 983,588, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed. The reported death toll rose by 389 to 15,160, the tally showed.
And India recorded 44,489 new coronavirus infections, data from the health ministry showed, the 19th straight day that single-day cases have stayed below the 50,000 mark.
India's coronavirus tally now stands at 9.27 million, the second-highest in the world, after the United States.
Check out the map below to track global cases and deaths.
07:10 AMHancock to announce new regional tiers
Hancock to announce new regional tiers
Good morning from Telegraph HQ.
The Health Secretary is to set out which tier each local authority in England will fall under after the end of the national lockdown today.
Matt Hancock will make the announcement in Parliament after the Government set out its Covid-19 "winter plan" earlier this week.
Each area will be placed into one of three tiers when lockdown ends on December 2 - but the system has been toughened from the previous regime, meaning more authorities will move into the higher tiers.
Read more:
- The five key metrics that will determine your area's new Covid lockdown tier
- What England's Covid lockdown rules mean for you - and when they could end
06:48 AMNightingale Hospital in Exeter receiving first virus patients
Nightingale Hospital in Exeter receiving first virus patients
The Nightingale Hospital in Exeter will receive its first coronavirus patients on Thursday, officials have confirmed.
The 116-bed hospital built on the site of a former retail unit will treat people with Covid-19, taking patients transferred from the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust as it is "very busy".
A Nightingale Hospital Exeter spokeswoman said: "The Nightingale Exeter will accept patients tomorrow who will be transferred from the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E), which is very busy."We would ask that the public continue to observe the Government's advice on observing the lockdown and social distancing so that we can keep patients safe."
Very good news that the #Exeter #NightingaleHospital is finally opening for patients tomorrow to take pressure of the @RDEhospitals & other local #NHS services to cope with unprecedented #Covid19UK pressures. Something I raised with @MattHancock two weeks’ ago.
— Ben Bradshaw (@BenPBradshaw) November 25, 2020
06:38 AMNews in brief from around the world
- Ukraine registered a record 15,331 new cases in the past 24 hours, health minister Maksym Stepanov said on Thursday, up from a previous record of 14,580 reported on Nov. 21.
- In Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Thursday extended a recommended self-isolation period for residents older than 65 and those in risk groups through New Year until Jan. 15.
- The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 22,268 to 983,588, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Thursday.
- As cases surge again nationwide, the US Supreme Court late on Wednesday temporarily barred New York from enforcing certain attendance limits at houses of worship in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.
- China on Thursday reported nine new cases in the vast Inner Mongolia region, where authorities have closed schools, suspended flights, shuttered public venues and banned banquets and other gatherings.
- India recorded 44,489 new infections, data from the health ministry showed on Thursday, the 19th straight day that single-day cases have stayed below the 50,000 mark.
06:14 AMHow the experts are planning to have a Covid-safe Christmas
News in brief from around the world
- Ukraine registered a record 15,331 new cases in the past 24 hours, health minister Maksym Stepanov said on Thursday, up from a previous record of 14,580 reported on Nov. 21.
- In Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Thursday extended a recommended self-isolation period for residents older than 65 and those in risk groups through New Year until Jan. 15.
- The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 22,268 to 983,588, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Thursday.
- As cases surge again nationwide, the US Supreme Court late on Wednesday temporarily barred New York from enforcing certain attendance limits at houses of worship in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.
- China on Thursday reported nine new cases in the vast Inner Mongolia region, where authorities have closed schools, suspended flights, shuttered public venues and banned banquets and other gatherings.
- India recorded 44,489 new infections, data from the health ministry showed on Thursday, the 19th straight day that single-day cases have stayed below the 50,000 mark.
06:14 AMHow the experts are planning to have a Covid-safe Christmas
How the experts are planning to have a Covid-safe Christmas
This time last year, bringing together a big room of people to sing Christmas carols and kiss under the mistletoe seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Now, however, we are looking at a strictly five-day festive ‘season’ where just three households can meet indoors between December 23 and 27.
In the run up to those dates, almost everything will be different: belting out Good King Wenceslas doesn’t seem like a good idea, those in the top tier might not be able to pick up a turkey, and children are making gift requests to Father Christmas on Zoom.
The government has also warned that even if we can get together, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we should.
So how are the experts planning to navigate a pandemic Christmas?
Read more: Christmas lockdown rules: What festive plans could look like
05:28 AMSix of Pakistan's cricket squad test positive in NZ
Six of Pakistan's cricket squad test positive in NZ
Six of Pakistan's squad tested positive for Covid-19, hosts New Zealand Cricket said on Thursday, throwing preparations for their five-match tour into turmoil and causing a scare in a country that has largely eradicated the virus.
The squad's "exemption to train while in managed isolation has been put on hold until investigations have been completed", the governing body said, adding that the six positive players would be moved into strict quarantine.
New Zealand's ministry of health said 53 team members passed a symptom check before leaving Lahore and were tested on arrival in Christchurch on November 24.
Six of those results have come back positive, although two of the six cases are believed to be "historical".
New Zealand Health said the players will now "be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation" and the entire squad would be confined to their rooms.
04:36 AMWhich tier could my area be in?
Which tier could my area be in?
On Dec 2, England will emerge from its month-long lockdown and return to a three-tier system.
As previously, the country will be divided into tiers of "medium" (Tier 1), "high" (Tier 2) and "very high" (Tier 3) risk areas.
The Government will decide which tier each region is placed in after Dec 2 based on "the number of cases" in each area, but particularly the numbers of people aged over 60 testing positive for the virus, according to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Details of the preliminary tier allocations are expected on Nov 26. The tiers will be reassessed every fortnight.
Currently, the tiers are suspended as a national lockdown is in place. Use our postcode search for the latest on infection rates in your area.
Postcode search: Which tier could my area be in?
02:31 AMManufacturing error clouds Oxford vaccine study results
Manufacturing error clouds Oxford vaccine study results
Oxford University and AstraZeneca on Wednesday acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental Covid-19 vaccine.
A statement describing the error came days after the company and the university described the shots as "highly effective" and made no mention of why some study participants didn't receive as much vaccine in the first of two shots as expected.
In a statement on Wednesday, Oxford University said some of the vials used in the trial didn't have the right concentration of vaccine so some volunteers got a half dose. The university said that it discussed the problem with regulators, and agreed to complete the late stage trial with two groups. The manufacturing problem has been corrected, according to the statement.
02:08 AMUS daily death toll at six month high
US daily death toll at six month high
The United States on Wednesday registered more than 2,400 deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally - the highest daily toll in six months as the Thanksgiving holiday began.
At 8:30pm (0030 GMT Thursday), the country had recorded a total of 262,080 Covid deaths, up by 2,439 in 24 hours. It also registered nearly 200,000 new cases.
01:33 AMSouth Korea's cases surge in third wave
South Korea's cases surge in third wave
South Korea is struggling to contain a third wave of Covid-19 as new infections surged over 500 on Thursday for the first time in eight months.
The country added 583 more cases, 553 of them locally-transmitted infections, raising the total caseload to 32,318, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, reported Yonhap.
The new high has surpassed the second wave peak in August which reached 441, and has been attributed to cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities, hospitals and the military.
The failure to contain the escalation is worrying for the East Asian nation which has been credited globally for its robust response to the pandemic.
The authorities have stepped up social distancing measures ahead of a make-or-break nationwide college exam next Thursday, which is considered to be so important to students’ futures that planes have been grounded in the past to help them concentrate.
"We are now in a situation where virus outbreaks can happen at any place we live in," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said. "With the third wave of infections bulking up its size and pace, we must strictly follow social distancing rules."
01:20 AMSudan's former PM dies from Covid
Sudan's former PM dies from Covid
Leading Sudanese politician and former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi died from a coronavirus infection three weeks after being hospitalised in the United Arab Emirates, according to family sources and a party statement early on Thursday.
Mr Mahdi, 84, was Sudan's last democratically elected prime minister and was overthrown in 1989 in the military coup that bought former president Omar al-Bashir to power.
Mr Mahdi headed the moderate Islamic Umma party and remained an influential figure even after Mr Bashir was toppled in April 2019.
Last month, al-Mahdi's family said he had tested positive for Covid-19, and was transferred to the UAE for treatment a few days later following a brief hospitalisation in Sudan.
Several family members and leading party officials were infected as well.
12:22 AMColombia extends health state of emergency
Colombia extends health state of emergency
Colombia's government will extend its health state of emergency by three months, President Ivan Duque said on Wednesday, as he urged people to avoid crowds and keep up safety measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Andean country has had over 1.27 million confirmed cases nearly 36,000 deaths. Active cases number 57,260.
It held a gradually-loosened national quarantine for five and a half months earlier this year, sending economic growth into negative territory and unemployment soaring.
Most economic activities are now allowed, as are international flights, but face masks are required in public. Concerts and other large events are banned.
"The sanitary emergency will extend until February 28, 2021," Mr Duque said on his nightly television programme. "We will extend this process for 90 days and we're doing it to maintain control (and) detailed monitoring."
12:15 AMToday's top stories
- Liverpool is expected to become the first place to escape from the highest of the Government's three coronavirus tiers when Boris Johnson announces the new restrictions on Thursday.
- Britain's economic emergency "has only just begun", Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday as he put the country on notice of tax rises to pay for the £550 billion cost of coronavirus.
- Pupils who have faced significant disruption due to Covid-10 could receive an asterisk on their exam certificate, under plans being considered by the regulator.
- Train firms could ban walk-on tickets to stop overcrowding and aid social distancing during the Christmas getaway, rail sources have said.
- A “four-nations” approach to the relaxation of coronavirus rules at Christmas has fractured within 24 hours after Nicola Sturgeon warned Scots that they will face tighter restrictions than people in England.
- Britain’s second wave of Covid “took the wind out of the recovery” and the pandemic may now leave a permanent scar on the economy and the national finances, the Government’s official forecaster has warned.
- A £4 billion cut to foreign aid spending to help pay for the cost of coronavirus was denounced on Wednesday as "shameful and wrong" by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a minister quit in protest.
- A third wave of Covid-19 next year in the UK should still be expected as the vaccine is unlikely to reach enough people in time to prevent it, a leading scientist has cautioned.
Today's top stories
- Liverpool is expected to become the first place to escape from the highest of the Government's three coronavirus tiers when Boris Johnson announces the new restrictions on Thursday.
- Britain's economic emergency "has only just begun", Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday as he put the country on notice of tax rises to pay for the £550 billion cost of coronavirus.
- Pupils who have faced significant disruption due to Covid-10 could receive an asterisk on their exam certificate, under plans being considered by the regulator.
- Train firms could ban walk-on tickets to stop overcrowding and aid social distancing during the Christmas getaway, rail sources have said.
- A “four-nations” approach to the relaxation of coronavirus rules at Christmas has fractured within 24 hours after Nicola Sturgeon warned Scots that they will face tighter restrictions than people in England.
- Britain’s second wave of Covid “took the wind out of the recovery” and the pandemic may now leave a permanent scar on the economy and the national finances, the Government’s official forecaster has warned.
- A £4 billion cut to foreign aid spending to help pay for the cost of coronavirus was denounced on Wednesday as "shameful and wrong" by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a minister quit in protest.
- A third wave of Covid-19 next year in the UK should still be expected as the vaccine is unlikely to reach enough people in time to prevent it, a leading scientist has cautioned.