Ten dead following cluster outbreak at Scottish care home

Ten people have died after contracting Covid-19 following an outbreak at a care home.

NHS Fife said 25 residents and 43 staff tested positive for the virus at Mossview Care Home in Lochgelly.

The care home was closed to new admissions but has since reopened as it is now 14 days since the last positive test.

The health board said its health protection team and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership worked closely with Fife Council's environmental health service to support the management of the care home and offer advice to prevent spread of the virus.

NHS Fife said: "NHS Fife is aware of a recent cluster of confirmed Covid-19 cases associated with Mossview Care Home in Lochgelly.

"A total of 25 residents tested positive for the virus. A further 43 staff have also tested positive for Covid-19.

"Sadly, 10 people died after contracting Covid-19 and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this difficult time."

05:37 PM

How Boris Johnson's new chief of staff is helping chart a course out of choppy Covid waters

Dominic Cummings used to enjoy making MPs walk the plank – but Dan Rosenfield is steadying the ship, Camilla Tominey, our Associate Editor, explains:

With the debate over reopening schools already raging on the Tory backbenches ahead of the March 8 deadline, the three Rs are never far from Boris Johnson's mind.

"Redeem, remake and reopen" has become the Prime Minister's new slogan as he attempts to steer his administration out of choppy coronavirus waters into calmer post-vaccine seas.

Yet like any captain facing a possible mutiny among his crew, he has never been more in need of a reliable first mate.

Dominic Cummings used to enjoy making MPs walk the plank, but Dan Rosenfield, Mr Johnson's new chief of staff, is steadying the ship by pacifying those Conservatives thrown overboard by the former Vote Leave boss.

So "masterful" was the 42-year-old former investment banker's performance on a recent Zoom call with parliamentarians that a full-scale rebellion over the lifting of lockdown is already looking like more of a threat than a reality.

According to one of around 150 Tories on last month's virtual meet-and-greet, the married father of three, appointed in November, "understood something very essential about politicians – that they need to feel loved. He laid it on with a trowel".

You can read her full analysis here.

05:12 PM

Over 500 more deaths in England

A further 571 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 75,357, NHS England has said.

Patients were aged between 17 and 100. All except 29, aged between 36 and 98, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between December 5 and February 5.

There were 35 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

04:47 PM

SNP refuse to rule out checkpoints on English border in drive for harsher quarantine rules

Scottish ministers say they will continue to push for their plan to be adopted UK wide but are willing set up their own blanket system. Daniel Sanderson, our Scottish Correspondent has more:

Motorists travelling from England to Scotland could be checked at border posts under SNP plans to impose the harshest quarantine regime in the UK.

Jeane Freeman, the Health Secretary, refused to rule out border checkpoints to prevent people avoiding more draconian rules on international travel by flying into English airports and then travelling north by road.

She was accused of causing anxiety and confusion for those living close to the border, while a pro-UK campaign group urged the SNP not to use the pandemic "as a proxy for building a border".

The Scottish Government is continuing to push UK ministers to impose a requirement to quarantine under state supervision in hotels for all international arrivals, claiming that current proposals do not go far enough.

However, Nicola Sturgeon has warned that she will impose the blanket system on a Scotland-only basis if there is not a four-nations agreement, in an effort to build a “ring of steel” around Scotland.

You can read the full story here.

04:23 PM

UK nears 12 million jabs

Government data up to February 5 shows of the 11,975,267 jabs given in the UK so far, 11,465,210 were first doses - a rise of 494,163 on the previous day's figures.

Some 510,057 were second doses, an increase of 4,064 on figures released the previous day.

The seven-day rolling average of first doses given in the UK is now 440,896.

Based on the latest figures, an average of 392,754 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the Government's target of 15 million first doses by February 15.

04:18 PM

How Croydon became a hotbed for vaccine misinformation

Misinformation on social media is turning BAME groups against the vaccine. Community leaders say they expect the problem to get worse. Morgan Meaker has more:

When a TikTok user filmed himself shouting "liar" at England's chief medical officer in a London food market this week, the video gave a glimpse of the fevered Covid conspiracies spreading among young people on social media.

Particularly in diverse parts of the capital, researchers are raising the alarm about online misinformation which is fuelling intense government mistrust and persuading Black and Asian minority ethnic (BAME) communities, already disproportionately affected by the virus, to shun the vaccine.

There are fears this is already having an impact. A study released last week by Nuffield Health, found just 20.5pc of black people had been vaccinated so far compared with 42.5 per cent of white people.

In North Croydon, one of the capital's most ethnically diverse constituencies, where more than 60pc of people are from Black, Asian or minority ethnicity (BAME) communities, the medical director of the local NHS Trust, Dr Nnenna Osuji, Medical Director of Croydon NHS Trust, said: "Right now, this misinformation is costing lives."

You can read the full story here.

04:07 PM

Seven deaths in Northern Ireland

A further seven people with Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland. Another 390 positive cases of the virus were also notified by the Department of Health on Saturday.

There are 602 Covid-positive inpatients in hospital, 67 of whom are in intensive care.

03:57 PM

Over 400,000 more vaccinations in England

A total of 10,302,620 Covid-19 vaccinations had taken place in England between December 8 and February 5, according to provisional NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 403,577 on the previous day's figures.

Of this number, 9,831,897were the first dose of the vaccine, a rise of 401,636 on the previous day's figures, while 470,723 were the second dose, an increase of 1,941.

03:39 PM

India asks states to speed up Covid-19 vaccination

India's government has urged states and union territories to accelerate Covid-19 vaccinations after a review found "substantial" room for speeding up the programme.

India started what it says in the world's biggest vaccination programme in January, aiming to reach 300 million people between July-August.

Twelve states and union territories have vaccinated 60% of their healthcare workers so far but many need to improve their performance, the government said after a review by the federal health secretary.

It said in a statement there remains "substantial scope for improvement in the number of average vaccinations per vaccination session."

03:17 PM

Netherlands reports millionth coronavirus infection

The Netherlands has passed the mark of 1 million confirmed coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic, data released by health authorities showed.

The Institute for Public Health (RIVM) reported 4,075 new infections, taking the total number of cases to 1,001,826 in the 11 months since the virus was first found in the country of 17 million.

02:52 PM

Denmark to lift UAE flight ban from Sunday

Denmark will lift a ban on flights coming from the United Arab Emirates from Sunday, the UAE embassy to Denmark has said on Twitter.

Denmark said two weeks ago it would temporarily halt flights from the Gulf state for five days after concerns were raised about the coronavirus tests administered in the emirate of Dubai before departure.

Passengers travelling from the UAE to Denmark must present a negative Covid-19 no older than 24 hours before boarding. On arrival they must take another test and isolate for 10 days, the embassy said, adding that these rules apply until Feb. 28.

02:30 PM

Scotland has 48 more coronavirus deaths

The latest daily data showed a further 895 people were confirmed as having the disease, which was 5.9% of all those who were tested for it.

A total of 6,431 people in Scotland have now died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.

Meanwhile a total of 1,729 are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19 - a decrease of 65 from the previous total.

The number of intensive care patients has fallen by six in the last 24 hours to stand at 117.

The figures also showed that 786,427 people have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, with 10,332 having had both doses.

02:15 PM

Myanmar approves Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine

Myanmar has approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investments Fund has said.

"Myanmar becomes the 21st country to register Sputnik V," the RDIF said in a tweet.

01:54 PM

German minister angry at vaccine rollout

Olaf Scholz, the German Finance Minister has said he was angry that more Covid-19 vaccines were not ordered last year as Ursula von der Leyen renewed her defence of the European Commission's record on rolling them out.

"I'm angry about some of the decisions that were taken last year," Mr Scholz told BBC radio's Today programme. "I think there had been the opportunity to order more of the vaccines."

Asked about von der Leyen's responsibility for the slow rollout, Mr Scholz replied: "I think it is necessary that anyone learns the lesson, and this is also (true) for Europe. I think the European Union is strong."

01:29 PM

Pubs and restaurants could reopen in April – with no alcohol

A temporary 'booze ban' being is considered as part of Government's roadmap for lifting lockdown. Harry Yorke, our Whitehall Editor and our political team have more:

Pubs and restaurants could reopen as soon as April if they agree not to sell alcohol under options being discussed to allow the widespread relaxation of coronavirus restrictions after Easter.

The Telegraph can disclose that a temporary "booze ban" is being considered as part of the Government's roadmap for lifting lockdown, which will be unveiled on Feb 22.

It is understood the move is being discussed to allay concerns from Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and others about the effect of drinking on social distancing.

Under the three-stage plan for lifting restrictions, some outdoor socialising is expected to be allowed in March and schools are set to return.

It is hoped that hospitality can then reopen in April and that all of the most vulnerable will be vaccinated by May, in time for the local elections.

You can read the full story here.

01:12 PM

Pfizer applies to register Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil

Anvisa, the Brazilian health regulator has said that Pfizer has applied for full regulatory approval of its Covid-19 vaccine developed with BioNTech.

This is the second vaccine submitted for registration in Brazil. AstraZeneca applied for full regulatory approval at the end of January for the vaccine it developed with Oxford University.

It will be made in Brazil in partnership with the federally funded Fiocruz biomedical center.

12:56 PM

The 'magic' has started: early data shows Israel's vaccination campaign is working

It took longer than expected but there is now 'real world' evidence to show the Pfizer jab is both saving lives and reducing infections. Paul Nuki, our Global Health Security Editor, has the full analysis:

A new study published on Friday suggested for the first time Israel’s vaccination campaign was proving effective at preventing infection and serious illness in vaccinated individuals.

It adds to an analysis published earlier in the week which shows the Pfizer vaccine starting to change the dynamics of the outbreak in Israel where nearly 40 per cent of the population has now received at least one jab.

The latest study published by Professor Dvir Aran, a biologist at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, suggests the vaccine is between 66-85 per cent effective at preventing infection and 87-96 per cent effective for preventing severe disease.

The results are not quite as strong as Pfizer’s own phase three trial results but not far off.

You can read his full piece here.

12:37 PM

Wales vaccine doses up to 550,000

Public Health Wales said a total of 556,997 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had now been given.

The agency said 2,471 second doses were also given.

In total, 84.7% of those over 80 have received their first dose of the vaccine, along with 78.2% of care home residents and 81.5% of care home staff.

12:32 PM

675 more cases in Wales

There have been a further 675 cases of coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 195,599.

Public Health Wales reported another 49 deaths, taking the total in Wales since the start of the pandemic to 4,961.

12:11 PM

EU chief diplomat accused of kow-towing to Russia for vaccines on embarrassing Moscow visit

The EU’s foreign affairs chief pressed ahead with the meeting despite misgivings from some EU member states. James Crisp, our Brussels Correspondent has more:

The EU's top diplomat on Friday called for the bloc to turn to Russia to make up its shortfall in vaccine supplies in a humiliating visit to Moscow that drew a sharp rebuke from the United States.

Josep Borell was accused of “whitewashing” Vladimir Putin’s regime after failing to free jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny after a controversial visit that ended with expulsion of three European diplomats.

Officials in the US administration believed Mr Borrell got "played" by the Russians.

They regarded his visit as "awkward" and unnecessary, and felt he should have coordinated better with Washington, especially with the EU-US relations in need of repair and a united front against Moscow vital.

In the EU’s latest blunder, the foreign affairs chief urged the independent European Medicines Authority (EMA) to press ahead with the authorisation of the Sputnik jab so it could make up the shortfall in supplies to the bloc.

You can read the full piece here.

11:50 AM

Labour calls alcohol-free pubs 'unviable'

A shadow minister has criticised "unviable" suggestions that there have been discussions in Government about allowing dry pubs to open in April. Government sources have been dismissive of the idea of pubs opening without being able to serve alcohol.

Lucy Powell, Labour's shadow minister for business and consumers, said: "These half measures would be deeply damaging for pubs and hospitality.

"Rather than forcing them to open but not sell alcohol, the Government should protect jobs and businesses by making the furlough scheme smart and giving businesses access to the emergency support they need - keeping it in place until necessary measures are lifted.

"Ideas like this could see Covid cases rise and business thrown under the bus needlessly.

"The vaccine gives us a way out - the last thing businesses need now is ridiculous speculation about reopening under unviable terms."

11:38 AM

School day could be lengthened to help children catch up on lost studies

Department for Education understood to be studying cost-effectiveness of adding on extra classes at beginning and end of day. Camilla Turner, our Education Editor and our political team have more:

Ministers are drawing up a series of proposals on how best to address the lost learning inflicted on millions of children during lockdown.

Department for Education (DfE) officials are understood to be studying the evidence and cost-effectiveness of adding on extra classes at the beginning and end of the day.

It comes as Tory MPs renewed calls for an explanation of why schools in England cannot follow the lead of Scotland and Wales and begin a phased reopening after the February half-term.

DfE officials are said to be "thinking seriously" about proposals for the school day to be lengthened, with charities and volunteers potentially stepping in to run out-of-hours classes and extra-curricular activities.

You can read the full story here.

11:20 AM

Italy clears emergency use of Covid-19 antibody therapies

Roberto Speranza, Italy's Health Minister has said the country has signed the decree authorising the emergency use of monoclonal antibodies to treat the coronavirus.

AIFA, Italy's medicines regulator, had given its green light for emergency use of Covid-19 antibody therapies developed by US drugmakers Eli Lilly and Regeneron.

10:58 AM

Abu Dhabi brings back some restrictions to curb Covid-19

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has brought back some restrictions on workplace capacities and leisure activities, including shutting cinemas, to curb a rise in Covid-19 cases.

The measures follow a raft of restrictions brought in by the neighbouring emirate of Dubai, a regional tourism and business hub which has welcomed foreign visitors for its peak winter season, over the past few weeks.

Only 30% of employees will be allowed to attend workplaces at Abu Dhabi government and semi-government entities and all employees must undertake a weekly PCR test unless they have been vaccinated, Abu Dhabi media office said on Saturday.

10:36 AM

Malaysia reports almost 4,000 new cases

Malaysia has reported 3,847 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 238,721.

The health ministry also reported 12 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 857.

10:19 AM

Worcestershire Council sets up surge testing

Worcestershire County Council is setting up surge testing in the WR3 postcode after the South African variant of coronavirus was identified in the area.

A mobile testing unit has been set up at The White Hart pub in Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, for adults with no symptoms living within walking distance, while home testing kits are also being made available.

The council said in a statement: "Working in partnership with NHS Test and Trace, every person over the age of 18, living in the WR3 postcode and some WR9 postcodes, is strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test this week, even if they are not showing symptoms.

"To find out if your postcode is included in this testing and for more information please visit the Covid-19 variant pages of the County Council website."

Dr Kathryn Cobain, director for public health in Worcestershire, said: "I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant."

09:56 AM

Coronavirus around the world in pictures

Callao, Peru

Bogota, Colombia

Hyderabad, India

09:47 AM

Children's Commissioner calls for students to return to school as soon as possible

Anne Longfield , the Children's Commissioner has called for children to return to school at the "first opportunity possible".

She told BBC Breakfast: "What we all realise now is the impact on children of not being in school, both educationally and in terms of their wellbeing is absolutely immense, and one that we hadn't really anticipated in the first instance but now a year on is very clear to see."

She continued: "At the heart of all this is that children are getting very different experiences and in every likelihood, those children who started behind and most disadvantaged have fallen further behind, we know that now.

"The pressure now on getting that catch-up in place, getting children to the point where they can start to get their confidence back and rebuild really needs to start in huge earnest.

09:27 AM

China approves Sinovac Biotech Covid-19 vaccine

Sinovac Biotech has said that its unit's Covid-19 vaccine has been formally approved for use by the general public by China's medical products regulator.

Prior to the approval, the CoronaVac vaccine had already been administered in China's vaccination programme mainly targeting key groups deemed to be at higher risk of exposure to the virus.

09:06 AM

It's a matter of when, not if, resistant mutations occur says vaccine chief

Clive Dix, the chairman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce said studies of coronavirus would help the country and the world get "ahead of the game" on vaccine-evading new variants.

Asked whether there could be a mutation that could escape the current vaccines on offer, he told Today: "Of course - when it will occur and whether it will occur is one thing.

"That's what happened with flu, we get these pandemic threats with flu.

"We should learn from flu... I believe this virus will be very similar - it will last a long time, it will be travelling around the world in different places, it will be endemic in certain countries and we need to do that work, yes.

"I think there is the possibility but we will be ahead of the game.

"We're not going to wait for it to happen - we now have capabilities in the UK to be responsive and that capability won't just be for the use of the UK of course.

"Once we've done it, it will actually help the whole world because it will be part of that whole surveillance and reaction."

08:53 AM

We need a plan B to cope with vaccine-resistant variants, says Jeremy Hunt

The nation needs to have a "plan B" to continue to tackle the pandemic, despite the successful vaccine programme which has raised hopes of reopening society, according to former health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

He told BBC Breakfast: "In November and early December we weren't thinking about this Kent variant that arose and there will be other variants."

He pointed out that the vaccines minister had said in Parliament that there are 4,000 different mutations around the world, and it may well be that one of those is immune to the vaccines.

Mr Hunt told the programme: "We need to have a plan B that makes sure that having done all of this work with this brilliant vaccine programme, that is by far the most successful anywhere is Europe, that is not then undermined because we suddenly find ourselves subject to a new mutation that is immune to all these vaccines."

08:35 AM

Russia reports 16,627 new coronavirus cases

Russia has reported 16,627 new coronavirus cases, which takes the overall national number of confirmed infections to 3,951,233.

Russia's coronavirus crisis centre said 497 more coronavirus patients had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the Russian official death toll to 76,229.

08:00 AM

Intensive care units 'very much in the thick of it'

Anthony Gordon, professor of critical care medicine at Imperial College London, said intensive care units were still "in the thick of it" when it came to dealing with Covid cases.

Asked whether the vaccine programme provided hope that the end of the pandemic was near, the ICU consultant at St Mary's Hospital in London told BBC Radio 4's Today: "Yes, I'm hoping that will translate soon.

"I think we're all hoping that there is relief from all of this, from the lockdowns and so on eventually, but at the moment we are still very much in the thick of it for a little while longer."

Asked about his own experience, he added: "What I'm seeing is that we're still extremely busy.

"We've expanded into these surge ICUs and they are still fully open and full with patients.

"I think the ever-increasing numbers coming in are starting to plateau - we're seeing fewer patients coming in now but we're still full and these patients, once they become ill, stay ill for a long time in the intensive care units, so we're absolutely full to the rafters still."

07:42 AM

Suppression is the key, says Hunt

Suppressing the virus now should be a key part of plans to deal with potential new variants, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

He told BBC Breakfast: "The worry that we have to really plan for is that we will have a new mutation that will be immune to the vaccines we are giving out at the moment.

"In order to make sure we do not get caught out by that again we need to get transmission levels down to the kind of levels where we can do incredibly thorough contact tracing like they do in Korea and Taiwan - several hundred people sometimes from just one case and doing the genomic editing of every single case that we get so that you can understand what it is.

"When you can get to that level of thoroughness you know you will not have to go back to another lockdown if you have one of these horrible new variants."

07:00 AM

Signs Israel's vaccination campaign is working

A new study suggests for the first time that Israel’s vaccination campaign is proving effective at preventing infection and serious illness in vaccinated individuals.

It adds to an analysis published earlier in the week that shows the Pfizer vaccine is starting to change the dynamics of the outbreak in Israel where nearly 40 per cent of the population has received at least one jab.

Read the full story here.

06:45 AM

'Hug tents' gives families a taste of pre-Covid life

It had been at least eight months since Lynda Hartman touched her 77-year-old husband, Len, who has dementia and has been at an assisted-living centre in suburban Denver for the past year.

On Wednesday, the American couple got a small taste of what life was like before the coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks to a "hug tent" set up outside Juniper Village at Louisville, Mrs Hartman got to squeeze her husband of nearly 55 years - albeit while wearing plastic sleeves and separated by a 4mm-thick clear plastic barrier.

Since the pandemic hit, similar tents have popped up around the world, where some people call them "cuddle curtains".

For Gregg MacDonald, holding hands with his 84-year-old mother, Chloe, was important because they hadn't touched since April.

06:27 AM

'Citizen scientists' to count lockdown stars

People are being urged to take part in a nationwide star count to see if lockdown has had an impact on light pollution.

By counting stars within the constellation of Orion, "citizen scientists" will help map the best and worst places in England to enjoy a star-filled night sky, organisers said.

The information on light pollution will be used in efforts to secure darker skies, which improve health and wellbeing, protect wildlife and allow people to enjoy starry nights, CPRE, the countryside charity, and the British Astronomical Association's Commission for Dark Skies said.

And data from this year's annual survey will be compared with 2020's findings to see what impact lockdown has had.

Last year's star count, which took place before coronavirus restrictions took hold, revealed 61pc of people taking part lived with severe light pollution.

To take part, people just need to look up from their garden, balcony, doorstep or even bedroom during February 6-14 - during a clear night - and count how many stars within the constellation of Orion they can spot.

06:00 AM

UK variant detected in Hawaii

Hawaii officials are urging the public to avoid Super Bowl parties this weekend while announcing that a more transmissible variant of coronavirus has been detected on Oahu.

One individual with no travel history has been confirmed to have the B.1.1.7 variant that first emerged in the UK. One close contact of this person also tested positive.

The variant has been detected in more than 30 US states.

05:19 AM

Later curfews for South Korea

South Korea eased curfews today on more than half a million restaurants and other businesses outside the capital of Seoul, letting them stay open an hour later, amid a public backlash over tight curbs to contain Covid.

After using aggressive testing and tracing to blunt several earlier waves of the virus without drastic lockdowns, the authorities have imposed increasingly rigid social distancing rules as they fight the latest wave of the epidemic.

The restraints have pushed small business owners and self-employed people to the limits of what they can endure, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told an intra-agency meeting on Saturday.

So businesses outside the capital will now be able to stay open until 10pm, but "the 9pm operations restriction remains as is in the metropolitan Seoul area, where more than 70pc of total infections are concentrated and still faces the risk of virus transmission", Mr Chung said.

04:36 AM

Tennis concerns ease as Victoria records no new cases

Australia's state of Victoria reported no local coronavirus cases on Saturday for the second straight day, boding well for the Australian Open tennis tournament due to start in Melbourne on Monday.

More than 500 staff and players in the Grand Slam event tested negative for the virus on Friday in re-testing required after a worker at their quarantine hotel caught the virus.

READ MORE: Doubt surrounds Australian Open as staff member at players' hotel tests positive

Positive cases could have spurred a lockdown, and qualifying matches were cancelled on Thursday while test results were pending.

The Victorian government ruled that except for players, masks will be mandatory at Australian Open games, which will be played under a closed roof.

Following the most recent case, masks are required in all indoor spaces in Victoria.

04:11 AM

School day may lengthen to let pupils catch up

The school day could be lengthened to help children catch up on their studies under plans being considered by the Government.

Ministers are drawing up a series of proposals on how best to address the lost learning inflicted on millions of children during lockdown.

Department for Education officials are understood to be studying the evidence and cost-effectiveness of adding on extra classes at the beginning and end of the day.

READ MORE: School day could be lengthened to help children catch up on lost studies

03:44 AM

Covid cases drop at US care homes

Coronavirus cases have dropped at American nursing homes and other long-term care facilities over the past few weeks, offering a glimmer of hope that health officials partly attribute to the start of vaccinations, an easing of the post-holiday surge and better prevention.

More than 153,000 residents of the country's nursing homes and assisted living centres have died of Covid, accounting for 36pc of the US pandemic death toll.

Many of the roughly two million people who live at such facilities remain cut off from loved ones because of the risk of infection.

03:25 AM

NZ investigates community infection

New Zealand health authorities are today investigating a new community coronavirus infection.

It is the fourth in two weeks among people who completed mandatory isolation at an Auckland quarantine facility for returned overseas travellers.

The new case was diagnosed in a person self-isolating at home in Hamilton, a city in the North Island of New Zealand, who was released from a two-week hotel quarantine on January 30 after testing negative twice for the virus.

"We consider the public health risk to be low and people in and around Hamilton should not be alarmed," Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said.

"We are acting out of an abundance of caution. We are not advising any restrictions or cancellations of events."

The ministry has recently required all travellers who completed the 14-day quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland to self-isolate for five more days at home.

Genome sequencing has been carried out to determine if the case has the South African variant, which was reported in three other cases linked to the hotel. Those were New Zealand's first cases in the community in months.

03:20 AM

Yankees stadium a vaccine site for New York's minorities

Defying the cold and rain, hundreds of people bundled up in thick coats have been vaccinated in the famous Yankees baseball stadium in the Bronx, a New York borough that has been particularly badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's like a choice between life and death," said Ines Figueroa, 64, a Puerto Rican resident of the Bronx, after receiving the shot. Her husband died in January of complications linked to the virus which she too contracted, although without developing symptoms.

The positivity rate in the Bronx is the highest in all of New York's five boroughs. That is why the authorities in this traditionally Democratic bastion of the city decided to reserve the vaccinations on offer at the stadium exclusively for residents of the Bronx.

01:23 AM

New push for minority NHS staff to get jab

An NHS surgeon known for his work on tackling knife violence has pledged to battle coronavirus vaccine hesitancy, saying he does not want people to "die because of misinformation".

Dr Martin Griffiths, who has received a vaccine, is urging fellow staff and others from black, Asian and other minority groups to get the jab.

People from minority ethnic backgrounds are more susceptible to Covid but research suggests they are among those most hesitant about getting vaccinated.

Dr Griffiths said this situation is "tragic" and something he is "not prepared to tolerate".

The NHS national clinical director for violence reduction added: "I've had coronavirus, I've seen it up close. You don't want to die. The people doing badly are the same people who are hesitant about taking up the vaccine and it's tragic.

Dr Griffiths is calling on patients and colleagues to share the message that the approved vaccines are safe for all, and the key to communities opening up again.

"Spread the word, not the virus," he said.

READ MORE: NHS moves to tackle Covid vaccine hesitancy among BAME staff

01:04 AM

Today's top stories

• Pubs and restaurants could reopen as soon as April if they agree not to sell alcohol under options being discussed to allow the widespread relaxation of coronavirus restrictions after Easter.
• The EU's top diplomat has called for the bloc to turn to Russia to make up its shortfall in vaccine supplies in a humiliating visit to Moscow that drew a sharp rebuke from the United States.
• All travellers will be tested twice for Covid after arrival in the country under Government plans to prevent the spread of new variants.
• Matt Hancock will take direct control of the NHS amid concerns that controversial reforms of the David Cameron-era have hampered its response to the Covid pandemic.
• Analysis: Its budget is more than £130 billion. It has 1.3 million staff. Last year the nation clapped for it, and this month it clapped for those who have raised money for it. In politics it is known as our national creed. But if the health service is a religion, could Covid-19 prove to be its reformation?
• The school day could be lengthened to help children catch up on their studies under plans being considered by the Government.