Tuesday evening news briefing: 1.7 million more people told to shield due to Covid risk

Chris Price
·6 min read
Jo Wiley with her disabled sister Frances - Clive Limpkin/Rex Features
Jo Wiley with her disabled sister Frances - Clive Limpkin/Rex Features

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

1.7m more people told to shield by new NHS calculator

Roughly 1.7 million people will be added to the shielding list in England, after experts developed an algorithm which has identified more adults at serious risk from Covid-19. According to health officials, letters from the NHS will arrive imminently telling people they should be shielding, joining around 2.2m people already on the list in England. This comes as new data shows the number of people testing positive for antibodies is rising across the UK as the vaccine rollout accelerates. Prevalence was highest among those over 80 but there was a reminder the vaccination programme still faces serious challenges as BBC DJ Jo Whiley revealed her heartbreaking torment after being offered a jab before her disabled sister whose care home has been locked down due to a Covid outbreak.

Meanwhile, the "phased and gradual return to school" will go ahead in Scotland as planned from Monday, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed. Children aged four to seven and secondary pupils who need to carry out practical assignments will go back to school from February 22 - two weeks ahead of England's students. The SNP will hope the return goes better than the first day of its hotel quarantine scheme, where the first international arrivals were allowed to leave after just one day due to a loophole.

Video of Dubai princess reveals 'hostage' situation

The daughter of Dubai's ruler who tried to flee the country in 2018 has been "held hostage" in a villa surrounded by police, secret videos to her friends claim. Princess Latifa Al Maktoum made a number of accusations in the videos, obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme, which were recorded in the bathroom of the villa because it was "the only door she could lock". Dubai and the UAE have previously said she is safe in the care of family, according to the BBC. Click here to watch the video.

Mary Berry's easy pancake recipe for any novice

Frying pans at the ready! Pancake Day is here and amateur chefs across the land will be testing their flipping skills. But if you have not got a clue where to begin, Mary Berry has put together this easy pancake recipe, with only three ingredients, that is perfect for any novice. Of course, all the fun is in the toppings. Check out these 10 easy fillings and topping ideas for the savoury and sweet tooth. Read on for the best vegan pancake recipes and here is a reminder of the origins of Shrove Tuesday.

At a glance: Latest coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

'Oprah special' | The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reluctantly resigned to losing their royal patronages, the Telegraph understands, as a source close to the couple insisted their Oprah Winfrey TV interview was not agreed as a form of revenge. Read how the US chatshow host played the long game to bag the 'Oprah special' and Stephen Armstrong outlines how it shows who is the couple's preferred audience.

Around the world: More charges against Suu Kyi

Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with another charge today, after the military imposed a second straight overnight internet shutdown in an attempt to grind down an anti-coup uprising. In the two weeks since the generals ousted Suu Kyi and put the civilian leader under house arrest in the administrative capital Naypyidaw, big cities and isolated village communities alike have been in open revolt. Watch protesters lying on train tracks and armoured vehicles in Yangon.

Tuesday big-read

Klopp hits back - 'I do not need a break'

Jurgen Klopp - Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC
Jurgen Klopp - Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC

Defending Premier League champions Liverpool have won three and lost five of their last 11 league games but manager Jurgen Klopp says "nobody needs to worry about me"

Read the full story

Comment and analysis

You've got this: Getting you through lockdown

  1. Kirsty Gallacher | How I'm weightlifting through lockdown – even without the gym

  2. Tesla Model 3 review | Updates keep electric car on the pace, but irritations persist

  3. 'Turkey neck' | Like Judy Murray, I had the Morpheus8 treatment – and was blown away

Business and money briefing

Currency milestone | Bitcoin has burst through $50,000 (£35,900) for the first time, reaching new record highs for the cryptocurrency as it continues its upward run. Our tech liveblog has the latest updates and read how to add Bitcoin to your Isa and profit tax-free.

Sport briefing

England v India | England were given a hiding by 317 runs in the second Test as a "perfect" India levelled the four-match series at 1-1. Joe Root, who described the defeat as an "education", has revealed Moeen Ali chose to return home rather than stay on for the final two Tests due to fatigue with life in the Covid bubble. Michael Vaughan says England's revolving door selection policy proves their priority is not Test cricket.

Tonight's TV

Animals on the Loose: A You vs Wild Movie, Netflix | Bear Grylls’s survival skills escapade offers hands-on fun for all the family in an interactive adventure in which you, the viewer, get to make all the key decisions. Read more.

And finally... for this evening's downtime

DOI DOA? | Celebrity figure-skating contest Dancing On Ice has called off this Sunday's episode amid more dropouts than an eskimo's Wi-Fi signal. With five of its cast quitting for various reasons and others laid up with injury, the reality contest has been in a state of crisis since it began a month ago. Michael Hogan would not be surprised if the current run is canned altogether.