Coronavirus news – live: Christmas ‘may lead to third wave’ but life ‘could start to normalise by spring’
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Your support makes all the difference.Experts are warning the planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas could lead to a third wave of the pandemic, after the UK’s four nations agreed three households would be allowed to mix in a bubble for five days over the festive period.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC’s Newsnight “it will definitely lead to increased transmission”, adding: “It is likely to lead to a third wave of infection, with hospitals being overrun, and more unnecessary deaths.”
He also described the bringing together of families with elderly relatives “for hours, let alone days” as “a recipe for regret for many families”.
And as the UK recorded its highest number of total daily deaths since the start of May, the British Medical Association (BMA) also warned that the Christmas period will “almost certainly” lead to a rise in the infection rate.
Meanwhile, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty has said that “many of us hope that things will begin to normalise” by spring 2021, but cautioned that this will be a “steady” rather than immediate return to normality.
Boris Johnson facing growing backbench revolt over England tiers
Boris Johnson is facing a growing revolt from Conservative backbenchers demanding their areas do not face the toughest coronavirus restrictions when the latest system is unveiled, Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports.
With lockdown in England due to end next week, ministers will shortly set out new limitations for every part of the country.
The prime minister has already warned of a ‘hard winter’ ahead for many as the UK struggles to bring the pandemic under control.
Boris Johnson facing growing backbench revolt over England tiers
Calls for district-wide not county-wide approach
Government providing £280bn to ‘get our country through coronavirus,’ chancellor says
Rishi Sunak said the government is providing £280bn to "get our country through coronavirus", telling MPs: "Next year, to fund our programmes on testing, personal protective equipment and vaccines, we are allocating an initial £18bn."
The chancellor said £3bn would be provided to support NHS recovery - allowing them to carry out up to one million checks, scans, and operations - while more than £2bn will be spent on transport, with funding to subsidise rail networks.
He added: "And while much of our coronavirus response is UK-wide, the government is also providing £2.6bn to support the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"Taken together, next year, public services funding to tackle coronavirus will total £55bn."
Liverpool mass testing may be ‘missed opportunity’ as thousands in poorer areas decline to take part
Mass testing in Liverpool will be a missed opportunity to minimise coronavirus in the region if more is not done to convince the less well-off to take part, one of the city’s most senior doctors has said, Colin Drury reports.
Dr Rob Barnett, secretary with the Liverpool Medical Committee, made his warning as it was revealed that in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods just four per cent of people have come forward to be screened.
The fear of the lost income caused by being ordered to self-isolate if found positive is believed to be behind much of the reluctance.
Liverpool mass coronavirus testing may be ‘missed opportunity,’ says doctor, as thousands in poorer areas decline to take par
Fear of lost income if ordered to self-isolate keeping people away, says senior city doctor
White House considers lifting European travel restrictions
Europeans could soon be allowed to enter the United States, with the White House considering lifting travel bans imposed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Travellers from Britain, Ireland and 26 other European countries would be allowed to enter the US under proposals, reported Reuters, with airline officials made aware of the plans.
Gino Spocchia reports:
White House considers lifting European travel restrictions
American airline officials say widespread support for lifting restrictions for Schengen area and Britain
Government told ‘get a grip’ over missing tests
The government has been told to “get a grip” of its nationwide testing programme following reports that Covid-19 tests provided to members of the public and care homes are being regularly lost.
A Public Health England (PHE) source who works on tracing complex Covid-19 outbreaks told The Independent that these issues “have been happening for months”.
Samuel Lovett has this exclusive report:
Government urged to ‘get a grip’ over reports of missing Covid test results
Exclusive: Test results from care homes and members of public are continuing to go missing across England
Government to tackle spreading of ‘lies’ about vaccines
The government has detailed plans to tackle the spreading of "lies" and misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines, peers have been told.
Health minister Lord Bethell said plans were in place to deal with both "misinformation based on confusion" and "disinformation based on malice".
Lord Bethell declined to give details at question time but assured the Lords that there would be consideration for those with concerns about the vaccines.
£55bn extra public funding next year for Covid response
The UK government has spent £280bn on its response to the coronavirus crisis and intends to spend a further £55bn next year, chancellor Rishi Sunak has told the House of Commons.
Delivering his spending review to the House of Commons, Mr Sunak told MPs: “Our health emergency is not yet over and our economy emergency has only just begun.”
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
Rishi Sunak announces £55bn extra public funding next year for Covid response
Bill for coronavirus response already stands at £280bn, figures show
Extra £2.1bn of taxpayers’ money allocated to keep trains running
A further £2.1bn of taxpayers' money has been allocated to covering private train company losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
The government took over rail franchise agreements from train companies in March, following the collapse in demand for travel caused by the virus crisis.
This involves taxpayers covering lost fare revenue and paying a fee of up to 1.5 per cent of pre-pandemic operating costs to keep services running.
An estimated £8bn will be spent in the current financial year, with a further £2.1bn allocated for 2021/22.
Covid cases in Europe are ‘slowing down’
The cororonavirus infection rate has “slowed down” in Europe in the past week, although death continued to accelerate, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
In its latest epidemiological update, the WHO said that there was a “downward trend” in the number of cases in the region, but cautioned that it is still the largest contributor of new cases and deaths globally.
Kate Ng has more details:
Covid cases in Europe are ‘slowing down’, says WHO
Cases show ‘downward trend’ but Europe still accounts for almost half of global new Covid-19 deaths
20% of all crimes related to domestic abuse during first lockdown
One in five offences recorded by police during and immediately after the first national lockdown in England and Wales involved domestic abuse, figures show.
Police recorded more than a quarter of a million offences flagged as domestic abuse-related from March to June of 2020, the Office for National Statistics said.
Bethany Dawson reports:
20% of all crimes were related to domestic abuse during first lockdown, says ONS
‘Data suggests that experiences of domestic abuse may have intensified during the lockdown and that victims faced difficulties in safely seeking support under these conditions,’ expert says
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