Coronavirus UK: ‘Immunity certificates’ may ease lockdown

Britons who have already have fought off the coronavirus could be given ‘immunity certificates’, ministers today confirmed. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted Number 10 was looking at the move at a Downing Street press conference tonight.  German scientists have already announced they will roll out the certificates, to try and ease the country out of … Read more

Coronavirus: Health Secretary Matt Hancock tells Premier League footballers to ‘take a pay cut’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock demands Premier League footballers ‘play their part’ in tackling coronavirus crisis as he tells them: ‘Take a pay cut’ Matt Hancock said ‘everybody needs to play their part’ in fighting coronavirus He said given the ‘sacrifices’ others are making, footballers should take pay cut  Comes amid growing pressure on star players … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Matt Hancock promises 100k new tests a DAY

Matt Hancock’s five-point plan to increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 per day  Increase the number of swab tests being carried out by Public Health England labs and the NHS to 25,000 per day by the end of the month. Vastly expand the swab testing network using private sector retailers like Boots and Amazon, universities and … Read more

Testing fiasco deepens as super-lab in Milton Keynes only starts advertising jobs TODAY

What is the coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Testing is the only way to end this. The Prime Minister MUST now get a grip

Responding on January 23 to mounting fears about the remorseless advance across the globe of coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock delivered a statement to the Commons. Even though deaths were inexorably rising in China, where the incurable killer originated, no cases had – yet – been discovered in Britain. Nevertheless, Mr Hancock sought to reassure … Read more

SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Society magician Archie Manners conjures up Boy George by mistake 

Lockdown, what lockdown? London‘s social scene might have been put on the backburner, but its movers and shakers are refusing to let the fun come to an end. Everyone from the Duchess of Cornwall to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and, reportedly, David Cameron is now socialising via Houseparty, the social network which allows group video … Read more

Are there hidden dangers in the Zoom boom?

Along with millions of people around the world, Boris Johnson likes to Zoom.  On Tuesday our Covid-19 stricken, self-isolating Prime Minister posted a photograph on Twitter showing a cabinet meeting he had conducted remotely, using Zoom, the video conferencing application. There on his desktop computer screen were all the senior members of his government — … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Just 2k out of 500k frontline NHS staff tested

Downing Street has admitted just 2,000 frontline NHS workers have been tested for coronavirus as Matt Hancock today ordered hospitals to ‘max out’ testing capacity on doctors and nurses.  The government has faced fierce criticism of its testing efforts relating to health workers amid claims 15 per cent of the NHS workforce could be self-isolating … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Government’s testing shambles continues

Ministers were accused of ‘complacency’ and snubbing offers of help from labs today as Boris Johnson struggles to get a grip on the UK’s coronavirus testing shambles.  The government is desperately trying to ramp up the number of checks carried out, with warnings that 85 per cent of self-isolating NHS staff might be off unnecessarily … Read more

Testing shambles spirals as desperate Boris Johnson blames chemical shortage

Ministers were accused of ‘complacence’ and snubbing offers of help from labs today as Boris Johnson struggles to get a grip on the UK’s coronavirus testing shambles.  The government is desperately trying to ramp up the number of checks carried out, with experts warning that is the only way to end the lockdown threatening to … Read more

Piers Morgan slams Michael Gove and Matt Hancock for ‘backslapping’ each other about ventilators

Piers Morgan blasts ‘tone deaf’ Matt Hancock and Michael Gove for ‘back-slapping’ each other on Twitter over new ventilators that ‘haven’t arrived’ on day UK suffered worst coronavirus deaths of 381 Health Secretary applauded arrival of ventilators for the NHS on Twitter Colleague Michael Gove congratulated him for his ‘great leadership’ amid crisis Piers Morgan … Read more

Family of British medic to die from coronavirus tells of pain amid row over protecting NHS staff

The heartbroken family of the first NHS worker to die from coronavirus have said that it he was ‘properly protected’ he might still be alive today amid a wave of criticism directed at the Government’s handling of Covid-19 tests. Dr Adil El Tayar, a working surgeon, died on Wednesday at West Middlesex University Hospital in … Read more

Coronavirus UK: ‘Herd immunity’ idea ‘gave up on containment’

The UK gave up on containing the coronavirus outbreak ‘too soon’ because scientists assumed most people would become infected anyway, a leading expert has claimed. Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at the Edinburgh University, said the assumption led officials to abandon measures that could help slow the pandemic. Those measures include mass testing and stringent contact … Read more