Doctors have called for an inquiry into how the British Government has handled the coronavirus crisis as its death toll surges higher than any country in Europe. Detailed statistics yesterday confirmed that more than 30,000 Britons had died of COVID-19 by April 24, almost two weeks ago, and the number of victims continues to rise. … Read more
The woman having an affair with Professor Neil Ferguson said the lockdown was putting a ‘strain’ on her marriage as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted the shamed scientist’s potentially illegal trysts had left him ‘speechless’. Professor Ferguson, 51, asked his mistress Antonia Staats, 38, to travel across London from her £1.9million home at least twice … Read more
A huge swathe of coronavirus documents used by the Government to battle to pandemic have yet to be published to avoid ‘unnecessary confusion’ of the public, the Government claimed today. Some 16 documents from Special Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) meetings since February were released this morning, taking the total to 28. But according to … Read more
Rishi Sunak could reduce government furlough wage support from 80 per cent to 60 per cent in the months ahead as part of a plan to ease Britain back to work, it was claimed today. The Chancellor is trying to figure out a way to ‘wind down’ the employee support scheme which currently sees the … Read more
The Government is considering testing sewage to track the size of the coronavirus outbreak in Britain, it has been revealed. Defra confirmed it is conferring with scientists about whether wastewater can help trace the spread of the deadly infection. It could become part of the government’s next phase of the COVID-19 battle plan to test, track … Read more
Scientists provided the UK government with data advocating easing lockdown for healthy young people while remaining in place for over-70s and the most vulnerable. Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and London modelled what may happen to infection rates under various scenarios. It concluded that the best course of action, in the eyes of these … Read more
Ministers were today facing union warnings over walkouts if health and safety demands are not met when lockdown eases – as Keir Starmer jibed that PPE is not a ‘luxury item’. The government is facing a furious backlash at its draft ‘road map’ for starting to loosen the draconian curbs strangling the economy and plunging … Read more
Headteachers have asked the government to clarify whether they will have to fine parents who refuse to return their children to school after the coronavirus lockdown is eased. More than 1.7 million pupils who are vulnerable, or whose parents are key workers, may be asked to return to school as early as next week, while … Read more
Millions of Britons face a grim return to work in which all normal social contact remains heavily restricted, a leaked government blueprint revealed yesterday. Ministers are preparing to publish a back-to-work dossier for seven sectors of the economy at the end of this week, detailing the steps employers will have to follow to get staff back … Read more
Pressure today mounted on ministers to make a formal face masks announcement after an expert panel ruled they can curb the spread of the coronavirus. Top experts from the prestigious Royal Society concluded that masks – even home-made ones – can reduce the transmission of the deadly infection. In evidence given to Number 10‘s Scientific Advisory … Read more
Road map for exiting coronavirus lockdown A leaked draft has revealed more details of the shape of the next phase of coronavirus curbs – due to be unveiled by Boris Johnson on Sunday. Key points include: More flexibility around the two metre ‘social distancing’ rule as long as firms are taking other steps to protect … Read more
Obesity may be one of the biggest risk factors for developing severe COVID-19, according to scientists. Elderly people, regardless of their weight, have been found to be the most vulnerable to severe illness or death if they catch the coronavirus. But scientific evidence, mostly from the US, is beginning to show that someone who is … Read more
Boris is back! And everything’s going to be great! That was the emphatic message sent to the country today as the Prime Minister returned to the daily UK government coronavirus press briefing after weeks of absence while he battled the deadly disease himself. He was breathless, I assume from residual side-effects of the virus. But … Read more