Covid news – live: Minister resigns over failure to recoup coronavirus fraud losses as travel tests scrapped

Treasury minister Lord Agnew has resigned from the government over how it has handled fraudulent Covid business loans.

The Conservative peer marched out of the House of Lords, saying “schoolboy errors” had been made in a “desperately inadequate” operation.

He was updating peers about £4.3bn of loans - written off by the Treasury - which Labour said has gone to “fraudsters”.

In what has been described as “one of the most dramatic moments ever seen” in the upper chamber, Lord Agnew slammed his folder shut, said “thank you and goodbye”, and immediately left to applause.

“Given that I am the minister for counter-fraud, it would be somewhat dishonest to stay on in that role if I am incapable of doing it properly,” he said.

It comes as people arriving in England from abroad will no longer have to take Covid tests if they have been vaccinated, Boris Johnson said on Monday.

The prime minister said the rule change was designed to show that the country was open for business and travellers, though he did not say when the requirement would change. Further details are expected to be given later on Monday.

Key Points

• Europe could be headed for Covid pandemic ‘endgame’, says WHO

• ‘Premature’ to drop isolation rules, says WHO

• BA.2: Omicron sub-variant ‘under investigation’

• WHO: Omicron ‘not the last variant’ to come

• Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding as New Zealand brings in Covid restrictions

• Long Covid causes nearly 2m NHS staff absences

• Covid ‘not like flu’, says WHO expert

• Day 2 Covid tests dropped for vaccinated travellers

• Treasury minister resigns over government handling of fraudulent Covid business loans

• Downing Street staff held birthday party for Boris Johnson, report says

Nurse’s warning over lack of hospital beds amid pandemic goes viral

02:30 , Laurie Churchman

A nurse’s warning about the lack of hospital beds amid the pandemic has gone viral.

Alexis Hinkley speaks about her experience working in hospitals around the USA during the pandemic in the viral TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 10.7 million times.

She said: “One thing that I wish more non-medical people understood when they bring up the survival rate of Covid is that no beds in the hospital means no beds,” Ms Hinkley said in the video. “No beds for your stroke, no beds for your heart attack, no beds for your car crash, no beds for your sick child.”

‘No bed means no beds’: Nurse’s Covid rant goes viral

Government committed to mandatory jabs for NHS staff

01:31 , Laurie Churchman

The Government has renewed its commitment to making vaccinations mandatory for NHS staff in England from April 1, despite several MPs calling for a U-turn.

On Monday, MPs from all sides used a Westminster Hall debate to oppose plans for compulsory vaccination for health service staff in England, arguing it could lead to a staffing crisis.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: “Forcing people to be vaccinated, who have chosen so far not to, will turn hesitant people into hostile people.”

Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell said the exodus of staff would “seriously exacerbate not only the Covid crisis, but also place incredible stress on staff who are having to remain”.

Conservative MP Ben Bradley said he totally understood people’s willingness or wish to choose a vaccinated carer over an unvaccinated carer, but added: “Truth be told that is not the choice, it’s vaccinated carer or no carer, and if it were my elderly relative being looked after I would certainly prefer them to have somebody rather than nobody.”

Nadine Dorries defends PM over lockdown birthday party claims

00:50 , Laurie Churchman

Nadine Dorries has made an odd dig at her old boss David Cameron – while sticking up for the beleaguered Boris Johnson.

The Culture Secretary has tweeted in support of the incumbent PM following a report he broke lockdown rules, holding a birthday party in 2020 when indoor socialising was banned.

Up to 30 people are said to have attended at No 10, with cake, picnic food, and a chorus of Happy Birthday, according to ITV News.

Ms Dorries tweeted: “So, when people in an office buy a cake in the middle of the afternoon for someone else they are working in the office with and stop for ten minutes to sing happy birthday and then go back to their desks, this is now called a party?”

The Independent been told by sources that a group joined Mr and Ms Johnson in their flat later that evening, as first reported by ITV – but No 10 denies this.

You can read the full story below.

Nadine Dorries pokes fun at viral David Cameron photo with ticket tout warning

Equality watchdog could launch probe into Tory Islamophobia

Monday 24 January 2022 23:42 , Laurie Churchman

The UK’s equalities watchdog could use legal powers to launch its own investigation into claims of Islamophobia made by former Tory minister Nusrat Ghani.

Boris Johnson has been coming under growing pressure over alleged Islamophobia within his government after submitting to demands for an inquiry into Ms Ghani’s claim she was sacked because of her “Muslimness”.

A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “We will consider any findings from the Cabinet Office inquiry.

“If we are not satisfied with progress, we will not rule out the use of our legal powers.”

This could include a major, party-wide investigation, according to The Mirror.

The Muslim Council of Britain has questioned the independence of the internal inquiry ordered by the PM, which will be conducted by civil servants rather than the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Andrew Woodcock has been following today’s developments.

Boris Johnson under pressure over Islamophobia as he orders inquiry into MP’s sacking

PM’s tweet praising girl who cancelled birthday party resurfaces after claims of No 10 bash

Monday 24 January 2022 22:39 , Laurie Churchman

A Boris Johnson tweet praising a seven-year-old girl for cancelling her birthday party during the first lockdown has resurfaced, following claims the prime minister celebrated his 56th birthday with an illegal gathering just weeks later.

The girl wrote to Mr Johnson, saying: “I think mummy and daddy might have to cancel my party but I don’t mind because I want everybody to be OK”.

The PM replied on twitter: “We have all got to do our bit to protect the NHS and save lives, and that is exactly what you are doing, so well done!”

Mr Johnson is alleged to have been given a birthday cake during the gathering of a group of around 30 people in the Cabinet Room on the afternoon of 19 June. Indoor gatherings were banned in England at the time, meaning that such an event would have breached the government’s own coronavirus restrictions.

Rory Sullivan has the full story below.

PM tweet praising girl who cancelled birthday party resurfaces

Italy has passed Omicron peak, health official says

Monday 24 January 2022 22:01 , Laurie Churchman

Italy has passed its peak in Omicron cases, a health official has said.

Infections are now declining, according to Covid emergency commissioner Francesco Paolo Figliuolo.

He said: “There is good news: it seems that we have reached the plateau of the curve for what concerns Omicron and it is going downhill.

“In the past two days, even in Lombardy [where death rates are highest] the number of admissions to the hospital is lower than the number of discharged. This bodes well.”

Japan to extend Covid measures

Monday 24 January 2022 21:30 , Laurie Churchman

Japan’s government is to extend coronavirus restrictions in the face of an Omicron surge.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will tighten measures because the fast-spreading strain is threatening to disrupt basic services including hospitals and schools.

Mr Kishida plans to put the majority of the country under “pre-emergency status”. Under the latest measures, most restaurants are asked to close by 9pm in exchange for government subsidies, and there are restrictions on large public events.

The Prime Minister announced stricter anti-virus measures until 20 February in 18 prefectures, including Hokkaido in the north to Osaka and Kyoto in western Japan.

This is in addition to areas where similar restrictions are already in place or set to be extended further – including Tokyo, Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.

Mr Kishida said he will officially announce the move on Tuesday after consulting with a government panel including health experts.

PM has ‘got to go’ over latest Covid party reports

Monday 24 January 2022 20:51 , Laurie Churchman

Sir Keir Starmer has responded to the latest claim of a rule-breaking party by saying Boris Johnson had become a “national distraction”.

“He’s got to go,” the Labour leader said.

He added: “We’ve got a prime minister and a government that spends their whole time mopping up sleaze and deceit, meanwhile while millions of people are struggling to pay their bills.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was time for the “disgraced” prime minister to “save the country even more pain and resign”.

He added: “It is clear now the Sue Gray inquiry is not fit for purpose. The Met must investigate this to deliver justice for millions who sacrificed so much during this pandemic.”

You can read the full story below.

No 10 ‘held birthday party for Boris Johnson during lockdown’

Sarah Palin tests positive for Covid

Monday 24 January 2022 19:56 , Laurie Churchman

Sarah Palin has tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes as the unvaccinated right-wing politician begins a trial against The New York Times, which she has accused of defamation.

Ms Palin “is, of course, unvaccinated,” US District Court Judge Jed Rakoff told the court today.

“It’ll be over my dead body that I’ll have to get a shot,” Ms Palin announced at a rally last month.

“I will not do that. I won’t do it, and they better not touch my kids either,” the former Republican governor of Alaska and US vice-presidential candidate said.

Following positive results from three rapid antigen tests on Monday morning, Judge Rakoff moved the start of the trial to 3 February.

Sarah Palin tests positive for Covid, delaying NYT defamation trial

Downing Street staff held birthday party for Boris Johnson, report says

Monday 24 January 2022 19:15 , Laurie Churchman

Downing Street staff held a birthday party for Boris Johnson in 2020 despite Covid lockdown rules which banned socialising indoors, according to a new report.

The prime minister’s wife Carrie Johnson led the surprise gathering at No 10 on the afternoon of 19 June and up to 30 people are said to have attended, according to ITV News.

She presented the PM with cake and led staff singing Happy Birthday, before attendees enjoyed picnic food from M&S.

A No 10 spokeswoman confirmed that a group of staff had “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room “to wish the prime minister a happy birthday”, adding: “He was there for less than ten minutes.”

ITV news also reported family friends were hosted upstairs in the prime minister’s flat for an event later that evening – a claim denied by No 10.

Adam Forrest has the full story below.

No 10 ‘held birthday party for Boris Johnson during lockdown’

No 10 defends its record on fraud

Monday 24 January 2022 19:06 , Laurie Churchman

No 10 said the government had been clear that fraud is “unacceptable” and is “grateful” to Lord Agnew for his work over the years.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “On the wider issues that he’s raised, we introduced our unprecedented Covid support schemes at speed to protect jobs and livelihoods, helping millions of people across the UK, including nearly 12 million on the furlough scheme alone.

“We’ve always been clear fraud is unacceptable and are taking action against those abusing the system, with 150,000 ineligible claims blocked, £500 million recovered last year and the HMRC tax protection taskforce is expected to recover an additional £1 billion of taxpayers’ money.”

Lord Agnew insisted his departure was “not an attack on the Prime Minister”.

Meanwhile chancellor Rishi Sunak praised Lord Agnew for serving the Treasury with “diligence and commitment.”

He said: “I want to thank him for his dedicated service and tireless work during the pandemic.”

Rishi Sunak ‘must explain how he’s going to get back these billions'

Monday 24 January 2022 18:47 , Laurie Churchman

Lord Agnew read out his blistering resignation speech in response to a question from Labour about the government’s decision to write off at least £4.3 billion in funding fraudulently obtained through coronavirus help schemes.

It is estimated nearly £5 billion from the Covid bounce back loan scheme has been taken by fraudsters.

Opposition parties have called for chancellor Rishi Sunak to explain how he will reclaim billions “stolen” from the taxpayer.

Labour MP Rachel Reeves said it should be a source of “enduring shame” to Mr Sunak that the government had allowed taxpayers’ money to end up in “the hand of criminals and gangs”.

The Liberal Democrats’ Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said Mr Sunak “must explain how he’s going to get back these billions he allowed to be stolen from our schools, hospitals and police forces.”

“If he can’t, he should resign for someone who will,” she said.

Minister blasts government’s 'lamentable track record’ on fraudulent Covid business loans

Monday 24 January 2022 18:19 , Laurie Churchman

Lord Agnew’s resignation over the government’s handling of fraudulent Covid business loans has been described as “one of the most dramatic moments ever seen” in the House of Lords.

The Treasury minister attacked the “lamentable track record” of Boris Johnson’s government in tackling fraud over the multi-billion pound coronavirus loan scheme.

He accused the Treasury of having “little interest in the consequences of fraud to our society” and blasted the “arrogance, indolence and ignorance” across government departments.

He said: “Given that I am the minister for counter-fraud, it would be somewhat dishonest to stay on in that role if I am incapable of doing it properly”.

Adam Forrest has the full story below.

Minister resigns over government’s ‘lamentable’ record on Covid fraud

Video: Lord Agnew resigns over government’s handling of fraudulent Covid business loans

Monday 24 January 2022 17:59 , Laurie Churchman

Travel testing rules for unvaccinated will also change

Monday 24 January 2022 17:45 , Laurie Churchman

The rules for people who are not fully vaccinated will change too, Grant Schapps confirmed.

The Transport Secretary said they will no longer have to complete a day eight test after arrival or self-isolate.

He said: “They will still need to fill out a passenger locator form to demonstrate proof of a negative Covid test taken two days before they travel and they must still take a post-arrival PCR test.”

He described the measures as proportionate, saying they “move us a step closer to normality while maintaining vital public health protections.”

The changes will come into effect from 4am on February 11 – in time for the half-term holiday.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said the rules could be lifted because the country was “moving through the Omicron wave”.

Schapps: Testing policy for double-jabbed travellers has ‘outlived its usefulness’

Monday 24 January 2022 17:28 , Laurie Churchman

Double-vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take a coronavirus test when arriving in the UK as the policy has “outlived its usefulness”, the Transport Secretary has said.

Grant Shapps said post-arrival lateral flow tests will no longer be required as restrictions were “firmly placed in the past”.

He told the Commons the move would help the aviation industry to “take back to the skies”.

Mr Shapps told MPs the definition of fully vaccinated as “two doses of an approved vaccination or one dose of a Janssen vaccine” would remain for now.

You can read the full story below.

Covid testing for travellers has ‘outlived its usefulness’ as measures scrapped

Covid travel tests scrapped for fully vaccinated arrivals in England, Shapps announces

Monday 24 January 2022 17:03 , Laurie Churchman

You can watch Grant Schapps address the House of Commons below.

Tighter border measures only if a new variant is worse than Omicron

Monday 24 January 2022 16:51 , Laurie Churchman

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says the the government intends to move away from “blanket border measures” to a more targeted system.

Announcing changes to Covid testing and travel rules, Mr Schapps told the House of Commons that while contingency measures remain available, they will only be applied if the government is worried “about a variant of concern that poses a substantial risk, one which is even greater than Omicron”.

He said the UK Health Security Agency will continue to monitor Covid infections overseas and said he was committing “to develop a full tool box of contingency options to provide more certainty on how we respond against future variants.”

More on the new testing and travel rules bellow.

Covid tests scrapped for fully vaccinated arrivals

Latest vaccination data released

Monday 24 January 2022 16:30 , Tom Batchelor

A total of 52,236,574 first doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been delivered in the UK by January 23, government figures show.

This is a rise of 12,266 on the previous day.

Some 48,195,145 second doses have been delivered, an increase of 30,710.

A combined total of 36,941,059 booster and third doses have been given, a day-on-day rise of 42,724.

Separate totals for booster and third doses are not available.

88,447 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK

Monday 24 January 2022 16:09 , Tom Batchelor

There were 88,447 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK on Monday, the government said.

The figure is based on positive lab-confirmed PCR tests, but also includes most positive lateral flow tests reported in England and all lateral flow tests reported in Northern Ireland.

The government also said a further 56 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total to 153,916.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 177,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Croatia may hold referendum on Covid passports

Monday 24 January 2022 16:00 , Tom Batchelor

Croatia may hold a referendum on its Covid passport system after critics claimed to have gathered more than 400,000 signatures to a petition calling for a vote.

The country’s conservative Most party handed 82 boxes of papers in to parliament on Monday carrying the signatures of 410,533 people calling on the government to hold a referendum.

The government must check the signatures, and if they are found to be valid, the date for a referendum can be set.

Croatia has one of the European Union’s lowest vaccination rates, with around 55 per cent of its population inoculated against Covid, ahead of only Bulgaria, Romania and Latvia.

Treasury minister resigns over government handling of fraudulent Covid business loans

Monday 24 January 2022 15:48 , Tom Batchelor

Treasury minister Lord Agnew of Oulton has resigned from the Government over how it has handled fraudulent Covid business loans.

After telling the Lords he was unhappy with working between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Treasury, Lord Agnew told peers: “Given that I am the minister for counter fraud, it would be somewhat dishonest to stay on in that role if I am incapable of doing it properly.”

He added: “It is for this reason that I have sadly decided to tender my resignation as a minister across the Treasury and Cabinet Office with immediate affect.”

Read the full story here.

EU to scale up AstraZeneca vaccine production

Monday 24 January 2022 15:43 , Tom Batchelor

The European drug regulator has approved scaling up manufacturing of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine.

An existing manufacturing site operated by Universal Farma in Guadalajara, Spain, will add a second filling line for the vaccine, the European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee said in a statement.

The scaling up is expected to support the continued supply of the vaccine, including for donations to third countries through the Covax programme.

The Covax facility, backed by the World Health Organization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), has delivered more than a billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to 144 countries, Gavi data shows.

Belgium to offer fourth vaccine dose for those with weakened immune system

Monday 24 January 2022 15:28 , Tom Batchelor

Belgium’s health ministers have approved a recommendation to use a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose to protect people with a weakened immune system against the virus.

Christie Morreale, the minister for public health in the federal government, said that she and her regional counterparts have approved the proposal made by the country’s health council. MS Morreale did not give a date for the start of the programme.

About 77 per cent of Belgium’s nearly 11.5 million people are now fully vaccinated, and some 6.3 million Belgians have received a booster dose, according to the latest figures from health authorities.

Abandon mandatory NHS vaccines, says social care boss

Monday 24 January 2022 15:08 , Tom Batchelor

The requirement for frontline staff to be vaccinated against coronavirus must be abandoned, a social care boss has said.

The Homecare Association said “further serious harm” is likely to come to older and disabled people and their families if between 15 and 20 per cent of home care staff cannot work because they are unvaccinated.

It said the government has “seriously misjudged” the balance between the mitigated risk of infection and the risk of people going without vital care.

Downing Street has said there are no plans to change the implementation date for mandatory Covid vaccinations for NHS staff.

Chief executive Dr Jane Townson said: “All along, we have strongly supported vaccination against Covid-19, as there is clear evidence it helps to save lives.

“At the same time, we have consistently argued that persuasion would likely be more successful than compulsion in achieving high vaccine uptake, especially among those with genuine fears.”

Scotland records no new deaths and 6,934 daily cases

Monday 24 January 2022 14:51 , Tom Batchelor

Scotland has recorded 6,934 new coronavirus cases but no deaths in the last 24 hours, according to latest figures on Monday.

It means the death toll under this measurement, of people who tested positive for the virus in the previous 28 days, is at 10,198.

Public Health Scotland noted the cumulative death total is one fewer than that reported on Sunday and they are investigating if this is a “denotification”.

There were 1,435 people in hospital on Sunday with recently confirmed Covid-19, six down on the day before, with 38 in intensive care, down three.

UK to begin testing Merck’s Covid pill for hospitalised patients

Monday 24 January 2022 14:38 , Tom Batchelor

British scientists are to begin testing Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ antiviral pill molnupiravir as a possible treatment for patients hospitalised with Covid-19.

The pill is approved in the UK for use in people with mild to moderate Covid.

But it is not known whether it would work in patients hospitalised with severe illness, researchers of the Recovery trial said on Monday.

Australia records surging Covid deaths on Monday

Monday 24 January 2022 14:12 , Tom Batchelor

Australia recorded another surge of Covid deaths on Monday as an outbreak of the highly contagious Omicron variant peaked.

Authorities have warned numbers could rise further when schools return from end-of-year holidays next week.

There were 58 deaths reported on Monday, most of them in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

The government is trying to strike a balance between reopening after two years of movement restrictions and coping with the highest numbers of deaths and cases of the pandemic.

No plans to scrap mandatory NHS vaccine plan, says No 10

Monday 24 January 2022 13:50 , Tom Batchelor

No 10 has said there are no plans to change the implementation date for mandatory Covid vaccinations for NHS staff.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “It remains the case that we believe that mandatory vaccination is the right approach and there are no plans to change the implementation dates for this policy.

“Health and social care workers look after the most vulnerable people in society who would face serious health consequences if exposed to the virus, and obviously having a vaccination is also a way to ensure fewer staff absences, so a way to further help tackle some of the backlogs we’ve seen caused by staff absences when vaccinations weren’t available.”

He said: “We wouldn’t want to see a single member of NHS staff lost because they weren’t willing to get the vaccination that has been proven to be safe around the world.”

Simplified passenger locator form planned, report says

Monday 24 January 2022 13:24 , Tom Batchelor

The PA news agency reports that further changes to travel rules mean fully vaccinated arrivals will only have to complete a simplified version of the passenger locator form.

It is also expected that vaccines used by more countries will be recognised for travel, and the rules for travellers who are not fully vaccinated will be eased.

Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated must currently take a pre-departure test and two post-arrival PCR tests, which are more expensive than the lateral flow version.

They must also self-isolate for 10 days.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will announce details of the new travel regulations in a statement in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, following a meeting of the Cabinet’s Covid-19 operations committee.

How many strains are in circulation and causing concern around the world?

Monday 24 January 2022 13:05 , Tom Batchelor

For now, Omicron remains the main variant of concern, although cases in the UK appear to be falling after spiking over the New Year.

But what variants are currently circulating, and which of them are causing concern globally?

Find out more here:

Which Covid variants are spreading around the world?

How dangerous is the new Covid variant IHU and where has it spread?

Monday 24 January 2022 12:52 , Tom Batchelor

Scientists have been examining a new strain of Covid-19, first discovered in France last year, to determine whether it could go on to become a “variant of concern” in the same way Delta and Omicron did before it.

However, analysis from experts so far suggest it is currently not one to be unduly worried about.

Unofficially named IHU - in a nod to the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute in Marseille, the facility where it is being studied - the new B.1.640.2 variant has so far infected 12 people living in the southeast of France.

Read more about IHU here:

How dangerous is the new IHU Covid variant and where has it spread?

UK ‘moving through Omicron wave’ - PM

Monday 24 January 2022 12:38 , Tom Batchelor

Announcing the relaxed travel measures, Boris Johnson said the UK was now “moving through the Omicron wave”.

Speaking during a visit to Milton Keynes Hospital, he said: “We have, thanks to the tough decisions, the big calls that we made... the most open economy and society in Europe.

“And although we have to be cautious, we are now moving through the Omicron wave, and you can see the figures are starting to get better.

“So what we’re doing on travel, to show that this country is open for business, open for travellers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated, if they have been double vaccinated.”

BREAKING: Day 2 Covid tests dropped for vaccinated travellers

Monday 24 January 2022 12:24 , Tom Batchelor

People arriving in England from abroad will no longer have to take Covid tests if they have been vaccinated, Boris Johnson said on Monday, ahead of an expected announcement.

Mr Johnson told reporters the rule change was designed to show that the country was open for business and travellers.

He did not say when the requirement would change but further details are expected to be given later on Monday.

Here is the story:

All testing to be scrapped for vaccinated travellers

US man arrested after allegedly submitting fake positive Covid tests

Monday 24 January 2022 12:07 , Tom Batchelor

A man from the New York City borough of Staten Island has been arrested for allegedly using multiple fake Covid-19 tests to claim workers’ compensation benefits in 2020.

Ajani Shaw, 23, has been charged with a count of grand larceny and insurance fraud and seven counts each for forgery, falsifying business records and Workers’ Compensation Fraudulent Practices, the New York state office of the Inspector General said.

Authorities said Mr Shaw was working as a part-time kitchen service employee with a nursing home in April 2020 when he filed a workers’ compensation claim for exposure to Covid.

Here is the story:

Staten Island man who submitted fake Covid tests to stay home from work arrested

One in eight schools has CO2 levels that are too high

Monday 24 January 2022 11:49 , Tom Batchelor

New data released by the government shows that nearly one in eight schools and colleges have levels of carbon dioxide that are too high (reports PA).

In a survey of more than 4,000 schools and colleges by the Department for Education in December 2021 to evaluate the use of CO2 monitors, 12 per cent reported that they had sustained “high CO2 readings of 1500ppm or above”.

The DfE added that most of the schools which identified high levels of CO2 in their buildings were able to solve this through “quick fixes” such as opening windows, but that 3 per cent of schools could not solve the issue of high CO2 levels through “quick fixes or remedial building works”.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said that schools were “managing a very difficult situation” when it came to ventilation, adding that it was “vital” that schools could continue to apply for CO2 monitors and raise their concerns with the government.

“Adequate ventilation is crucial in the fight against the spread of Covid in classrooms and keeping children in school,” Mr Whiteman said.

“Schools are currently managing a very difficult situation when it comes to ventilation, not least balancing the need for good ventilation against keeping classrooms sufficiently warm for pupils and staff to be able to learn and work in,” he added.

Russia reports record daily Covid cases

Monday 24 January 2022 11:14 , Tom Batchelor

Russia on Monday reported a new record number of Covid-19 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours as the Omicron variant of the virus spread across the country, the government coronavirus task force said.

Daily new cases jumped to 65,109, from 63,205 a day earlier. The task force also reported 655 deaths.

Covid pandemic in ‘endgame’ in Europe, says WHO director

Monday 24 January 2022 10:58 , Tom Batchelor

The Covid pandemic may be entering its “endgame” in Europe, a leading health chief has said.

Hans Kluge, the WHO Europe director, was optimistic the world will soon reach global immunity due to the vaccine rollout and infection of the virus.

He added that Omicron could infect 60 per cent of Europeans by March, but warned cases may rise again towards the end of the year.

Read the full story:

Covid pandemic in ‘endgame’ in Europe, says WHO director

Djokovic sponsor backs tennis player over vaccine stance

Monday 24 January 2022 10:40 , Tom Batchelor

Swiss watch maker Hublot, a sponsor of Novak Djokovic, believes getting vaccinated is a personal choice, the company’s boss told Reuters after the world men’s tennis No 1, who is not vaccinated against Covid-19, was kicked out of Australia this month.

Djokovic was deported from Australia on 16 January ahead of the Australian Open after losing a court bid to have the cancellation of his visa overturned, and flew back to a rapturous welcome in his native Serbia.

In his first comments on the incident, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said the brand owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH was waiting to hear from Djokovic about his experience.

“We are waiting to see what his position is with regard to all that he went through,” he said in an interview.

“The principle of vaccines is that it’s something private. We value personal freedom, everyone can decide, one can be in favour or against, that’s our position.”

Pandemic at ‘critical juncture’, says WHO chief

Monday 24 January 2022 10:22 , Tom Batchelor

The head of the World Health Organisation on Monday urged countries to work together to bring the acute phase of the pandemic to an end, saying that they now have all the tools available to do so.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is now entering its third year and we are at a critical juncture,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference alongside Germany’s development minister Svenja Schulze.

“We must work together to bring the acute phase of this pandemic to an end. We cannot let it continue to drag on, lurching between panic and neglect.”

Scotland easing Covid curbs is ‘significant moment of progress'

Monday 24 January 2022 10:05 , Tom Batchelor

Scotland’s easing on Monday of the final restrictions put in place in response to the Omicron variant marks a “very significant moment of progress” in tackling the virus, the country’s deputy first minister, John Swinney, has said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that nightclubs would be able to reopen, while the caps on indoor events, table service requirements for venues selling alcohol and social distancing have also been removed.

The measures were put in place in December - along with a maximum capacity in outdoor events of 500, which was eased last Monday - as the new variant caused a spike in cases, eventually peaking at more than 20,000 in the first days of 2022.

How long is Omicron’s incubation period? How it differs from Delta and other Covid variants

Monday 24 January 2022 09:49 , Tom Batchelor

The current evidence from Omicron cases analysed in the UK is that patients will recover within five days to a week on average, although some of the symptoms like coughing and fatigue may linger for longer.

Shortness of breath has also been reported in more severe cases, which has been seen to last for as long as 13 days after.

Covid sufferers are, typically, thought to be infectious to others from around two days before their first symptoms start to materialise and for around 10 days after.

Read the full story here:

How long is Omicron’s incubation period?

Nearly half of Covid patients suffer long-term changes to sense of smell

Monday 24 January 2022 09:32 , Tom Batchelor

Close to 50 per cent of people who were infected with Covid during the early stages of the pandemic may be suffering from long-term changes to their sense of smell, researchers have said.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm carried out tests on 100 Covid patients who fell ill in 2020, The Guardian reported,

The study found that 4 per cent had lost their sense of smell entirely, one in three saw their sense of smell diminish, and nearly half said their sense of smell had changed since infection.

Losing the ability to smell for the short period of infection is listed as a common side-effect, particularly of the pre-Omicron variants, but this study suggests the impacts are longer lasting.

China relaxes Covid rules for Winter Olympics athletes

Monday 24 January 2022 09:16 , Tom Batchelor

Organisers of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics have slightly relaxed their strict Covid measures for participants in next month’s Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday (Reuters reports).

The changes, which take immediate effect, include easing the threshold for being designated positive for Covid fom PCR tests, and reducing to seven days from 14 the period for which a person is deemed a close contact.

The changes “have been developed in order to further adapt to the reality of the current environment and support the Games participants”, the IOC said in a statement.

The changes apply retrospectively, it added, and could allow the participation of some athletes.

When can I get my Covid booster jab? Everything you need to know

Monday 24 January 2022 08:56 , Tom Batchelor

You can currently get a booster if you are over 18 - or over 16 with a health condition - and it has been at least three months (91 days) since you received your second dose of one of the approved Covid vaccines.

If you are eligible for a vaccine booster jab, you no longer have to wait for the NHS to contact you to make an appointment online.

Here are the full details:

When can I get my Covid booster jab? Everything you need to know

Passing ‘halfway mark’ with pandemic, says Dr David Nabarro

Monday 24 January 2022 08:40 , Tom Batchelor

Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy for Covid-19, when asked whether the end of the pandemic is in sight for the countries in Europe, told Sky News: “The end is in sight, but how long is it going to take to get there?

“What sort of difficulties will we face on the way? Those are the questions that none of us can answer because this virus continues to give us challenges and surprises.”

He added: “It’s as though we’re just passing the halfway mark in a marathon and we can see that yes, there is an end and fast runners are getting through ahead of us.

“But we’ve still got a long, long way to trudge and it’s going to be tough.”

Covid still ‘full of surprises, very nasty and rather cunning’, says WHO expert

Monday 24 January 2022 08:19 , Tom Batchelor

Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy for Covid-19, said the global health body does not believe Covid-19 should be treated “like flu”.

He told Sky News: “I keep wondering what the people who make these amazing predictions know that I and my colleagues in the World Health Organisation don’t know.

“You see, what people are seeing from around the world and reporting to the WHO is this is still a very, very dangerous virus, especially for people who have not been vaccinated and who’ve not been exposed to it before.

“It can also mutate and form variants and we’ve seen several but we know there are more not far away.

“So quite honestly, we are not saying that this should be considered to be like flu or indeed like anything else.

“It’s a new virus, and we must go on treating it as though it is full of surprises, very nasty and rather cunning.”

‘It’s not an exact science’: In defence of the Covid-19 modellers

Monday 24 January 2022 08:05 , Tom Batchelor

Ask a meteorologist what the weather will be like in two weeks and they’ll simply shrug their shoulders and say it’s impossible to know, writes Samuel Lovett.

But as the date in question draws closer, bringing with it clearer and more reliable information, those margins narrow, allowing the experts to say with more confidence whether it will rain, snow or shine in the days to come.

Professor Mike Tildesley, one of the government’s many scientific advisers, uses the analogy to describe the complexities of modelling Covid-19.

Here is the piece:

‘It’s not an exact science’: In defence of the Covid-19 modellers

Long Covid causes nearly 2m NHS staff absences

Monday 24 January 2022 07:53 , Tom Batchelor

NHS staff absences due to long Covid have hit nearly 2 million in England, new figures suggest.

The all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus said an estimated 1.82m days were taken off due to staff suffering with the long-term effects of the virus since the start of the pandemic.

The figures, which are based on Freedom of Information data from 70 NHS trusts in England, account for the period between March 2020 to September 2021, and the number to January 2022 is presumed to be higher still.

Hong Kong orders some civil servants to work from home as cases reach 18 month-high

Monday 24 January 2022 07:03 , Stuti Mishra

Hong Kong will cut the number of civil servants working from offices starting Tuesday as Covid cases rise to an 18 month high, ahead of the busy Lunae Year holiday.

Some employees would “work from home as much as possible,” the government said in a statement on Monday, adding that individual departments might temporarily cut back on some public services as a result.

On Sunday, Hong Kong reported 140 cases as a weekend surge in infections linked to a congested public housing estate sent authorities in the Asian financial hub scrambling to rein in the virus.

Ahead of next week’s Lunar New Year holiday, Hong Kong has locked down thousands of people in the Kwai Chung estate for five days. About 35,000 face some curbs and must have daily tests, leader Carrie Lam said over the weekend after a visit.

The situation is testing Hong Kong’s “zero-Covid“ strategy to eliminate the disease, with schools and gyms already shut, restaurants closing at 6pm and many major air links severed or disrupted.

Last week authorities stirred outrage with an order to cull more than 2,000 hamsters in dozens of pet shops, after tracing an outbreak to a worker in a shop where 11 hamsters tested positive.

Israel says its fourth Covid vaccine shot made senior citizens three time more resistant to serious illness

Monday 24 January 2022 06:33 , Stuti Mishra

The fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine given to people over 60 in Israel made them three times more resistant to serious illness than thrice-vaccinated people in the same age group, Israel’s health ministry said on Sunday.

The ministry also said the fourth dose, or second booster, made people over 60 twice as resistant to infection than those in the age group who received three shots of the vaccine.

A preliminary study published by Israel’s Sheba medical centre last Monday found that the fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third but “probably” not to the point that it could completely fend off the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Israel began offering a fourth dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine to people over 60 earlier this month as Omicron swept the country.

Europe could be headed for Covid pandemic ‘endgame’, says WHO

Monday 24 January 2022 05:54 , Stuti Mishra

#ICYMI

The Omicron variant may have moved Europe to a “kind of pandemic endgame”, according to the World Health Organisation’s Europe director Hans Kluge. However, he warned that it is still too early to consider an end.

“It’s plausible that the region is moving towards a kind of pandemic endgame,” Hans Kluge told AFP in an interview on Sunday,

He added that Omicron could infect 60 per cent of Europeans by March and as the current wave subsides “there will be for quite some weeks and months a global immunity, either thanks to the vaccine or because people have immunity due to the infection, and also lowering seasonality”.

“We anticipate that there will be a period of quiet before Covid-19 may come back towards the end of the year, but not necessarily the pandemic coming back,” Mr Kluge said.

However, he also suggested caution saying other variants could still emerge.

“There is a lot of talk about endemic but endemic means...that it is possible to predict what’s going to happen. This virus has surprised (us) more than once so we have to be very careful,” Kluge said.

India reports over 300,000 cases for fifth day as Omicron becomes dominant variant in big cities

Monday 24 January 2022 05:09 , Stuti Mishra

India has reported 3,06,064 new Covid cases on Monday, less than the numbers reported a day before, data released by the government showed.

However, the daily tally has crossed the 300,000 mark for the fifth straight day.

The total caseload of India, — the second worst-hit country after the US — now stands at 39.2 million.

The daily positivity rate — the share of coronavirus tests that return positive and considered a key marker of the pandemic’s status — is up from 17.78 per cent to 20.75 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 17.03 per cent.

439 people have died of Covid during the past 24-hour period, according to the latest figures. At least 60 per cent of the patients who died during the current wave of Covid pandemic were either partially or fully unvaccinated.

The Omicron variant is in the community transmission stage in the country and has become dominant in several metros where new cases have been spiking exponentially, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) the Centre’s research body, said in its latest bulletin.

Airline bosses call for end to Covid travel restrictions

Monday 24 January 2022 03:40 , Stuti Mishra

The chief executives of the UK’s largest airlines have written to the Government to demand an end to coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

In the letter, they ask that restriction-free travel is restored “at the very least” for those who are fully vaccinated.

They say that Omicron is in retreat and evidence shows that travel restrictions have a “limited effect” in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

The UK Government was already due to review travel requirements for England next week.

Luke O’Reilly has more:

Airline bosses call for end to Covid travel restrictions in letter to Government

What is ‘Plan A’ ?

Sunday 23 January 2022 23:57 , Zoe Tidman

Boris Johnson said he plans on removing self-isolation rules for positive cases in the near future as he announced England would relax its “Plan B” set of measures.

He hailed a return to “Plan A” - but what is this? Holly Bancroft takes a look:

What is ‘plan A’, when is it returning and what Covid rules have changed?

What are self-isolation rules now?

Sunday 23 January 2022 23:25 , Zoe Tidman

Self-isolation rules for people who test positive for Covid also recently changed, when they were reduced to five with negative tests.

Read more here:

How long do I need to quarantine for after a positive Covid test?

Boris Johnson on plans to change self-isolation rules

Sunday 23 January 2022 22:48 , Zoe Tidman

Here is a reminder of what Boris Johnson told parliament about plans for changes to self-isolation rules earlier this week:

“As Covid becomes endemic we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.

“The self-isolation regulations expire on 24 March, at which point I very much expect not to renew them.

“Indeed were the data to allow, I would like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forwards.”

ICYMI: WHO Covid chief on England’s plans to drop self-isolation rules

Sunday 23 January 2022 22:08 , Zoe Tidman

The head of the World Health Organisation’s Covid chief said today it would be “premature” to end self-isolation requirements for Covid cases.

Asked about plans to drop the rule in England, Maria van Kerkhove, said: “I think there needs to be a clear reason of why it’s being dropped.”

She added: “If you don’t isolate cases then the virus will spread between people.”

B.1.640.2 variant

Sunday 23 January 2022 21:40 , Zoe Tidman

And scientists are also examining a new strain of Covid-19, first discovered in France last year, to determine whether it could go on to become a “variant of concern” in the same way Delta and Omicron did before it.

Sam Hancock has more on this strain, called B.1.640.2:

How dangerous is the new IHU Covid variant and where has it spread?

More analysis needed over BA.2

Sunday 23 January 2022 21:10 , Zoe Tidman

UK health officials said further analysis will be carried out into BA.2 to determine its characteristics and better understand how it make shape Britain’s epidemic in the weeks to come.

Our science correspondent, Samuel Lovett, has more on the Omicron subvariant:

Omicron sub-variant BA.2 ‘under investigation’ by UK health officials

ICYMI: New Omicron subvariant ‘under investigation'

Sunday 23 January 2022 20:37 , Zoe Tidman

More than 400 cases of a new Omicron subvariant - called BA.2 - have been identified in England, with officials describing it as a “variant under investigation”.

Laurie Churchman has the full story:

More than 400 cases of new Omicron sub-variant found in England

Officials ‘hold back’ information from probe into No 10 parties during restrictions

Sunday 23 January 2022 19:25 , Zoe Tidman

While the UK awaits an inquiry into parties held at Downing Street during Covid restrictions, Anna Isaac reports officials claim they have held back information due to a “culture of fear” surrounding the probe.

Read her exclusive report here:

‘Culture of fear’: Officials admit holding back information from partygate inquiry

Ireland lifts restrictions on crowd capacity

Sunday 23 January 2022 19:01 , Zoe Tidman

Over in Ireland today, Covid restrictions were lifted on crowd capacity - much to the delight of rugby fans.

Munster Rugby fans revel in Limerick as relaxations see capacity increased

Europe not yet in ‘endemic’ - WHO director

Sunday 23 January 2022 18:37 , Zoe Tidman

Hans Kluge, the World Health Organisation Europe director, warned the continent was not yet in an “endemic”.

He said this is when you can predict what will happen.

“This virus has surprised us more than once. We must therefore be very careful,” the WHO official told AFP news agency.

WHO Europe director comments in full

Sunday 23 January 2022 18:17 , Zoe Tidman

In an interview, the head of World Health Organisation Europe said: “It is plausible the region is coming closer to the end of the pandemic.”

Hans Kluge told AFP news agency: “Once the Omicron wave has calmed down, there will be global immunity for a few weeks and months - whether that be thanks to vaccines, or because people will have immunity from infection - and also a downturn due to seasonality.”

Omicron symptoms

Sunday 23 January 2022 17:52 , Zoe Tidman

Symptoms associated with the Omicron variant are slightly different to the original and following strains of Covid.

Joe Sommerlad explains what these tend to be:

Covid-19 Omicron variant symptoms: Which signs to look for

What Covid variants are in circulation?

Sunday 23 January 2022 17:43 , Zoe Tidman

With the world already battling to bring high rates of infection from the Omicron and Delta variants of Covid-19 under control this winter, news of the emergence of another new strain of the coronavirus in southern France has been met with dismay.

What variants are infecting people around the world at the moment? Joe Sommerlad takes a look:

Which Covid variants are spreading around the world?

World Health Organisation on Omicron threat

Sunday 23 January 2022 17:49 , Zoe Tidman

The World Health Organisation (WHO) published a document today, which warned the “overall risk related to Omicron remains very high”.

“Very high levels of transmission” have led to “significant increases in hospitalisation, continue to pose overwhelming demands on health care systems in most countries, and may lead to significant morbidity, particularly in vulnerable populations”, the WHO said.

See more here:

Enhancing response to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant

Europe’s pandemic could end after Omicron, WHO says - report

Sunday 23 January 2022 17:15 , Zoe Tidman

The World Health Organisation has said the end of Europe’s Covid pandemic is “plausible” after the Omicron variant, according to Agence France Press news agency:

‘We have to make sure that we don’t have people putting patients at risk'

Sunday 23 January 2022 16:58 , Zoe Tidman

UK’s deputy prime minister has urged NHS staff in England who have not had their mandatory Covid-19 vaccines to do so amid calls for the deadline to be delayed.

Raab urges NHS staff to get mandatory jabs amid calls for deadline delay

Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding amid new Covid restrictions in New Zealand

Sunday 23 January 2022 16:45 , Liam James

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her wedding ceremony due to new Covid-19 restrictions in the country.

The prime minister announced on Sunday that the country will face new restrictions after nine cases of the Omicron variant were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

Ms Ardern said her own wedding to long-time partner Clarke Gayford will not currently take place. Though she had not announced a date, the wedding was expected to be imminent.

“My wedding will not be going ahead,” she said. “I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience.”

Full story from Peony Hirwani here:

Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding amid new Covid restrictions in New Zealand

Vaccine data

Sunday 23 January 2022 16:44 , Zoe Tidman

An estimated 19,430 first doses and 42,470 second ones were delivered in the UK yesterday.

Meanwhile, a combined total of 36.9 million booster and third doses have been given as of Saturday, after a day-on-day rise of 68,795.

Around 74,800 new cases and 75 deaths in UK

Sunday 23 January 2022 16:17 , Zoe Tidman

Data is also just in for daily cases and deaths across the whole of the UK.

It shows just under 74,800 new infections were reported today, as well as 75 deaths.

Latest Covid data from Northern Ireland

Sunday 23 January 2022 16:12 , Liam James

A further five people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has said.

Another 3,059 confirmed cases of the virus have also been reported.

The trend in coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland was described as “uncertain” by the Office for National Statistics, while the other three nations of the United Kingdom saw a declining trend.

Derry and surrounding areas have had the highest case rates in the UK for weeks.

Restrictions are set to be lifted gradually with Robin Swann, the health minister, saying things were “moving in the right direction”.

The government will consider when to lift remaining restrictions in a meeting on 10 February.