The Indian Covid variant has spread to 48 countries and every continent except Antarctica despite travel restrictions being in place, it has been revealed. The ‘variant of concern’ – B.1.617.2, which is believed to be more infectious than previous strains, has been ‘confirmed’ in 44 countries and ‘detected’ in four more, UK heath security chief … Read more
The UK was too slow to ramp up its coronavirus testing capacity and introduce masks, the boss of Britain’s new pandemic-fighting body admitted today. Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, conceded that officials have ‘an awful lot to learn’ after a series of failures early in the crisis. She said the … Read more
Matt Hancock today unveiled a new pandemic-fighting body that will replace Public Health England and protect the UK in the face of future disease outbreaks. The Health Secretary said the UK Health Security Agency will begin work next month and its ‘sole job’ will be to ‘plan, prevent and respond to external threats to health’. … Read more
Boris Johnson today shot down more calls to end lockdown sooner as Britain recorded fewer coronavirus cases than at any time since late September with 4,712 more positive tests. And the 65 more deaths caused by Covid-19 is the lowest number since October 12 and marks a drop of 38 per cent on last Monday. … Read more
England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, is the odds-on favourite to run No10’s National Institute of Health Protection — which will replace Public Health England. PHE is set to be disbanded when the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over and replaced by the NIHP, which will be bigger and more powerful. Dr … Read more
The evidence on face coverings ‘is not very strong in either direction’, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said, leaving Britons confused once again over experts’ changing attitudes to masks. Government guidance released late last night ahead of the return of children to classes next week said teachers and students may need to wear face … Read more
Boris Johnson has said ‘absolutely every pupil needs to be back in school’ starting from next week, as Dr Jenny Harries says evidence on face coverings ‘is not very strong in either direction’. The Prime Minister said it was vital for students to return to school starting from next week during a question-and-answer session with … Read more
Pupils are more likely to be hit by a bus on their way to school than catch coronavirus in the classroom, the deputy chief medical officer claimed today. Dr Jenny Harries said the risk of children being involved in a traffic accident or of catching the flu are ‘probably higher than the current risk’ posed … Read more
Hard-pressed parents juggling childcare and work were told to ‘control your teenagers’ tonight as the Government pushed ahead with plans to force schools to reopen fully in September. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said that schoolchildren, especially older ones, were more likely to contract coronavirus by hanging out with friends than they were … Read more
Pupils won’t be allowed to take a pencil cases to school when they return but they can take a lunchbox because children are ‘less likely to share them’, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Speaking at Saturday’s Downing Street briefing, Dr Jenny Harries said that pencil cases were ‘easier to control’ than lunchboxes. She added … Read more