One of the UK’s leading COVID experts has told Sky News that if people are “sensible” with wearing masks and social distancing in the coming weeks then they should all be able to enjoy Christmas. But Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) also cautioned that this may
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The Omicron variant could trigger a surge in COVID infections bigger than previous waves in the UK with a risk it may overwhelm the NHS, a key group of scientists have warned. Experts on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which advises the government, held an extraordinary meeting last week to
A further eight cases of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant have been identified in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported. That brings the total number of confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 in the UK to 22. Those who have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating, the
Three more cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been identified in Scotland, taking the UK’s total to 14. Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf said there are now five cases in the Lanarkshire area and four in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Scotland hosted South Africa in a rugby international at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium on
Britain’s secret MI6 spy agency must become more open by partnering with technology firms to compete in a world where digital threats are “growing exponentially”, its chief will say. Richard Moore, in his first public speech as head of the Secret Intelligence Service, will describe understanding the impact of emerging technologies as a “white-hot focus”
Six cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in Scotland, authorities have confirmed. They are in addition to the three already detected in England. Four cases are in the Lanarkshire area and two have been identified in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This will be a
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 12-year-old Ava White, who suffered “catastrophic injuries” in an assault in Liverpool city centre on Thursday, police have said. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article. He is due in court on Monday.
A 16-year-old boy killed in a street stabbing in London has been named as Rishmeet Singh by police. A murder investigation has been launched after the youngster died on Wednesday evening in Southall, west London, following reports of a fight involving a group of people. According to a GoFundMe page claiming to be raising money
Boris Johnson has said that people who come into close contact with anyone who tests positive for coronavirus with the new Omicron variant will have to self-isolate, regardless of their jab status, as he delivered a press conference in Downing Street. The prime minister warned the Omicron variant could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, as
So the new variant has a name, but we’ve no idea about its reputation. On paper at least the Omicron variant looks terrifying. It has more mutations than any previously observed strain of COVID. And the mutations aren’t just a random jumble of genetic changes. A worrying number of them are in parts of the
No cases of the new COVID variant have been detected in the UK, but it is highly likely it has now spread beyond southern Africa, the health secretary has said. Sajid Javid warned the new strain could be more transmissible than the Delta variant and there is a “possibility it might have a different impact
A rare red “danger to life” weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Storm Arwen – with winds so strong they could destroy homes and buildings, disrupt travel and bring down power lines and trees, it says. The Met Office issued its highest alert, warning that gusts in excess of 80mph are
Britain is bringing in travel restrictions for six African countries due to a new COVID variant that UK experts have called the “worst one we’ve seen so far”. Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: “UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) is investigating a new variant. More data is needed but we’re taking precautions now. “Six African countries
An alleged victim of a Hull grooming gang has told how she was bitten, beaten and burned during a violent rape – and that police and her school had concerns she was being abused but failed to stop it. Warning: This article includes graphic content The teenage girl’s mother was so worried after her daughter
Bulb, Britain’s seventh biggest energy supplier, has formally entered into administration – becoming the biggest victim so far of the crisis in the industry. The collapse – confirmed by the government on Wednesday night – comes after the company, which was launched in 2015 and has 1.7 million customers, confirmed earlier this week that it
Police searching for an 18-year-old who has been missing for three days have found a body, and two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod left her home in the Leigham area of Plymouth at about 6pm on Saturday evening. She had been due to catch a bus into the city
Police have been urged to “declare war” on a child grooming gang after several women told Sky News they were abused by a group of men operating in Hull. A police probe into the alleged crimes has gone dormant, but the UK’s former top child abuse investigator has called for detectives to “double down” on
The government is advising people to take a COVID-19 test before they spend time in “crowded and enclosed spaces” this winter. The Cabinet Office had previously advised people to take two lateral flow tests a week, especially if they have school-age children or are meeting clinically vulnerable people. Now the public is being told to take rapid
A man is facing life in jail for murdering a vulnerable woman after following her off a bus in east London. Maria Rawlings, 45, suffered multiple injuries in the attack by 21-year-old Valentin Lazar who then left her in undergrowth in Romford. Ms Rawlings was killed after she visited accident and emergency following a fall.
Boris Johnson has said MP Sir David Amess will be “much, much missed” as he paid tribute to the MP ahead of a funeral service in Southend. The father-of-five who was stabbed to death while holding a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on 15 October. Mourners will pay their respects at the