The NHS is rolling out Covid boosters to clinically at-risk 12 to 15-year-olds
(PA Wire)
People self-isolating with Covid-19 in England will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative on both day 5 and day 6 and do not have a temperature, according to the new government guidelines coming in force from Monday.
If anyone still tests positive on day 5 on rapid lateral flow tests, they must continue to stay in isolation until they have had 2 consecutive negative tests taken on separate days.
The decision was taken to “support essential public services and keep supply chains running over the winter”.
Meanwhile, more than 70,000 new Covid cases have been reported in the UK with 88 further deaths on Sunday. The data does not include Scotland’s figures due to a technical fault.
As the US sees a weekly average of 800,000 cases, surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy warned that “the next few weeks will be tough” and that the present Omicron-fuelled wave of coronavirus has yet to peak.
Scotland: Covid restrictions on outdoor events and matches lifted
Coronavirus restrictions on the number of spectators allowed at outdoor events in Scotland have been lifted from Monday, meaning football and rugby matches can go ahead with fans in the stands.
In response to the Omicron wave, rules were put in place from Boxing Day to limit the number of people who can attend outdoor events to a maximum of 500.
This comes after Nicola Sturgeon last week announced these rules would be eased amid early signs the country had “turned a corner”.
Stuti Mishra17 January 2022 05:53
Chinese cities on high alert ahead of Lunar New Year
Chinese cities are on high alert for Covid as the Lunar New Year holiday travel season started on Monday, with more cases of the Omicron variant detected in the country.
Cities such as Luoyang in central China and Jieyang in the south said on Sunday that travellers need to report their trips to communities, employers or hotels at least three days ahead of arrival.
The southwestern city of Yulin said on Saturday that those who want to enter should fill in a digital form including their health credentials and trip details one day in advance.
Over the weekend, the capital Beijing and the southern technology hub each detected one domestically transmitted Omicron case.
So far, at least five provinces and municipalities reported local Omicron infections, while 14 provincial areas found the variant among travellers arriving from overseas.
Stuti Mishra17 January 2022 05:28
US surgeon general warns Omicron still to peak
Omicron wave in the US is yet to peak and“the next few weeks will be tough”, the surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has warned.
“The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace,” Dr Murthy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“The Omicron wave started later in other parts of the country. We shouldn’t expect a national peak in the coming days,” he added.
His comments come as the US sees a 7 day average of 800,000 cases.
Stuti Mishra17 January 2022 05:04
New Covid self-isolation rules come into force in England
People who have tested positive for Covid in England can now leave self-isolation after five days following two negative lateral flow tests (LFTs).
The changes to self-isolation rules are part of government plans to try and reduce staffing pressures amid the Omicron wave.
Under the new rules, people can leave isolation at the start of the sixth day after two negative LFT results – one on day five and the other on day six.
Stuti Mishra17 January 2022 04:28
Good Morning!
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Stay tuned for rolling updates and statistics.
Stuti Mishra17 January 2022 04:02
