Plus, cash hoarded during the pandemic means pennies are back in production
| Covid winter plan comes amid hospital case jump warning |
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| | | Tackling Covid this winter will be done through vaccinations and testing - Plan A - says Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but if the NHS faces unsustainable pressure Plan B kicks in. It would mean some restrictions like face masks and advice to work from home being reintroduced. Mr Johnson’s hoping the vaccination programme means the UK could remain "one of the most free societies" in Europe, with only limited restrictions to keep the disease in check. However, government scientists say there's "potential for another large wave of hospitalisations" in England this winter. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies - or Sage - committee’s latest modelling suggests the number of people being admitted to hospital could reach 2,000 to 7,000 per day next month. The number currently stands at around 1,000. Instead of suggesting tough restrictions in the first instance, virus modellers advising the committee put forward a "relatively light set of measures" that could be sufficient to limit rising cases - if implemented early enough. They say the virus would spread more rapidly after schools return and more people go back to their place of work. "Much more stringent (and therefore more disruptive)” restrictions would be needed if hospitalisations got too high, the modellers warn. The nation is at a "pivot point" says the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and swift action is needed if cases rise rapidly, but Mr Johnson hopes increasing vaccinations including booster jabs for about 30 million people mean fresh restrictions can be avoided. Sceptics will say modellers have got it wrong before and a pinch of salt is needed, says Our health editor Hugh Pym. But few would deny the possibility of a very difficult winter ahead, he adds. | |
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| North Korea fires ballistic missiles |
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| An unidentified projectile that had been fired into the East Sea has been confirmed as a two ballistic missiles by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. They say North Korea fired them and they make the launch the second major weapons test the country has carried out in days. On Monday it tested a long-range cruise missile capable of hitting much of Japan. Although the UN doesn’t forbid testing cruise missiles, which experts say could possibly carry a nuclear warhead, tests relating to ballistic missiles do contravene its resolutions on North Korea. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called the launch "outrageous" saying it threatened peace and security in the region. Even though it’s not clear exactly where the missiles were destined for or their flight range, the Joint Chiefs of Staff say it’s maintaining "a full readiness posture in close co-operation with the US". Read more on this developing story. | |
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| Four amateur astronauts prepare for launch |
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| Billionaires Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have done it and now another four amateur astronauts are about to launch into space. A healthcare worker, a science educator, a data analyst and US billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman - who paid for the trip - will be launched into orbit to circle the Earth for three days. It’s another mission for space tourism and for this journey - named Inspiration4 - these four are hoping to inspire others with their adventure while raising money for children's cancer medicine. Although the mission’s been made possible by Mr Isaacman's wealth, he thinks space should be within reach of everyone. They’re due to launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. | |
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| | | | | The message from government in England is clear - it is going to try to rely almost entirely on the vaccines to protect people from Covid this winter. The winter plan published on Wednesday says vaccines, including the rollout of boosters and jabs for children, are the Plan A. There is, however, a Plan B, which could include greater use of face coverings, Covid passports and working-from-home orders - a "lockdown lite", as it has been dubbed. What are the chances of avoiding this? The government has one criterion for moving to Plan B - unsustainable pressure on the NHS. Although, the plan fails to spell out exactly what this entails. Currently, 7% of hospital beds are filled by Covid patients. This may not sound a lot - but hospitals are run close to capacity, so Covid cases quickly impact on other care. And if Covid admissions keep growing or other respiratory illness take off, it will mean more rationing. None of this is unusual - it happens every winter. But this year, it could be on a very different scale. | |
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| | Nick Triggle | Health Correspondent | |
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| | | | "Plan for the worst" splashes the Daily Mirror, "a Covid winter warner" headlines the Metro and “surprise! It’s back to panic stations” says the Daily Mail as they, like most of the newspapers this morning, report on the government’s autumn and winter Covid plans. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put "the public on alert", according to the Daily Telegraph, after he announced the plans which focus on vaccinations but could also see a new wave of restrictions introduced. Meanwhile, the Times reports that Mr Johnson has been warned by his chief scientific adviser that he should "go hard and go early" with coronavirus restrictions this winter if there’s a surge in cases. Read the newspaper review in full here. | |
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| | | Education Parents warn of tsunami of school-anxiety cases |
| | | | Afghanistan Taliban leaders in bust-up at presidential palace - sources |
| | | | Athletics GB sprinter Ujah's 'B' sample positive |
| | | | Coins Pennies back in production as cash is hoarded during Covid |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| The line-up’s been revealed, which means the glitzy costumes, dance routines and the music for Strictly Come Dancing will soon follow. One contestant, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, is deaf and she's left some people wondering how she’ll be able to take part. We caught up with her where she reveals deaf people can enjoy music and by competing in the show she hopes to break stereotypes. Take a look. Now to another woman who’s hoping to encourage other young black girls and women to break stereotypes. Meet medical scientist Pamela Uba who this year became the first black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland. "I'm the first and it feels amazing - people are looking up to me and I never thought I'd be in that position," she says. Find out more about the 26-year-old who got into pageants by accident. | |
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| | | | 2000 Fuel protests end after they paralysed Britain for seven days, causing a crisis in the NHS, emptying supermarkets shelves and closing schools. |
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