Downing Street Parties

The Sue Gray report.

— Read Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties. Despite key details of the worst breaches missing, at the request of the Metropolitan Police, the long-awaited Party Gate report highlights “failures of leadership” in Number 10.

What The Experts Say

Removing all restrictions clearly isn’t guided by the science – Experts.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the government reducing the self-isolation period, on whether the pandemic is, at last, coming to an end, and whether it is the right time to stop all COVID restrictions.

SAGE Meetings

COVID-19 SAGE update, 13 Jan 2022.

— Record of the discussion that took place at the latest SAGE meeting on 13 January 2022.

London

Face-coverings to remain a condition of carriage on TfL – Sadiq Khan.

— Even though the government’s Plan B restrictions are coming to an end, the London Mayor would like commuters to continue using face masks in the capital’s transport network.

SAGE Meetings

COVID-19 SAGE update, 7 Jan 2022.

— Record of the discussion that took place at the latest SAGE meeting on 7 January 2022.

What The Experts Say

You don’t end a pandemic simply by declaring it over.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the Omicron variant, the government’s handling of the situation, and the lack of mitigations in schools as the NHS struggles to cope with the crisis...

What The Experts Say

UK bird flu outbreak: Risk of wider infection in the general public remains low.

— The views of experts and health professionals on a confirmed case of avian influenza (H5N1) in a person in the South West of England, which the UK Health Security Agency says there is so far no evidence of spread of the infection.

COVID-19

The NHS and social care are beyond full stretch.

— Drawing on the latest performance, COVID data, and recent intelligence fed to him by trust leaders, Chris Hopson, CEO of NHS Providers, explains where the NHS is up to and why the government must be ready to introduce new restrictions at pace if they’re needed.

Omicron Variant

Far too early to say we don’t need to worry about omicron and hospitalisations.

— According to Chris Hopson, CEO of NHS Providers, if the current trajectory in COVID staff absences is maintained, pressure will grow significantly and even relatively small numbers of extra COVID cases will bring big difficulties to the NHS.

Refugees

The meaning of Christmas, according to Natalie.

— Being kind to people, helping those in need? No, a carefully-worded tweet by Tory MP Natalie Elphicke on Christmas day that never accidentally says that refugees are not welcome in the UK, and yet implies it quite violently.

COVID-19

Omicron. The worst part of the pandemic before it ends in 2022. – Bill Gates.

— According to American super billionaire Bill Gates, the Omicron variant may mean the worst part of the pandemic, but he thinks that by taking the right steps – vaccination, mask-wearing, social distancing, the pandemic could be over in 2022.

What The Experts Say

We have learned from our mistakes... in order to repeat them.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the current UK situation with the Omicron variant.

What The Experts Say

This virus has got so many surprises in store for us.

— Experts and health professionals on virus predictions, the spread of Omicron, the government’s Plan B restrictions, and that false sense of security that vaccines have ended the pandemic...

What The Experts Say

The rise of Omicron – The consequences of not acting early could be devastating.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the Omicron variant, its spread, and the consequences of the government’s response.

Education

Examining the financial sustainability of mainstream schools in England.

— Some schools have reduced staffing levels or changed the support provided to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities because of financial pressures on schools’ provision.

COVID-19 & Hydroxychloroquine

Falsification of biological results led to the conclusion that hydroxychloroquine works – Professor Raoult staff admit.

— Damning documents and testimonies from researchers working with Professor Didier Raoult claim that biological results were falsified in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19.