Month: June 2021

Travel list to be updated today in House of Commons

Holidaymakers are set to find out if more countries are to be added to the green list or moved to the amber or red list.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps is set to announce the changes in the house of commons later on today.

Currently, there are only 11 countries that are on the green list – all being non-European countries.

Moreover, there are 167 countries on the amber list which once returned from any country from this list, you must quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days. You may be able to end quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme if you pay for a private COVID-19 test.

This comes after German Chancellor Angela Merkel during Thursday’s summit with EU leaders expressed that all British travellers who travel to European Union countries should be placed into quarantine.

“In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine – and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see”.

The chancellor expressed her concern over the COVID-19 cases rising in Portugal – a country that does not require British travellers to isolate.

“We now have a situation in Portugal that could perhaps have been avoided, and that’s why we have to work even harder on this”.

Moreover, other countries that allow British travellers to travel without restrictions include Spain, and France for those who have had two COVID vaccines.

Government planning quarantine free travel for double vaccinated people from August

The Health Secretary has stated that the government is planning quarantine free travel for double vaccinated people.

This means that citizens who have had both vaccines may be able to travel to countries on the amber list, according to the Health Secretary.

Matt Hancock told Sky News that the government “are working on” plans to let fully vaccinated individuals travel freely with no need to quarantine.

“We are working on plans to essentially allow the vaccine to bring back some of the freedoms that have had to be restricted to keep people safe”.

Currently, there are only 11 countries that are on the green list – all being non-European countries.

Moreover, there are 167 countries on the amber list which once returned from any country from this list, you must quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days. You may be able to end quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme if you pay for a private COVID-19 test.

His comments come from the Times reported that the government is going to announce the change to the nation’s travel restrictions as soon as possible and that people will not need to quarantine from August.

Government considers allowing fully vaccinated people to travel without restrictions

Officials are planning to allow fully vaccinated people to avoid having to isolate once they return from a country that is on the amber list, according to The Guardian.

Health secretary Matt Hancock is open to the idea, according to the Daily Telegraph. This is followed by the government announcement that vaccinations will be mandatory for social care workers.

The current countries on the amber list are popular destinations among British people such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Germany.

The law currently enforces people who are entering the country from a country on the amber list to quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days. However, the person may be able to end quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme if they pay for a private COVID-19 test.

The test to release scheme lets an individual who has been to a country on the amber list to pay for a private COVID-19 test after being in England for 5 days. If negative, the person can end their quarantine.

This plan may be influenced by former prime minister Theresa May’s statements of the government’s actions on international travel.

The former prime minister questioned the motive of the vaccinations if restrictions were still in place, signifying a tory rebellion in the government’s actions. The MP claimed that Brits will “never be able to travel abroad ever again” if the current restrictions were not changed.

During the general debate on the aviation, travel, and tourism industries on Friday the 11th, Theresa May stated: “We now have over 50% of the adult population vaccinated – a wonderful program – yet we’re more restricted on travel than we were last year”.

“In 2020, I went to Switzerland in August, South Korea in September, there was no vaccine and travel was possible – this year there is a vaccine, travel is not possible. I really don’t understand the stance the Government is taking.”

What are the main symptoms of the Delta variant?

UK researchers state that a headache, sore throat, and a runny nose the most common symptoms that are linked to the Delta variant – first identified in India – of COVID-19.

Moreover, Professor Tim Spector – a professor who runs the Zoe Covid Symptom study – has stated that the symptoms in younger people “feel more like a bad cold”.

However, despite not feel unwell the virus is still extremely contagious, meaning vulnerable people will still be affected by the virus.

People with these symptoms, as well as the classic symptoms – cough, fever, loss of smell or taste – should take a COVID-19 test.

The professor suggests that the classic symptoms are now less common compared to the new symptoms of the Delta variant. This is because the Delta variant is now the most dominant variant in the UK, accounting for over 90% of cases.

“Since the start of May, we have been looking at the top symptoms in the app users – and they are not the same as they were,” he says.

A Spanish man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after murdering and eating his mother

Alberto Sánchez Gómez, aged 28, from Spain was arrested in 2019 after authorities found human body parts around his mother’s home in plastic containers.

The Spanish court rejected any of Gomez’s arguments that he experienced a psychotic episode and sentenced him to 15 years for murder and an extra 5 months for the desecration of a corpse.

Moreover, he is obliged to pay his brother €60,000 in compensation.

The event took place in the east of Madrid in February 2019, after the police visiting his mother’s house as a friend was worried about her welfare.

Additionally, it is noted that Sánchez in 2019 had strangled his mother during a dispute. Then over the following two weeks, he dismembered and ate parts of her body over the and fed some to his dog.

Over 30 million people have now been vaccinated in the UK

The UK government have stated that more than 30 million people in the UK are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Overall, over 30,204,738 people have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine. This equates to 57.3% of the adult population. Moreover, 41,830,546 have received a first vaccine, which represents 79.4% of the population.

Furthermore, NHS boss Simon Stevens has conveyed that the COVID-19 vaccine will eligible for all people over 18 by the end of this week.

This is a milestone for the country, despite the recent government decision to delay the easing of the restrictions for four weeks. The reason for this is due to the dramatic rise in the delta variant – first identified in India.

During this period, the second dose for people who are aged over 40 will be pushed forward from 12 weeks to 8 weeks – being offered the jab by at least 19th of July.

An analysis by Public Health England (PHE) has explained that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are extremely effective against the Delta variant, suggesting that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective.

Vaccine to be eligible for all aged over-18 by the end of this week, according to NHS boss

The COVID-19 vaccine is to be eligible for all people over 18 by the end of this week, according to NHS boss.

Simon Stevens conveyed the importance to administer the vaccine during the extended delay of easing restrictions at the NHS Confederation annual conference.

He stated, “It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the Covid vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS – over 60 million doses now administered”.

“I expect that by the end of this week, we’ll be able to open up the national booking service to all adults aged 18 and above”.

Currently, in the UK, a total of 71,672,208 vaccines have been administered. This includes 41,698,429 people being administered their first vaccine, and 29,973,779 being given their second vaccine.

Throughout the country, Wales has the highest percentage of administered vaccines with a total 87%; followed by England and Scotland with both 77%; and Northern Ireland with 76%.

Boris Johnson extends easing COVID-19 restrictions

The prime minister announced at a Downing Street press conference yesterday that the easing of the last restrictions of the English lockdown will be extended for another 4 weeks.

The last easing of restrictions was due to take place on the 21st of June, which involved having no legal limits on social contact; no legal limit on all life events; and nightclubs and larger events being able to open.

The reason why the easing of restrictions has been delayed is due to the rise in COVID-19 cases concerning the delta variant – a variant first identified in India.

The delta variant is a mutation of COVID-19 virus. It is common for viruses to mutate, but some mutations can make viruses more contagious. This new variant – B.1.617.2 – is now responsible for 90% of new COVID cases in UK according to the Guardian.

Yesterday, the UK seen 7,742 cases of coronavirus and 3 deaths within 28 days of positive test. Nevertheless, 41,698,429 people have had their first vaccination and 29,973,779 have had their second vaccination against the deadly virus.

US president and world leaders visit UK for G7 summit

US President Joe Biden will embark on his first-ever international trip as president to the UK as part of the G7 summit.

The G7 summit – an annual event in which the largest economies (the US, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Canada [and the EU]) discuss societal and environmental challenges that are set to take place globally.

This year’s summit will take place in Cornwall and is the first time the leaders have come together since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president is noted to be in the United Kingdom and will have talks with British prime minister Boris Johnson – speculated to be concerning the Northern Ireland protocol, transatlantic travel, and an “Atlantic Charter” which is aimed at maintaining and improving the “special relationship” between the US and the UK.

According to the BBC, President Biden has concerned about the need for the UK to “stand behind” the Northern Ireland protocol.

The Northern Ireland protocol was negotiated by the UK and the EU – coming into force on 1 January 2021 – to protect the Good Friday agreement over tensions with the UK and the EU due to Brexit.

More information will follow regarding what occurs at the summit.

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