Just 1 in 55 had Covid last week - but two new Omicron variants now 'of concern' say Government experts
Covid cases still seem to be falling fast, but it's too early to say if two new Omicron variants could have a serious impact. Just one in 55 people had Covid-19 last week, according to the latest official data - but two new Omicron variants are now officially "variants of concern".
Passport delays ‘could get worse’ and ‘put summer holidays at risk’, leaked messages reveal
Holidaymakers face further delays in receiving their passports after a leaked memo from the Passport Office warned of “rock-bottom morale” amongst staff and “creaking” IT systems. A cache of internal messages sent by officials, obtained by The Times, said that the agency’s systems were not “fit for purpose” – plunging summer holidays into doubt for millions of Britons.
Covid fraudsters conned taxpayers out of £5bn but Tories have recovered just £5m so far
Detectives launched an operation to chase down "unforgiveable" fraudsters who fraudulently claimed money through Covid financial schemes but so far just £5million has been recovered An operation to claw back fraudulent Covid loans has recovered just 0.1% of the £5billion plundered. Detectives from the National Investigation Service have so far recovered less than £5million of the stolen loot from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme handouts.
North Korea reports over 200,000 ‘fever’ cases for fifth day in a row amid Covid outbreak
Death toll has risen to 66 but Kim Jong-un has reportedly appreciated governemnt’s efforts to stop wave Kim Jong-un waves cigarette as he accuses officials of ‘immaturity’ in handling Covid North Korea has reported more than 200,000 new cases of fever for the fifth consecutive day as the country battles its first confirmed Covid-19 outbreak.
Four in five grandparents worry young people are under more pressure than previous generations
Mental health problems among children surge since Covid pandemic, with Government urged to fund drop-in centres Four in five grandparents believe that young people are under more pressure than previous generations, polling suggests, amid mounting concern about a crisis in mental health. Experts said children growing up in the shadow of Covid were facing “agonising” waits for help, as they struggled to adjust to life after lockdown.
Putin HAS had cancer but ‘licked it’, film director pal Oliver Stone reveals amid claims tyrant has been ill for 5 years
VLADIMIR Putin had cancer in the past but "licked it" his pal film director Oliver Stone has claimed. The Oscar-winning filmmaker's claim comes amid rumours the Russian President has been ill for the past five years and is constantly surrounded by a team of doctors. Stone was granted unprecedented access to the Kremlin leader over a two year period, for two in-depth interviews between 2015 and 2017.
Spain relaxes Covid entry rules for unvaccinated UK travellers
Holidaymakers who have not been jabbed must show proof of negative test UK holidaymakers who have not had a coronavirus jab can now travel to Spain by showing a negative PCR or lateral-flow antigen test when they arrive. Since 1 December, the country has had a strict ban on unvaccinated travellers from non-EU countries, because of fears over the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Kim Jong Un claims he has helped workers 'rise like a phoenix' by giving them his own personal medical supplies in fight against Covid as North Korea admits 220,000 cases
Local news reports claim Kim Jong Un shared his medical supplies with workers Newspaper says farmers are working to provide 'miraculous results' as thank you North Korea only officially recorded its very first Covid case on May 12 this year North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has claimed he helped workers by sharing his own medical supplies, allowing them to 'rise like a phoenix' from the country's Covid crisis.
Northwich Guardian's Best for Nails 2022 - The Beauty Spot
With more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Rebecca Collins can now say she creates the best nails in Northwich. Rebecca’s business The Beauty Spot got several nominations in our Best of 2022 competition as we searched for the nail salon or nail technician who was worthy of the Best for Nails crown.
Spain holidays: Spain relaxes Covid entry rules for Britons as unvaccinated can travel
UNVACCINATED British citizens can now travel to Spain with a negative PCR or antigen test. The new rules are in place from May 21. The Spanish Government has confirmed that unvaccinated Britons can now travel to Spain for holidays. This will be welcome news for many British families.
Shanghai authorities shut a central district and told all residents to stay at home
Jingan district has closed to allow mass Covid testing to take place until May 24 Exit permits, given to residents allowing them to leave their home, suspended The latest outbreak, driven by the omicron variant, has spread nationwide Shanghai authorities have shut a central district and told all residents to stay at home - as all shops and supermarkets close until Tuesday.
See inside Eoghan Corry and Orla Conlan's secret wedding after they first met on a plane
Travel expert Eoghan Corry and Orla Conlan tied the knot on Friday the 13th - but they avoided the curse of the famously unlucky day and are still "floating" after an amazing wedding THE HAPPY COUPLE Nurse and midwife Orla Conlan from Meath, and travel journalist Eoghan Corry from Kildare.
Britain could have avoided Covid lockdowns with quicker test and trace, says Jeremy Hunt
Former health secretary also suggests that Boris Johnson made a number of avoidable mistakes during the pandemic Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, has said Britain could have avoided Covid lockdowns if the country had been much quicker in setting up a test and trace system. Mr Hunt said wide ranging restrictions might have been rendered unnecessary if the UK had followed the Korean and Taiwanese example of tough test and trace regimes to monitor infected individuals.
North East nurse tells how the death of her mum inspired her to become cancer specialist
'As a nurse your intuition is to comfort your patient, and working in these conditions made it unbelievably tough.' A leading cancer nurse in the North East has spoken of what inspired her to help others and the realities of working in cancer care following the pandemic.
COVID: On the road with the 'vaccine convoys' critical to keeping up the fight against coronavirus
Health officials are grappling with worryingly low rates of vaccination in many African countries. As a whole, only 17% of Africans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, far behind other parts of the world like Europe (65.7%), Asia (69%), and South America (74.5%).
The man behind the Tunbridge Wells 'buddi bench' that has got strangers talking
Seth Hunter who lives in Tunbridge Wells hopes people will use the bench for a 10 minute chat and will feel better as a result The man behind the "buddi bench" in a Tunbridge Wells park has spoken candidly about what he hopes it will achieve and why he wanted to do it.
What happened in Liverpool & Man City’s last final-day decider – ‘We shall not be moved’
There’s a sense of deja vu this weekend, as Liverpool and Man City fight it out for Premier League glory just as they did three years ago. Doesn’t May 2019 feel like a lifetime ago now? Covid was still roughly a year away, Harvey Elliott was still in school and the Reds were yet to win a trophy under Jurgen Klopp.
The partygate scalp hunters can’t complain about the fallout now
Robert Peston, the fiercely well-connected political editor of ITV News and a contributor to Coffee House, reports ‘a sense of injustice and considerable upset’ in Downing Street that ‘the 126 Partygate fines have been levied disproportionately on women and junior officials’. Robert quotes a source who complains that ‘the majority’ of those fined are ‘very junior diary managers’ on salaries of roughly £24,000 and that ‘these fines are really stacking up for them’.