UK

The Duke of Edinburgh is likely to stay in hospital over the weekend and into next week for rest and observation, Sky News understands. It is also understood that Prince Philip remains in good spirits, and medics are acting out of an abundance of caution. The Duke, 99, was admitted to the King Edward VII

The government unlawfully failed to publish details of coronavirus-related contracts worth billions, the High Court has ruled. The Good Law Project launched a judicial review against the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over its “wholesale failure” to disclose details of the COVID-19-related contracts. Under law, the government has to publish a “contract award

At least 10,000 children in care were placed in potentially unsafe accommodation including caravans, tents and barges, a Sky News investigation has found.  Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that local councils used unregulated accommodation to house vulnerable children – even though these settings were not subject to inspection or regulation by Ofsted. Between January 2019 and December

Surge testing is to begin in an area of Leeds to try to control the potential spread of the South African variant of COVID-19 after more cases were found. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said people living in the postcode LS8 are encouraged to take a test when offered, whether they are

One of the largest and most authoritative coronavirus surveys has found that infections are falling in England, confirming that lockdown is working to suppress the virus. Imperial College London’s REACT study found that infections had fallen by more than two-thirds since the last time it reported in mid-January. Last time, REACT found that 1 in

The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to hospital as a “precautionary measure” after feeling unwell, Buckingham Palace says. A palace spokesperson said the 99-year-old is “expected to remain in hospital for a few days of observation and rest”. A royal source said Prince Philip does not have a coronavirus-related illness and walked into hospital

The NHS is likely to remain under pressure for at least another six weeks, according to a top health executive. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, is calling on the prime minister to be cautious with the easing of restrictions. In a letter to Boris Johnson, he said

Around 1.7 million more people will be added to the shielding list in England, after being found to be at potential serious risk from COVID-19. They have been identified by a new algorithm that looks at multiple factors, and will be sent a letter from the NHS in the coming days. Some will have already

Government scientists want to keep social distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future in a move that would hit shops, pubs, cinemas and theatres, Sky News has learnt. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear he would not allow the coronavirus to let rip through younger generations, suggesting he has embraced the

Boris Johnson has said his plan for lifting England’s coronavirus lockdown is for there to be “cautious but irreversible” progress in easing restrictions. “We’ve got to be very prudent and what we want to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible,” the prime minister said on his plan for easing COVID-19 measures. “I think

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are expecting their second child. A spokesperson for the couple said: “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.” The pair have shared a black and white picture

More than 15 million people in the UK have received a first dose of a coronavirus jab, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said. The figure means the government is expected to announce soon the target of offering first vaccinations to everyone in the top four priority groups by 15 February has been met. While the

NHS staff will begin vaccinating the over-65s and clinically vulnerable from Monday, with more than a million people having already received their invitations to book a jab. NHS England announced the next stage of the rollout, which remains invitation-only at this stage, on Sunday, confirming a Sky News report on Friday. According to the health

Surge testing is being introduced in more areas of England after cases of the coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa were detected. The testing be deployed in: Middlesbrough within the TS7 postcode Areas in Walsall Specific areas in the RG26 postcode in Hampshire People in these areas are strongly encouraged to take a COVID

Anyone eligible for a vaccine who has not yet had a jab is being urged to come forward – with Britons in top priority groups being told it isn’t too late to receive one. The government and the NHS have launched a new vaccine uptake plan that’s designed to reach vulnerable and underserved groups, and

The UK’s coronavirus reproduction number – or ‘R’ number – has fallen to below one for the first time since July. The figure is now between 0.7 and 0.9, according to the latest estimate. The R refers to the number of people an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, and when the figure is