UK

The UK has recorded another 57,725 COVID-19 cases – its highest ever daily total. A further 445 coronavirus-related deaths were also reported. Among the figures, NHS England reported 383 people had died after testing positive for COVID-19 – most of them occurring on New Year’s Eve. In England, those who died were aged between 27

Boris Johnson is facing calls to close every school in England after an embarrassing government U-turn which means all primary schools in London will remain shut next week. A union leader claimed what was right for London was right for the rest of the country and called on ministers to “do their duty” and close

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen by 53,285, with 613 more deaths recorded. The figures are down on those announced on New Year’s Eve, when the UK recorded 55,892 new cases – the highest figure on record – and 964 deaths were confirmed. It brings the total number of UK cases

New Year’s Eve in Birmingham, and the impact of Tier 4 COVID restrictions, is all too apparent. Occasional fireworks, and a rainbow of lasers, light up the sky, and optimistic taxi drivers line up on ranks in the city centre. But the bars are closed, the restaurants have their shutters down, and the nightclubs are

The UK has recorded 55,892 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours – the highest figure on record. Tuesday’s figure of 53,135 cases was the previous highest since the pandemic began. The number of deaths reported today is 964. The 981 deaths reported on Wednesday was the highest number reported on a single day since

A further 20 million people are under tighter restrictions after the government announced an extension of Tier 4 rules in England in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. On the day the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was approved to tackle COVID-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a new strain of the virus was “surging across

Millions more people are facing tighter COVID restrictions as the government extends Tier 4 rules to cover more areas in England. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the changes to MPs on Wednesday, saying that, although they will “place (a) significant burden on people…I’m afraid it’s absolutely necessary”. He added: “Sharply rising cases and the hospitalisations

The toughest coronavirus restrictions could be expanded to more areas in England, as daily recorded cases continue to surge and hospitals report record numbers of patients being treated for the virus. Possible changes to COVID-19 tier areas were discussed as Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of ministers on Tuesday. Sky News understands that

Margaret Keenan, who became the world’s first patient to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine outside a clinical trial, has received her second jab. The 91-year-old grandmother was given the booster injection at Coventry’s University Hospital on Tuesday, three weeks after making history with the first one on 8 December. Some 616,933 people in the UK had

The military is being called in to help secondary schools and colleges with coronavirus testing at the start of the spring term. Some 1,500 personnel will give planning support, training and phone advice to English schools needing help with the testing process and setting up facilities. The government is pressing ahead with plans for primary

The UK has recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began with 41,385 positive tests . A further 357 deaths were recorded within 28 days of a positive test bringing the UK total to 71,109 It compares to yesterday’s increases of 30,501 confirmed coronavirus cases and 316 related deaths. Dr Yvonne

Snow and ice warnings are in place for much of the UK heading into the bank holiday, including as far south as London, as vast swathes of the country are braced for a cold snap in the aftermath of Storm Bella. It comes as around 100 flood warnings remain in force in England, along with

The pharmaceutical boss behind the Oxford vaccine says researchers have found a “winning formula” to improve the jab’s efficacy. Trials of the vaccine, developed by the university along with AstraZeneca, showed an efficacy rate of 90% when people were given half a dose followed by a whole dose at least a month later. When two

Storm Bella is forecast to bring yet more strong gales and heavy rain to the UK and Ireland, a day after parts of England saw severe flooding. Winds reaching up to 70mph are expected in coastal areas on Boxing Day, along with further downpours. The Met Office has predicted that 15-25mm of rain will fall

Storm Bella is forecast to bring yet more strong gales and heavy rain to the UK after severe flooding in certain areas. The wet and stormy weather is expected to continue into the southeast of England on Sunday with showers in the West and North. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for the

Millions more people across the UK have been placed under tighter coronavirus restrictions from today. Another six million in England have been placed in Tier 4, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have also imposed harsher measures on their citizens on Boxing Day. The Tier 4 restrictions – effectively a regional lockdown – now also affect