COVID-19 News And Updates

UCL Institute for Education finds 88% of TAs supported vulnerable and key worker children in school Teaching assistants have emerged as the “unsung heroes” of the pandemic with more than half stepping up to take classes in schools during lockdown while teachers delivered remote learning to children at home, a study shows. Researchers at UCL Institute for Education found nearly nine out of 10 (88%) TAs supported vulnerable and key worker children in school during lockdown, with 51% managing a whole class or bubble on their own, as teachers prepared and delivered remote lessons, often from home. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Airlines sell 200,000 of the 800,000 tickets on day one, but the tourism industry says the scheme won’t fill the void left by jobkeeper Virgin Australia is set to record its highest number of bookings in one day since before the pandemic began, while Qantas and Jetstar recorded 130,000 bookings in under hours, following the release of the federal government’s half-price flights. But the tourism industry says the boost will not be enough to fill the void left by the end of the jobkeeper payment. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Here are the current coronavirus hotspots and case locations in Queensland and what to do if you’ve visited them. Queensland Covid restrictions for Easter public holiday weekend Covid NSW hotspots list and restrictions for Byron Bay, Tweed, Ballina and Lismore Download the free Guardian app Queensland authorities have released a list of hotspots where Covid-positive people have visited while infectious. Here’s an overview and what to do if you live in the greater Brisbane area, or if you’ve visited any of the listed locations. More detailed information is available at the Queensland government website . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

BMJ analysis of 48,000 records also finds one in eight patients die within four months of discharge Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Nearly a third of people who have been in hospital suffering from Covid-19 are readmitted for further treatment within four months of being discharged, and one in eight of patients dies in the same period, doctors have found. The striking long-term impact of the disease has prompted doctors to call for ongoing tests and monitoring of former coronavirus patients to detect early signs of organ damage and other complications caused by the virus. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

A new three-part documentary recalls the beginnings of the pandemic, and a close friend reminisces about her years with the Queen. Here’s what to watch this evening Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

P1 variant said to be partly driving cases in Brazil ; French president extends measures in 19 French departments to rest of country Batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccine fails quality control standards Rates of stillbirth and maternal death rise by a third during pandemic Outdoor mask decree met with dismay by Spain’s tourism industry Germany restricts use of AstraZeneca jab to over-60s 5.26am BST This was reported a few hours ago, but, given the dramatic, and tragic, findings, is worth highlighting again. Rates of stillbirth and maternal deaths rose by around a third during the Covid-19 pandemic , with pregnancy outcomes getting worse overall for both babies and mothers worldwide, according to an international data review published on Wednesday. 5.07am BST Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Steven Miles says only a third of his state’s aged care residents have had jabs and labels federal minister David Littleproud ‘2021’s April fool’ Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles has delivered another broadside at the federal government’s handling of the vaccine rollout, saying barely any of the state’s aged care residents or workers have received the jab and warning the state is running dangerously low on Pfizer and AstraZeneca supplies. Relations between federal and state governments soured significantly this week, after federal minister David Littleproud accused states of doing “bugger all” to help with the vaccine rollout for frontline healthcare workers. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the end of a snap lockdown in response to the Brisbane Covid outbreak. Some coronavirus restrictions have been expanded to the entire state in time for the Easter public holiday long weekend. Here’s what you need to know Queensland Covid hotspots list NSW Covid hotspots list and restrictions Queensland authorities have lifted the snap lockdown of greater Brisbane from noon on Thursday. People are now free to leave their homes for any reason, but some restrictions remain in place and have been expanded across Queensland – including the most remote parts of the state, where there have been no cases. The Queensland-wide restrictions are in place from 1 April and will likely remain until 15 April. So what will Easter holidays look like in Queensland? Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Former Alaska governor confirms diagnosis in interview and says her case shows ‘anyone can catch this’ Sarah Palin says she tested positive for Covid-19 and is urging people to take steps to guard against the coronavirus, such as wearing masks in public. “Through it all, I view wearing that cumbersome mask indoors in a crowd as not only allowing the newfound luxury of being incognito, but trust it’s better than doing nothing to slow the spread,” Palin, the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee, told People magazine. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The second and third Brisbane cases were two Princess Alexandra nurses who did not come into contact with the patient they caught Covid from Queensland hotspots and restrictions The mystery coronavirus infections of healthcare workers at Princess Alexandra hospital’s ward 5D continues to spook Queensland health authorities. Late on Wednesday, all hospital staff members who entered the infectious diseases ward from Tuesday to Friday last week – whether or not they came into contact with patients – were ordered into quarantine. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Queensland premier says the lockdown is lifting early to avoid dangerous traffic conditions at the start of the long weekend The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszcuzk, has announced the early lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in greater Brisbane, after the state recorded just one community-acquired case from a record number of tests. The lockdown will end at midday in Queensland – five hours ahead of schedule – in order to reduce traffic chaos heading into the Easter long weekend. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Scientist recognised for her leadership in fight against Covid-19 says she accepts honour on behalf of all who helped tackle pandemic Scientist Siouxsie Wiles has been named New Zealander of the Year for her leadership through the country’s Covid-19 response. Wiles was presented with the award at a gala dinner in Auckland on Wednesday night attended by 800 people: New Zealand’s pandemic success made manifest. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Flexible return will allow staff to personalise working day and finish early on Fridays in July and August Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage PwC is rolling out a flexible working policy that will allow its 22,000 UK staff to split their time about half and half between their home and office after the pandemic. The accounting firm expects staff to spend 40-60% of their time with colleagues – either in the office or out on client visits – once restrictions are lifted, with the freedom to work remotely the rest of the week. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Biden plan will propose rolling back Trump tax cuts Biden promises ‘historic’ $2tn spending – but fight awaits We sampled US tap water and found toxic chemicals Pfizer finds Covid vaccine safe for children 12 to 15 Teen who filmed killing tells court George Floyd was ‘begging for his life’ Sign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email 2.41pm BST Speaking of clean water, Ryan Felton and Lisa Gill of Consumer Reports and Lewis Kendall for the Guardian have this investigation of tap water in America: In Connecticut, a condo had lead in its drinking water at levels more than double what the federal government deems acceptable. At a church in North Carolina, the water was contaminated with extremely high levels of potentially toxic PFAS chemicals ( a group of compounds found in hundreds of household products). The water flowing into a Texas home had both – and concerning amounts of arsenic too. Related: We sampled tap water across the US – and found arsenic, lea

Ruling that face masks must be worn on beaches comes amid fears of fourth Covid wave Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The Spanish tourist industry has reacted with dismay to the government’s decree that face masks must be worn in all outdoor spaces, including beaches and swimming pools, even when it is possible to maintain social distancing. “We’re going through hell with thousands of jobs and businesses threatened and now they want to turn the beaches into open-air field hospitals,” José Luis Zoreda, vice-president of Exceltur, the umbrella organisation that represents Spain’s tourism industry, told El País newspaper. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Studies show vaccine produces robust antibody responses in school-age children, companies say The Pfizer and BioNTech pharmaceutical partnership announced on Wednesday that their Covid-19 vaccine was safe, effective and produced robust antibody responses in 12-to 15-year old children, paving the way for them to seek US authorisation within the next few weeks and from regulators in other countries swiftly thereafter. Related: Germany restricts use of AstraZeneca jab to over-60s Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Angela Merkel says government ‘cannot ignore’ vaccine regulator’s concerns over blood-clotting condition Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Despite an already stuttering immunisation rollout, Germany has risked further public ire and bowed to growing concerns over a rare blood-clotting disorder and, alongside Canada and several other European countries, chosen to restrict use of the AstraZeneca jab to only the over-60s. Angela Merkel said on Tuesday night that her government “cannot ignore” the latest findings of her country’s vaccine regulator, which has reported 31 German cases where people who had received the Oxford-developed jab developed cerebral venous thromboses, in most cases accompanied by lowered platelets (thrombocytopenia). Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Expansion in second half of 2020 and increase in household savings raise hopes for recovery this year Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Britain’s recovery during the second half of last year was stronger than first estimated, according to official figures that also showed households put away more money in savings accounts than previous data suggested. In a series of revisions to its data covering the Covid 19 pandemic, the Office for National Statistics said the economy expanded by 16.9% and 1.3% in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 respectively. This marked steep increases on initial estimates of 16.1% and 1%. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Pub group says revenues fell 80% during past year on back of Covid lockdowns Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The pub group Fuller, Smith & Turner has revealed that revenues fell 80% during the past year on the back of coronavirus lockdowns as it seeks to raise cash to see it through the reopening of UK hospitality. The company said it had burned through between £4m and £5m for every month of full lockdown, when its pubs and hotels were forced to close. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Canada and Germany halt jabs for some age groups over blood clot fears but Australian authorities say it is safe and effective for over 18s Queensland Covid hotspots • NSW Covid hotspots Australia’s vaccine tracker: how is the rollout progressing? NSW and Queensland premiers hit back after Morrison government blames states for slow Covid vaccine rollout Of all of the Covid-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide, none has been quite so beleaguered as the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, with questions raised about its efficacy and its side-effects. Given the pause in rollouts of the AstraZeneca vaccine elsewhere , what is the latest on who should and should not receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia? Should Australians be worried given our reliance on it? And has the criticism of the vaccine to date been fair? Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Education specialist Tony Sewell, who chaired commission, says report does not deny racism exists but says UK not institutionally racist UK an exemplar of racial equality, No 10 commission concludes 8.42am BST Here is the agenda for the day. 11am: The Green party holds a local election campaign launch in London. Related: Coronavirus live news: outbreak at China-Myanmar border; shielding to end for millions in England and Wales Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Insurance market blames natural catastrophe claims and Brexit for hitting earnings alongside pandemic Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The insurance market Lloyd’s of London expects 2020 payouts for claims related to the Covid-19 pandemic to reach £6.2bn, pushing it to a loss for the year. Lloyd’s has reported pre-tax net losses of £0.9bn for the year, blaming natural catastrophe claims and Brexit for hitting earnings alongside the pandemic. In 2019 the market made a pre-tax profit of £2.5bn. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Preventing starvation hardly counts as generosity. Now is the time for change on a much more ambitious scale I’d like to tell you about a man called Chris. In his early 40s, Chris has spent years holding down low-paid jobs, all while caring for his elderly mother. Chris has autism, a mild learning disability and a stammer. And, as is the case with many people in his situation, employers tend not to want to give him a chance. Over the past year, he has been furloughed from his part-time cleaning job; he is given a few hundred pounds a month to somehow pay the bills. Disability benefits helped to keep his head above water. That was until a new assessment last year took them away. Last month, Chris appealed against the decision at a “phone call” tribunal. Lockdown has stopped in-person court dates but benefit cuts carry on. Sat in his mother’s house, with a pile of paperwork, he was turned down again. Now, Chris relies on food packages from local aid groups; pasta and veg in a cardboard

Seed sellers are reporting blossoming demand for seed orders that matches the florid increase they saw last year Sourdough starters, dress shirts with pajama bottoms, Zoom cocktails, pandemic trends come and go. But there’s one trend that looks like it’s here to stay – at least for another year – gardening. Multiple seed sellers are reporting blossoming demand for seed orders that matches the florid increase in orders they saw last year just as state-ordered lockdowns were starting when some seed sellers sold more seeds than in any spring prior. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

One of the largest music festivals in Australia cancelled by NSW government after local man tests positive to coronavirus Queensland Covid hotspots • NSW Covid hotspots The event hailed as the first major Australian music festival post-Covid has been cancelled. The New South Wales government announced on Wednesday that Bluesfest in Byron Bay would not be permitted to go ahead. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Activists have called for changes to intellectual property laws in an effort to speed the global vaccination project A chorus of activists are calling for changes to intellectual property laws in hopes of beginning to boost Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing globally, and addressing the gaping disparity between rich and poor nations’ access to coronavirus vaccines. The US and a handful of other wealthy vaccine-producing nations are on track to deliver vaccines to all adults who want them in the coming months, while dozens of the world’s poorest countries have not inoculated a single person. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

This is why we have asked the states to do it and also why we are now blaming them for it going off the rails Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

US releases statement with 13 allies saying WHO inquiry lacks data ; hospitals in Ecuador capital working above capacity to treat Covid patients, say doctors UK and US criticise WHO’s report and accuse China of withholding data About half of people in UK now have antibodies against coronavirus Merkel, Macron and Putin in talks about using Sputnik V jab in Europe See all our coronavirus coverage 6.21am BST The US and the UK have sharply criticised a World Health Organization report into the beginnings of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, implicitly accusing China of “withholding access to complete, original data and samples”. The statement, also signed by 12 other countries including Australia and Canada, came hard on the heels of an admission on Tuesday by the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, that the investigation was “not extensive enough” and experts had struggled to access raw information during their four-week visit to Wuhan in January. Related: UK and US

Our latest snapshot of key economic indicators shows the deficit soaring but unemployment holding steady A glimmer of economic hope at the end of the tunnel Andy Haldane: only a skills plan can protect against fallout Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Huge fiscal support has safeguarded jobs and demand, but only skills and training can prevent long-term economic scarring A glimmer of economic hope at the end of the tunnel UK economy poised to recover after Covid-19 second wave Keynes famously likened the economy to a piece of string which, in recessions, could not be pushed. A better economic metaphor now is that it is like a piece of elastic. Stretch it too far and the economy becomes permanently distended – so-called hysteresis. The stretching of the economy’s elastic in the first half of last year saw activity fall anywhere between 10% and 25% across the world. There are very few historical precedents of the economy being stretched quite so far, quite so fast. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Actors unable to travel to Los Angeles had earlier been told a virtual appearance at the awards would not be allowed The Academy will reportedly allow British nominees to take part in the Oscars from London, after earlier warning that appearing via Zoom was not an option . The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on 25 April in the US with an in-person event at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Some live elements of the show will be included from the ceremony’s usual home of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. After nominees were earlier told a virtual appearance was not allowed, producers for the ceremony have said they will set up “hubs” in London and Paris to make it easier for Europe-based stars, according to the Hollywood Reporter . The Academy, the body that oversees the Oscars, is still encouraging anyone who can safely and legally travel to Los Angeles for the ceremony to do so, the Reporter said. Coronavirus is surging across much of Europe and nominees busy with prod

Here are the current coronavirus hotspots in New South Wales and what to do if you’ve visited them Queensland Covid hotspots: list of Brisbane and regional Qld coronavirus case locations Download the free Guardian app New South Wales health authorities have updated a list of hotspots Covid-positive people have visited while infectious. Here’s an overview and what to do if you’ve visited them. More detailed information is available at the NSW Health website . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Two new cases reported on Wednesday include nurse who appears to be third separate case of healthcare worker contracting virus from Princess Alexandra hospital GPs frustrated at Covid vaccine delivery problems Queensland Covid hotspots; • NSW Covid hotspots Australia’s vaccine tracker: how is the rollout progressing? Greater Brisbane residents will have to wait until Thursday to learn whether a city-wide lockdown can be lifted for the Easter weekend, after “encouraging” results from a record number of coronavirus tests. On Tuesday, two new cases were detected within the Brisbane community. One was a vaccinated nurse from the Princess Alexandra hospital’s infectious diseases ward, which was last night evacuated as a precaution. The entire hospital was placed in lockdown. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Here are the current coronavirus hotspots and case locations in Queensland and what to do if you’ve visited them Covid hotspots NSW: list of Sydney and regional coronavirus case locations Download the free Guardian app Queensland authorities have released a list of hotspots where Covid-positive people have visited while infectious. Any individuals who have been in the below locations during the relevant times are considered close contacts and asked to immediately home quarantine (for 14 days), even if you receive a negative result, and complete the contact-tracing self-assessment or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84): Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Kremlin says leaders discussed possibility of shipments and joint production amid shortage of doses inside Europe Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron discussed Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and its use in Europe on a conference call on Tuesday, the Kremlin said. Moscow’s statement said that among other subjects the Russian, German and French leaders discussed prospects for the registration of the vaccine in the EU and the possibility of shipments and joint production in EU nations. It did not say who raised the topic. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

President to launch next phase of Build Back Better program CDC director Rochelle Walensky ‘scared’ of coronavirus trends ‘Trailblazing’ slate of judicial nominees announced by Biden 2.19pm BST The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd, will continue today, after lawyers delivered their opening statements yesterday. The Guardian’s Chris McGreal and Amudalat Ajasa report on the first day of the trial from Minneapolis: Prosecutors accused [Chauvin] of killing a defenceless George Floyd by ‘grinding and crushing him until the very breath, the very life, was squeezed out of him’, at the opening on Monday of a murder trial regarded by millions as a litmus test of US police accountability. The prosecutor, Jerry Blackwell , told the jury that the death of Floyd last May, which reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and set off months of protests across America and around the world, was caused by Chauvin keeping his knee on the nec

Latin American countries scramble to protect themselves from a country where nearly 60,000 people are expected to die in March alone It has long been regarded as a soft power superpower, the sun-kissed, culturally blessed land of Bossa Nova, Capoeira and Pelé. But Brazil’s shambolic response to coronavirus under far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has cast Latin America’s largest country in an unfamiliar and unpleasant role: that of a Covid-riddled, science-shunning, politically-unstable outcast on whom many regional neighbors are now shutting the door. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The latest daily updates on coronavirus cases in your local area and nationally. Check week-on-week changes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the latest figures from public health authorities Coronavirus has hit the UK hard, with the country recording more than 4m cases and 125,000 deaths linked to the disease. The government figures below include confirmed cases only – some people who have the disease are not tested. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Company expects profit of £700m for year to end of March, more than double last year Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Royal Mail is to make a one-off dividend payment to shareholders after the online shopping boom during the Covid-19 pandemic boosted its parcel delivery business, in a dramatic turnaround of the company’s fortunes. Royal Mail expects to make an adjusted operating profit of £700m for the year to the end of March, more than double last year’s £325m. This has given it the confidence to pay a final dividend of 10p a share on 6 September, the first payout to shareholders since January 2020 . It will set out a new dividend policy when it publishes its full-year results on 20 May, the company said. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

James Marape receives AstraZeneca Covid vaccine at Port Morseby football stadium to help combat misinformation Papua New Guinea has begun its rollout of the Covid vaccine with the first doses of the AstraZeneca shots supplied by Australia administered to health workers, senior statesmen and elected officials, including the prime minister, James Marape. Marape said on Tuesday that “vaccination is not compulsory but will be made optionally available for Papua New Guineans who chose to be vaccinated”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

China and the Emirates have teamed up to launch a rebranded vaccine – and that’s good news for the developing world China’s leading vaccine just got rebranded. On Sunday 28 March, its major pharmaceutical company, Sinopharm, announced a new joint venture with G42, a UAE-based tech company: the vaccine is called Hayat-Vax, hayat meaning “life” in Arabic. The partnership shows immense promise as a new source of vaccines across the developing world. But there’s a catch: a lack of scientific transparency in its phase III clinical trial data. A successful phase III trial is the golden seal confirming a jab’s efficacy once and for all. It allows scientists to observe possible side effects and make comparisons with placebo cases, while mirroring real-life conditions. From a scientific perspective, it provides critical evidence for developing future vaccines. But Hayat-Vax’s phase III data hasn’t been released. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The arrival of spring and the easing of lockdown has brought new optimism. Please don’t batter it into submission again I went off spring for a while. When you’re a kid, spring is a time as thick and ripe with ritual as Halloween or Christmas – pancake day, then daffodils, becoming very obsessed with lambs being born for some reason, then Easter itself, where your school takes a brief trip to a local church (“That guy got murdered, look! That guy got murdered in the gothest way possible. Anyway, here’s some chocolate – ”), and then sunlight ripples through the cold and you forage in the garden for Easter eggs. But in adulthood my springtime has basically just been “finding out what wacky flavour of hot cross bun Aldi has invented this year” and “arguing with my housemates about why the fluted special edition mug they got with their Yorkie Easter egg does not deserve pride of place in a carefully curated mug cupboard that features many, many stouter and superior mugs”. The dazzle, it’s

Pandemic worsens health gap fueled by barriers to care and underlying conditions Queer and transgender people across the US have been more vulnerable to contracting and dying of Covid-19 than their straight, cisgender counterparts, several new studies have found, with barriers to medical care and high rates of underlying conditions exacerbating the pandemic’s toll. Much about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on LGBTQ+ Americans remains unknown. Few national surveys on Covid-19 ask people about their sexual orientation or gender identity; it’s unclear how many LGBTQ+ people have contracted coronavirus, or how many have succumbed to it. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Latest updates: world leaders and WHO call for global treaty to enable nations to ‘predict, prevent, detect and respond to pandemics in coordinated fashion’ Global treaty needed to protect states from pandemics, say world leaders Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage 9.13am BST Good morning. In its integrated review of security, defence and foreign policy (pdf) published earlier this month, the government said it wanted to “move from defending the status quo within the post-Cold War international system to dynamically shaping the post-Covid order”. It was not clear exactly what that meant, but we get a better idea this morning with the publication of a joint article signed by Boris Johnson , the French president, Emmanuel Macron , and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and 21 other world leaders, as well as Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organisation, calling for a global treaty on on pandemic preparedness. Here is my colleag

Company slumped into the red even as pandemic drove up number of UK deaths by 14% The funeral services company Dignity has urged investors to vote against attempts by its largest shareholder to oust the chairman. A fund managed by Phoenix Asset Management Partners, which owns 29.9% of Dignity, has asked for a shareholder meeting to vote on a proposal to remove Clive Whiley and replace him with the chief investment officer and co-founder of Phoenix, Gary Channon. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Stanford University scientists determine sequences of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from vials set to be discarded Scientists have determined the “recipes” for two Covid-19 vaccines using leftovers in vials bound for the trash and published the mRNA sequences on Github, the online repository for software code. The group of scientists from Stanford University were able to determine the sequences of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and included the mRNA sequences in a post they published on Github last week, tech news site Motherboard first reported . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

It’s time to come out of our bubbles and challenge the way the government is approaching the environmental crisis I became an adult during the pandemic. Because of that, it was a pretty pitiful affair compared with the intoxication of what an 18th birthday is meant to be. Turning 18 is always going to be scary, but it is especially in a society that renders adulthood as something repellently formal. To be an adult is to be civilised. Or so I’ve been taught. Wilderness is an antonym for civilisation. Since we see “civilised” as being a desirable trait, where does that put “wild”? We look at a soppy dog by a fireplace or a flock of compliant sheep and brand them domesticated, smug in our role as domesticator, not realising that humans are perhaps the most domesticated species of all, with 75% of young people spending more time indoors than prison inmates. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Exclusive: Years of rising prices, pay freeze and high private rents has prevented many from saving for deposit Low-paid key workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic would not be able to afford to buy the average priced home in 98% of Great Britain, an exclusive Guardian analysis has found. Years of rising prices have put homeownership out of reach of many key workers, who have also experienced pay freezes and had to channel their wages into paying high private rents, rather than being able to save for a deposit. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Some pensioners reportedly charged up to $90 when the government vaccination program is meant to be free Vaccine tracker: how is the rollout progressing and when will you get the jab? Queensland Covid hotspots ; • NSW Covid hotspots The federal health department says it is “actively monitoring” whether doctors are charging patients for Covid vaccinations following reports some pensioners had been asked to pay $70 for a pre-jab consultation. The Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie told parliament last week she had been told by elderly constituents that they had been charged out-of-pocket expenses for a pre-vaccination consultation by a small number of GPs. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Two separate clusters of UK variant spread in Brisbane when unvaccinated health workers contracted coronavirus The Queensland hospital system was already “stressed” before the latest Covid outbreak partly because everyone with the virus is moved from hotel quarantine into hospital, but not all hospital workers have been vaccinated yet, experts say. There are now two separate clusters of the infectious UK variant of coronavirus in Brisbane that spread when unvaccinated health workers contracted the virus. The cases have forced Brisbane into a snap three-day lockdown. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Two cases in one hospital ‘obviously raises concerns’, doctors’ union says, as most of state’s at-risk health workers found to have not had masks properly fitted Queensland Covid hotspots NSW hotspots Follow the Australia live blog The Queensland doctors’ union has called for a full investigation into how a doctor and nurse at the same Brisbane hospital contracted coronavirus, leading to two separate clusters of community transmission and a city-wide lockdown. The latest information state authorities have released suggests the spread of at least 15 cases of coronavirus began with separate infections acquired within the Princess Alexandra hospital at Woolloongabba. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Institutions across globe could take years to recover from disastrous 2020, suggests survey Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Visitor numbers at the world’s top 100 museums and art galleries plunged by 77% last year, down from 230 million in 2019 to just 54 million as the pandemic forced closure on an unprecedented scale. The survey carried out annually by the Art Newspaper for more than 20 years is normally an upbeat one, highlighting which museums had good years and what the most popular exhibitions were, whether in London, New York or São Paulo. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

HBO documentary The Last Cruise revisits, through footage recorded by passengers and crew, the early-pandemic horror of the Diamond Princess cruise disaster Before the shutdowns and eerie images of a barren Times Square, before the bungled US federal response to a virus that has since killed 549,000 Americans and nearly 2.8m people worldwide, before most people even had a date they could loosely observe as a pandemic anniversary this past month, there was the Diamond Princess . The cruise ship departed from Yokohama, Japan on 20 January 2020 for a roundtrip tour of southeast Asia. On board was an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong who had recently visited Shenzen, Guangdong Province, China. At the time, there were only four confirmed cases of the then-unnamed Covid-19 virus outside mainland China; within two weeks, the ship would be stalled in the Japanese harbor under quarantine as the largest coronavirus outbreak outside Wuhan – 712 people, 14 of whom would die. Continue readin

Canada cites blood clot concerns in suspension ; WHO report understood to conclude Covid came from animals Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55 New Covid vaccines needed globally within a year, say scientists Biden says up to 90% of adults will be eligible for vaccine by 19 April See all our coronavirus coverage 6.29am BST Up to 90% of US adults will be eligible for a Covid-19 shot by 19 April, Joe Biden said on Monday as he announced a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination program. Hours after Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of “impending doom” in the race against the resurgence of infections, the US president delivered the counter measure. 6.16am BST India recorded 56,211 new cases of coronavirus, a slight dip from the country’s record-breaking tallies over the last three days, data from the health ministry showed on Tuesday. Reuters: The country’s tally dipped below the 60,

Last August, Pape and his family went on a city break to Birmingham, making the most of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s discount scheme. The day after he arrived home, his symptoms began Amanda Pape didn’t want to go on a city break to Birmingham during a pandemic, but her husband, Bob, a 53-year-old lawyer, insisted. “Bob was convinced that the government would not allow people to travel if it wasn’t safe,” says Amanda, a 56-year-old former teacher. Bob was persuasive – he was a lawyer, after all – so she relented. Along with her daughter, Jazzy, 19, one of Jazzy’s friends and a child Bob and Amanda were fostering, they booked three nights in a Holiday Inn from 2 August 2020. The family, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, stayed from Sunday to Wednesday, to make the most of the government’s “eat out to help out” (EOTHO) scheme, which offered food and soft drink discounts on Mondays to Wednesdays in August. Right until they left for Birmingham, Amanda was uneasy. She was on the verge of c

Canada cites blood clot concerns in suspension ; WHO report understood to conclude Covid came from animals Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55 New Covid vaccines needed globally within a year, say scientists Biden says up to 90% of adults will be eligible for vaccine by 19 April See all our coronavirus coverage 5.39am BST Canada on Monday suspended the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for people under 55 following concerns it might be linked to rare blood clots. The pause was recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization for safety reasons. The Canadian provinces, which administer health in the country, announced the suspension on Monday. Related: Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55 5.28am BST A team of international experts will present details Tuesday of their findings from a mission to China, which concluded Covid-19 probably passed to humans from a bat via an intermediary animal

Outbreak of UK variant prompts questions about precautions inside hospitals and the speed of the state’s vaccine rollout Queensland Covid hotspots ; • NSW Covid hotspots Follow the Australia liveblog Queensland authorities say the growing number of UK-variant coronavirus cases in Brisbane come from “two distinct clusters”, both of which spread into the community by unvaccinated health workers. Another eight cases of community transmission were detected since yesterday, bringing the total to 15. The state’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said the situation was cause for concern. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Immunisation panel says there is ‘substantial uncertainty about the benefit’ of the vaccine given risk of rare type of blood clot See all our coronavirus coverage Canada on Monday suspended the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people under 55 following concerns it might be linked to rare blood clots. The pause was recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization for safety reasons. The Canadian provinces, which administer health in the country, announced the suspension on Monday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Koraly Dimitriadis had never countenanced the idea of holidaying with her parents as an adult, but Covid has cast a new light on family I haven’t holidayed with my parents since I was 18. Vacationing with my parents, as an adult, has never been at the top of my to-do list. But that’s what I did this summer: I took a trip with my sisters, all of our children and my parents. All eleven of us. Before Covid, I was just like any other child of migrants who found their parents annoying, overbearing and controlling. But when Covid came along, it changed everything. My parents changed. I changed. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

From pools and lidos to tennis courts and golf courses, it has been an action-packed day around England as lockdown regulations are relaxed to allow outdoor sporting activity. People will now be able to meet up legally outside in groups of six or two households and organised outdoor sport can resume Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Mary Portas and Charlotte Tilbury among those who want support for Covid-hit independent stores Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Some of Britain’s best-known fashion and retail names are campaigning for the government to launch a ‘shop out to help out’ scheme to aid beleaguered independent shops as they prepare to reopen on 12 April. The retail consultant Mary Portas, the beauty mogul Charlotte Tilbury, the designers Charlie Casely-Hayford and Henry Holland, who has also designed the campaign’s logo, are among those calling for a stimulus package. They argue support should take a similar structure to last summer’s eat out to help out scheme, with the government covering 50% of the cost of goods purchased at physical stores with fewer than 10 employees, capped at £10, every Monday to Wednesday, for a month this summer. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As we start to enjoy new freedoms, we can’t risk bringing Covid back home. This is a year for exploring Britain The best thing about lockdown is, as with banging your head against a brick wall, the relief when it stops. It hasn’t stopped yet, of course. But even the relatively minor tweaking of the rules in various parts of the UK this week – such as allowing outside gatherings of six – has unleashed a palpable national giddiness, a sign perhaps of how far our horizons have shrunk. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Trial will be live-streamed with courtroom access restricted ‘The world is waiting’: Chauvin set to go on trial How George Floyd Square became a symbol of resistance – and healing Sign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email 2.36pm BST “If George Floyd was a white American citizen, no-one would say it was a hard case. If you cannot get justice in America for a black man for this, what can you get justice for?” “We know the video is the proof. That’s all you need.” -Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, ahead of former police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial pic.twitter.com/hYNgUMlNo1 Related: 'The world is waiting': Derek Chauvin set to go on trial for killing of George Floyd 2.19pm BST George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd appeared live on NBC’s Today show this morning, alongside civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , who is representing the family. Philonise Floyd indicated the family was feeling confident about the trial, even though i

During this eternal lockdown, I’ve become invested in celebrities’ lives. I’m not proud of it, but surely I’m not alone Recently I learned that Robert De Niro will only drink martinis if they’re garnished with English cucumber, and he goes to great lengths to check its provenance. I don’t have concrete evidence of this, just as I can’t prove that the first gig Banksy attended was Erasure in Shepton Mallet, that Maradona kept his cocaine inside footballs or that Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are enjoying the company of the same dog . But given we’ve been in a bit of a joy drought lately, reading this sort of celebrity nonsense online has provided me, endlessly housebound me during the pandemic, with some sliver of relief. I never expected gossip to be something I missed, particularly in a year defined by profound loss, but here we are. I don’t miss mean gossip. More the banal, over-a-tea, occasionally scream-quietly-into-your-sleeve stuff. The sort of whispered chitchat that takes p

Tearful scenes in Birmingham park as couples and grandparents and grandchildren meet for first time in months Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage For Allyssa Bravo, “everything aligned perfectly” on Monday, her 27th birthday, as she was reunited with her fiance for the first time in seven months when lockdown restrictions eased. With the official stay at home order ending , Bravo travelled with her family from Burton upon Trent to Cannon Hill park in Birmingham, while her partner, Paul Abustan, travelled up from London, leading to an emotional reunion. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Mural featuring nearly 150,000 red hearts – one for each death – will stretch for hundreds of metres Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Bereaved family and friends of Covid-19 victims have begun work on a memorial to their loved ones, painting the first of nearly 150,000 red hearts – one for everyone who has died thus far – on a wall facing the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The mural is expected to stretch for hundreds of metres along the southern bank of the River Thames outside St Thomas’ hospital, where Boris Johnson was treated for a severe case of Covid last year. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Over-70s of black African heritage 7.4 times more likely not to have had first dose than white people, says ONS Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Over-70s of black African heritage in England are 7.4 times more likely not to have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine compared with their white British counterparts, according to analysis by the Office for National Statistics. The ONS found that 90.2% of all over-70s resident in England had received at least one jab between 8 December last year and 11 March but the percentage vaccinated was lower among all minority ethnic groups compared with the white British population. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Effect of Covid lockdown on shoppers is underlined in Bank of England report Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A slump in credit card spending in February dragged down UK consumer credit growth to a 27-year low as the second month of the latest coronavirus lockdown restricted the scope for shoppers to spend in high streets and on outdoor activities. With people paying back more than they borrowed, consumer credit growth fell by 9.9% annually – marking the biggest contraction since records started in 1994 – the Bank of England said in its monthly report. January also set a record after a 9% decline on December’s total . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chancellor complains her government does not yet have power to impose national lockdown Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Angela Merkel has threatened to centralise Germany’s pandemic response as several of the country’s federal states refuse to implement an emergency brake mechanism on easing restrictions in spite of rapidly rising infection rates. Related: Heroes to zeros: how German perfectionism wrecked its Covid vaccine drive Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian