UK

The NHS is facing a “rocky few weeks ahead” as it contends with a wave of Omicron cases, the health secretary has said – as two major incidents were declared in England due to pressures caused by the COVID variant’s spread. Speaking during a visit to King’s College Hospital in south London, Sajid Javid said

Some 200 Armed Forces personnel are being deployed to support the NHS in London as hospitals grapple with staff shortages. Military medics will assist NHS doctors and nurses with patient care, while general duty personnel will help fill gaps caused by other absences. The Royal College of Nursing has said the deployment means the government

The epicentre of the current COVID outbreak has moved from London to the North West of England and more older people are being admitted to hospital, new data reveals. The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) latest surveillance report also shows that the uptake of booster jabs is slowing in every age group. Rates in the

Plans to tackle the record waiting list for NHS treatment could be derailed by emergency care demands and a lack of staff, MPs have warned. The backlog of patients waiting for planned care in England has soared to nearly six million as the number of 999 calls and A&E waiting times have both hit record

Four protesters have been found not guilty of causing criminal damage after toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest. A jury at Bristol Crown Court cleared Rhian Graham, 30, Jake Skuse, 33, Sage Willoughby, 22 and Milo Ponsford, 26, of charges, following a trial that

MPs are returning to Westminster after their Christmas break and plunging straight into a potentially fiery Prime Minister’s Questions and a Commons showdown over COVID-19. Besides the latest crisis over Omicron, Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer are poised to clash over soaring energy bills, investigations into Downing Street parties, and the PM’s flat makeover.

A further 218,724 coronavirus cases and 48 COVID-related deaths have been recorded in the UK, official figures show. The UK-wide figures have been released after the Bank Holiday, when only England released figures for both deaths and cases. It comes as a further 141,825 people had their booster jab – bringing the total to 34,363,986,

Multiple hospitals have declared critical incidents amid warnings the NHS is “in a state of crisis” in the face of staff shortages caused by coronavirus and rising pressures. In a letter to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the NHS can “ill afford” the current level of absences as it

Boris Johnson has warned it would be “absolute folly” to say the pandemic is over – but said Omicron “is plainly milder” than other variants. Despite a huge increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, the prime minister said the UK is in a better position than most other countries due to the “very, very

Schools have been advised by ministers to start preparing for COVID staff shortages by merging classes into larger groups and considering “flexible” teaching options. The latest advice sent to schools in an email from the Department of Education and published in an open letter by Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi comes as many pupils prepare to

Thunderstorms are expected to hit the south of England today, bringing the possibility of road closures, power cuts and damage to trees and buildings. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for a band of stormy weather from Exeter in the West across to Norwich in the East. “A band of thunderstorms will

A 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Croydon the day before New Year’s Eve has been named by police as Zaian Aimable-Lina. The teenager died at the scene of the attack in Ashburton Park after being stabbed in the heart, the Metropolitan Police said. A 15-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of

Contingency plans are being drawn up over fears a quarter of public sector workers could be absent due to the Omicron wave of COVID infections. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told ministers to test preparations for a possible worst-case scenario as daily coronavirus numbers continue to hit record levels. All government departments are also renewing

A spectacular display in London has helped the UK usher in 2022, with people turning out to watch despite being encouraged to stay at home and enjoy the show on television. Details of the location of the spectacle, which involved a light show, drones and fireworks, were not revealed in advance amid the continuing spread

An estimated 2.3 million people in the UK had COVID in the week up to 23 December – a substantial rise on the 1.4 million the previous week. It is the highest number since comparable figures began in autumn 2020, the Office for National Statistics said. In London, around one in 15 people was likely

Boris Johnson has used his New Year’s message to claim that the UK finds itself in an “incomparably better” position than this time last year when it comes to coronavirus. In a message that will be posted on social media on Friday, the prime minister will say the country has met its target of offering

Leading scientists have warned that ongoing shortages of COVID tests across the UK are a “great concern” ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. In recent days there have been widespread shortages of lateral flow and PCR tests for delivery on the government’s portal, with no PCRs available across the UK this morning. Health Secretary Sajid

A number of new Nightingale “surge hubs” are to be set up around England as the NHS goes on a “war footing” in preparation for a wave of Omicron hospital admissions. Eight locations with capacity for 100 patients will be set up, with work beginning this week, NHS England has said. More sites have also

Boris Johnson has said “up to 90%” of people currently in intensive care with COVID-19 have not had their booster jab as he urged the nation to take up the offer. Speaking to broadcasters, the prime minister said there are 2.4 million eligible double-jabbed people yet to take up the offer of a booster and

The social care system in England is not fit for purpose and “may as well be handing over children directly to ruthless gangs and criminals”, according to a leading children’s rights campaigner. Anne Longfield, a former children’s commissioner for England, says some teenagers taken into care to safeguard them from county lines and criminal exploitation

The government has said it will not be introducing any fresh COVID restrictions in England this side of new year – despite the record rise in reported cases over the weekend. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people should “remain cautious” when taking part in New Year’s celebrations – and take a lateral flow test before

Australia have retained The Ashes after winning the third test in Melbourne to take an unassailable three-nil lead in the five match series. Australia won by an innings and 14 runs as England’s batsmen crumbled in the face of their pace attack, collapsing to 69 all out in the second innings. The five match series

More than 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccination appointments are now available between today and 3 January, as the government continues its booster jab drive to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant. Over 60% of UK adults have now received a top up, but the NHS’s top doctor has put out a fresh call asking those

A man armed with a crossbow who was arrested after breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police have said. The 19-year-old from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon at about

New restrictions are coming into force today in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in a bid to curb rising coronavirus cases. Further rules have not been announced in England, with Boris Johnson saying before Christmas that the data is being monitored but as yet does not justify stricter measures. It is understood school closures are

The NHS’s most senior doctor is calling upon those yet to receive their booster COVID-19 vaccination to urgently come forward for their third jab. NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis has said “there is no time to lose” for those still yet to top up their protection as the Omicron variant continues to spread

The Queen is again breaking with tradition due to COVID and will spend Christmas Day at Windsor. Her Majesty made the decision not to travel to Sandringham in Norfolk earlier this week and will instead be joined by family members at Windsor Castle. It’s the second year that she has stayed at Windsor. Last year

The UK has recorded 122,186 new cases of coronavirus and a further 137 deaths, the latest daily figures show. It is the highest number of new infections reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Yesterday there were 119,789 cases and 147 fatalities within 28 days of a positive test recorded. Seven days ago there were

An estimated 1.7 million people had coronavirus across the UK last week, the highest number since comparable records began last year, new figures suggest. The new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data covers people who tested positive for COVID-19 outside hospital or a care setting during the week ending 19 December. In England there were

The Queen is expected to deliver a particularly personal Christmas Day message as she prepares for her first festive period since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. Buckingham Palace has released a photograph of the monarch taken during the recording of her annual festive address, filmed last week, showing her sitting behind a desk

A record number of people in the UK have had COVID in a single week, new figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics said around 1.4 million people in the UK had COVID in the week ending December 16, which was the highest number since comparable figures began in autumn 2020. Around one in

The UK has reported more than 100,000 daily COVID cases for the first time since of the start of the pandemic. Some 106,122 cases have been recorded in the latest 24-hour period – around 13,000 more than the previous high of 93,045 on 17 December. A further 140 coronavirus-related deaths have also been recorded. The

Wales has announced new measures to limit the spread of Omicron, including introducing the rule of six in hospitality venues. First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Omicron variant is now dominant in Wales. The new rules will apply from Boxing Day. They include: • The rule of six in all gatherings in regulated premises, such