Boris Johnson 'to scrap Covid tier system and open pubs in April in three-stage plan'

All this week anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate protesters said that if police came they wouldn’t leave their blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., but when push came to shove that’s exactly what they did. Sean O’Shea reports.

coronavirus pandemic declaration, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said it will “improve and increase service” on several of its routes beginning Sunday.In a press release issued Wednesday, TTC said 17 routes would be improved “as the agency starts restoring service across the network to pre-pandemic levels.” Ontario on track to remove ‘almost all restrictions’ on businesses ‘very soon,’ Doug Ford says “Throughout the pandemic, the TTC has prioritized service delivery where it is needed the most, protecting service on the busiest routes at the busiest times of day,” the release reads. “Last November, overall service had to be adjusted based on reduced staff availability.”The TTC said it is planning to restore 100 per cent of pre-pandemic service hours over the coming months as ridership increases.“Schedules and service will continue to be based on demand,” the release said.According to the TTC, on Feb.

Josh Hazlewood conceded just five runs in the Super Over as T20 World Cup champion Australia edged Sri Lanka on Sunday after the second game of their series finished in a tie.Australia Innings:Australia was sent in to bat in Sydney and posted 164 for 6, with Josh Inglis scoring 48 from 32 balls to lead the scoring.Dushmantha Chameera took 2 for 30, including wickets with consecutive balls in the 19th over to remove Steve Smith (14) and Marcus Stoinis (19), and Wanindu Hasaranga returned 2 for 33.Sri Lanka Innings:Sri Lanka was always behind in the run chase after losing wickets in the first, third and fifth overs to slip to 25 for 3, but opener Pathum Nissanka’s 73 from 53 deliveries kept the visiting team in contention.Sri Lanka needed 46 from the last 18 balls for victory and, when Hasaranga was run out for 34 on the last ball of the 19th over, still needed 19 off the last over from Stoinis to win the match and level the series.They scored 18 , with Maheesh Teekshana hitting the second ball he faced for six and Chameera hitting a four down the ground on the last ball to level the scores.Super Over :With the Super Over in play Hazlewood, who returned 3 for 22 in his four overs in regulation, bowled two dot balls and a bye, which resulted in Dinesh Chandimal being run out by a direct hit from Glenn Maxwell as Sri Lanka slipped to 1- 1. The Sri Lankans managed to get to 5 for 1 after six balls.Maxwell took a single off Hasaranga from the first ball of Australia’s Super Over and Stoinis did the rest, driving down the ground for consecutive boundaries to secure the victory with three balls to spare.

Ont.’s Ambassador Bridge.Dozens of trucks, cars, pickups and vans have blocked traffic in both directions at Canada’s busiest border crossing to the U.S. for several days.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 5,301 new cases of coronavirus have been identified overnight.

Kate Garraway has said she is discovering a 'new way to be in love' with her husband.

A Rutherglen man has praised a new NHS weight loss programme after shedding a staggering four stone in less than a year.

Active cases: 3,926Today's positivity rate: 1.50% pic.twitter.com/kqjBfJPSBgNever miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Those opposed to vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 measures gathered near the Pacific Highway truck crossing Saturday – where police say convoy vehicles broke through RCMP barricades. Paul Johnson reports.

Lockdown is only likely to be lifted once the number of daily coronavirus figures drop below 1,000, according to reports.The Telegraph writes that restrictions are unlikely to be eased until the numbers are in the hundreds, not the 10,000 a day Covid cases we are seeing now.Boris Johnson is set to publish a roadmap out of lockdown next week, after rules are debated this weekend.It's believed schools will reopen from March 8 as part of the plans.However, a clear timetable to the end of Covid restrictions is unlikely to be in place for the coming months, instead, promising a series of reviews along the way.The reviews could see shops, pubs and restaurants not open until Covid cases reach a low not seen since last August.The number of people

The government's plan to gradually lift lockdown could reportedly see us "broadly" back to normal by July with pubs open in May.

A world health chief has backed plans for audiences to return to theatres, cinemas, concerts and nightclubs through rapid coronavirus testing.

Boris Johnson has given hope to millions of Brits as he has revealed that if all goes to plan, all members of the top nine priority groups for the Covid-19 vaccination will have had their jabs by end of April.The Prime Minister confirmed in his most recent briefing to the nation that everyone who falls within the requirements of the top nine groups, including everyone aged 50 and over as well as the most at risk members of society, such as those with underlying health conditions, who are above the age of 16.

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Covid tests before going clubbing or to the theatre.Boris Johnson hinted at testing as he discussed a new approach to allow nightclubs to finally reopen after a year of lockdown.The leader also announced on Monday that the UK is set to have offered every single resident over the age of 50 a Covid vaccine by the end of April.However, some industries remain concerned over their likelihood of reopening, with the possibility of private businesses asking their staff and punters to have a vaccine or be denied entry.Although it was rumoured "vaccine passports" may be necessary in day to day life, on Monday, Mr Johnson downplayed the prospect of such "vaccine passports" in the UK - except for allowing international travel.Instead he suggested some

direct to your inboxLatest figures show Bury is one of just 12 places in England where coronavirus infection rates have gone up.Rates are continuing to fall in nine of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs.But in Bury, figures published by Public Health England on Monday showed infection rates to be up slightly. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said first doses of vaccines have been administered to the 15 million most vulnerable people, but at a press conference refused to rule out the current lockdown being the country's last.

Covid rates are still rising in 23 areas across the UK despite lockdown restrictions, latest figures show.

The Prime Minister struggled to pronounce the name of a life-saving coronavirus drug in his latest gaffe.

LONDON: There is not yet enough data about how vaccines are affecting the spread of COVID-19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday as he faces pressure from some of his own lawmakers who are keen to ease lockdown measures."Although the vaccination programme is going well, we still don't have enough data about the exact effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing the spread of infection," he told a news conference. AstraZeneca PLC Pfizer IncThis story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.Click here to read the Mint ePaperMint is now on Telegram.

The UK has recorded the lowest daily death toll this year and the lowest number of new infections since October.

Boris Johnson said on Monday he would plot a cautious but irreversible path out of the COVID-19 lockdown this week after the vaccination of 15 million vulnerable people.With nearly a quarter of the United Kingdom’s population now inoculated with a first dose of a COVID vaccine in a little over two months, Johnson is under pressure from some lawmakers and businesses to reopen the shuttered economy.“We’ve got to be very prudent and what we want to see is progress that is cautious, but irreversible,” Johnson told reporters. “If we possibly can, we’ll be setting out dates.” U.K.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would plot a “cautious but irreversible” path out of the COVID-19 lockdown this week after the vaccination of 15 million vulnerable people in the country.

Boris Johnson has today begun drawing up a plan to ease England out of lockdown.

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

coronavirus vaccine.Figures on Sunday show the Government's target of offering a Covid-19 jab to the four highest priority groups by Monday has been beaten.The milestone is key to the lockdown exit strategy for England, which is due to be unveiled by Boris Johnson on February 22.Britain became the first country in the world last December to approve a Covid vaccine, when regulators gave the green light to the Pfizer and BioNTech jab.The Prime Minister had pledged last month to offer vaccines to everyone in the four groups.This includes the over-70s, care home residents and staff, frontline health and care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable.He tweeted: "Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s

no reason bars cannot open in April, as its boss expressed exasperation at ministers “lack of interest”.The Young's brewing conglomerate today called on Boris Johnson to “do the right thing” and show strong leadership when the industry “needs it most”.Scotland's hospitality industry has been shut since December, with pubs in much of the central belt closed since October.Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on the Scottish Government lockdown strategy on Tuesday, but there is so far no indication of when the licensed trade can expert to resume.In a letter to the Prime Minister, the chief executive of Young’s said the Government is basing its decision to keep pubs closed on “unfounded and unproven statistics”.But Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior

Wales’ schools could have to shut again if opening them causes an infection spike, the First Minister has admitted.

Raging NHS staff yesterday delivered a sucker punch to Boris Johnson as a damning poll revealed only 5% think he has handled the Covid crisis well.

Covid-19 cases during December and January.With infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths all dropping – and a target of getting 15 million vaccinated by February 15 set – it is hopeful a “roadmap” out of lockdown is soon to be revealed.The 56-year-old Prime Minister is expected to announced the route out of lockdown on or from February 22 – and it is hoped an end to restrictions on shops and hospitality will be part of the announcement.The Sun reports Mr Johnson is set to “priorities” the reopening of such establishments after getting kids back in schools – which have been shut since January 5.Speaking from the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant in Billingham, Teesside, where the new Novavax vaccine is to be manufactured, the Prime

Staycations could be back on the cards by Easter with hotels open if the R number and number of infections are low enough, it has been reported.

There have been a further 621 coronavirus deaths in Britain - the lowest rise on a Saturday for six weeks - and 13,308 confirmed cases.

direct to your inboxThe tier system of coronavirus restrictions is reportedly set to be axed when the government's lockdown plan is published.The Prime Minister is said to have signed off on a three-stage national plan for reopening the economy.Boris Johnson is set to outline his 'roadmap' out of lockdown, which began on January 5, in the week beginning February 22.As for what opens first, schools in England are currently scheduled to return on March 8 at the earliest, Mr Johnson announced last month. The new plan could allow pubs in England to serve customers again by the beginning of April, The I reports, with the final stage of the plan said to be April 2.

Covid hospitalisations are falling faster than expected after England was plunged into lockdown last month - raising hopes lockdown restrictions can be lifted earlier than hoped.

The High Court is set to hear evidence from Boris Johnson's former top aides on Monday, a campaign group has said in a battle over a controversial coronavirus contract.

Boris Johnson will set out his "roadmap" for easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions on February 22, giving people in England an idea of how and when things will open up.

The plan for exiting lockdown hinges on social distancing rules and the wearing of masks lasting until at least autumn, it has been reported.

Boris Johnson may not reveal his Covid-19 lockdown roadmap on February 22, Number 10 has said - despite the Prime Minister repeatedly using that date.

Coronavirus lockdowns in the UK would remain in place until late May if it followed Israel's blueprint for easing restrictions.

direct to your inboxBoris Johnson led a press briefing this evening to provide an update on the latest with coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out a "road map" for relaxing England's coronavirus lockdown measures on February 22.

direct to your inboxBoris Johnson will lead a Downing Street press conference later this afternoon, No 10 has confirmed.The Prime Minister will update the nation on the latest developments with coronavirus.It will take place at 5pm, however it is currently unclear who he will be joined by.Mr Johnson faced Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the weekly Prime Minister's Questions earlier this afternoon.He told the Commons that we will have to “get used” to the idea of re-vaccinating in the autumn as the UK faces new Covid-19 variants.“We recently announced an agreement for 50 million doses with the manufacturer CureVac because we believe that may help us to develop vaccines that can respond at scale to new variants of the virus," Mr Johnson

coronavirus variants will likely mean booster vaccinations are needed later in the year after the second round of jabs is completed.During Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons, Johnson said a 50 million dose deal with pharmaceutical firm Curevac will assist in developing vaccines to respond “at scale to new variants of the virus”.He told MPs: “We’re going to have to get used to vaccinating and then revaccinating in the autumn as we come to face these new variants.”Mutations that give the variants some resistance to existing vaccines have prompted a race to develop booster shots, much like the need to revaccinate annually against seasonal flu.Oxford University is working on a modified version of its vaccine that is more effective

Boris Johnson doesn't regret ignoring advice from his own scientists, which could have prevented the Covid-19 'worst-case scenario', his spokesman has suggested.

direct to your inboxBoris Johnson has not ruled out delaying the easing of lockdown restrictions if the South African variant of coronavirus has an impact on the vaccine.The prime minister is set to reveal his 'road map' out of lockdown on February 22, with schools set to reopen from March 8.But he would not rule out a delay to his plans when pressed by reporters during a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby today.He was asked whether restrictions could be in place longer if it turns out that the South African variant reduces the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine’s effect on transmissibility.Scientists are currently looking into the potential impacts of new variants on the vaccine.Pressed on whether there could be a delay to

Boris Johnson could open schools during the period pupils would ordinarily be on summer break, it has been reported.

Fifteen towns and cities in England have recorded a small week-on-week rise in Covid cases, latest data shows.

Covid vaccine roll-out is making the UK safer "every day", it has been claimed.Nadhim Zahawi, the UK’s vaccine minister, told the House of Commons the UK is on track to meet its target of vaccinating the top four priority groups by mid-February.He said the country is getting "safer every day" and the next stage of vaccination will focus on the "most vulnerable".Once the most vulnerable have been vaccinated Mr Zahawi said he thinks Britain could start to see a "significant return to normality" as soon as summer.Boris Johnson's phased re-opening is expected to begin with schools, which are currently working under a provisional return date of March 8.