Covid in Scotland LIVE as over 20,000 daily cases recorded in last 24 hours

The minimum COVID-19 self-isolation period in England will be cut to five days from the previous seven if someone tests negative twice, Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Thursday.

John Swinney has claimed he doesn't understand "the fuss" over the introduction of covid vaccine passports in Scotland.

Covid could cause a penis to shorten in rare cases, a doctor has claimed.

Boris Johnson’s deputy chief medical adviser has suddenly resigned.

Dumfries and Galloway has recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases for the second week running.

Boris Johnson's future hangs in the balance today after he admitted attending a party in the Downing Street garden during the first covid lockdown in 2020.

There is a concern over the growing list of hospitals in Fraser Health and across the province reporting outbreaks of COVID-19. As Aaron McArthur reports, those infected units have been closed but, emergency rooms are still open.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is perturbed over the announcement by S&P Global Ratings to downgrade Sri Lanka, at a time when the GOSL has diligently lined up adequate funds to repay its maturing foreign debt liabilities and its repeated assurances over the strong commitment to oblige its debt service payments, including the International Sovereign Bond (ISB) maturing on 18 January 2022, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) states. The credit rating agency, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) lowered long-term sovereign credit rating on Sri Lanka from ‘CCC+’ to ‘CCC’ on increasing external financing risks on Wednesday (12).The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, issuing a statement in response, states that this move demonstrates repetitive nature in which S&P and other rating agencies acted to initiate rating actions just prior to the settlement of ISB obligations. S&P’s action also fails to recognize the positive developments taking place in Sri Lanka, in an environment in which the entire world is grappling with repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSL states.The sense of urgency on the part of an internationally recognised rating agency is inconceivable, particularly since S&P was being constantly updated by the Sri Lankan authorities on the latest developments in all sectors of the economy and many measures to shore-up foreign exchange inflows.

FILE - Aerial view of the Pentagon building photographed on Sept. 24, 2017.

Legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey has data on COVID-19 hospitalizations numbers across the country and a possible preview of what could happen next in B.C.

Tori Spelling is keeping fans updated as she battled COVID-19.The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum looked a bit worse for wear in a snap she posted to her Instagram story on Wednesday.Tori, 48, shared a picture that showed her face, free of makeup and very pale. Taking its toll:Tori Spelling looked a bit worse for wear in a snap she posted to her Instagram story on WednesdayThe star's bleach blonde hair hung past her shoulders.

On the heels of Quebec announcing it will impose a financial penalty on those who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Jason Kenney said Alberta will not be following suit.

Kyle Turris is the latest Edmonton Oiler to enter COVID protocol — joining a long list of team members to test positive. With the disease forcing the postponement of a handful of games, the hockey team is facing challenges on multiple fronts.

As Omicron continues its rapid spread across Alberta, a flood of new COVID-19 patients has hit hospitals as part of the fifth wave. As Lauren Pullen reports, so far Calgary hospitals have been hit the hardest.

The arrival of more COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits from the federal government and from private companies is delayed in Alberta. Breanna Karstens-Smith explains.

With dining rooms across the province closed, many people are choosing to eat outside and that has some restaurant owners buildig structures around their patios.

With kids back in school and the rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant, many families are feeling overwhelmed. Recommendations on whether we need to isolate vary in Alberta depending on vaccination status and exposure.

Michael Rapaport will no longer fill in as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show this week after he tested positive for COVID-19.On Tuesday, the 51-year-old comedian shared a video to his Instagram page in which he revealed his diagnosis and explained that he would be absent from the Fox talk show.'I have to pull out of doing The Wendy Williams Show the rest of the week because unfortunately, I got damn coronavirus, which I'm disappointed about,' the Prison Break star said in the clip, in which he was seen wearing a gray t-shirt while sitting on a couch. The latest:Michael Rapaport will no longer fill in as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show this week after he tested positive for COVID-19He continued, 'I'm really, really disappointed for many, many, many reasons.

B.C. is reporting 500 people are in hospital, and 102 are in intensive care due to COVID-19 related illness on Wednesday, Jan.

Some parents remain on the fence about sending their children back to school next week, as fears over how safe it will be linger. Despite reassurances from the government that it is empowering parents to know it will be cautious, critics and parents alike remain skeptical.

Many consumers have trouble making their minimum credit card payments at this time of year. But for one Toronto senior, who accidentally overpaid his card account last fall, getting a refund was the issue.

Manitoba is reporting another increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past 24 hours, and it breaks a previous record.

Peel regions medical officer of health has issued a stern warning to residents, it’s more than likely you’ll contract COVID-19 this winter. The area’s top doctor is pushing all non-vaccinated residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

There is a push by the province to provide education and childcare staff with booster shots. Caryn Lieberman reports from a vaccine clinic at the Toronto Zoo.

Roddy Ricch on Wednesday withdrew from his scheduled appearance on Saturday Night Live after he was a close contact to a staffer with COVID-19.'Due to recent Covid exposure on my team and to keep everyone safe I won’t be able to perform on SNL this weekend,' the 23-year-old rapper said on Instagram Stories.The Box performer added that he was 'working with the SNL team to lock in a new date though.' The latest:Roddy Ricch, 23, on Wednesday withdrew from his scheduled appearance on Saturday Night Live after he was a close contact to a staffer with COVID-19. He was snapped in LA last yearThe Compton, California native had been slated to be the musical guest on the NBC comedy staple alongside West Side Story actress Ariana DeBose, who is hosting.The pop group Bleachers will perform in place of the Late at Night artist, making their SNL debut in support of their album Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, which was released last summer.

Quebec’s decision to tax those who have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine has triggered debate in provinces across Canada. Kendra Slugoski has more on what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Jason Kenney have said.

Manitoba’s deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said on Wednesday that it is “highly likely” most Manitobans will be exposed to the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the coming weeks.

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Some activities are a lot safer than others when it comes to Covid transmission risk., according to research published by ACS Publications.

Soap opera actor Richard Burgi was fired from The Young and the Restless after Christmas and is revealing it's because he 'naively and inadvertently violated the show's Covid policy'.The 63-year-old took to his Instagram stories to clear up rumors about why he was let go from the series, where he played Ashland Locke, explaining he was confused about isolation time after contracting COVID-19 in December.The soap industry has been plagued recently with issues surround coronavirus safety protocols with several actors - like Ingo Rademacher and Steve Burton - fired for their refusal to follow them. Honest mistake:Soap opera actor Richard Burgi was fired from The Young and the Restless after Christmas and is revealing it's because he 'naively and inadvertently violated the show's Covid policy' In Burgi's case, however, he seemed to have just made a mistake due to conflicting policies between the CDC and the show.The actor recently tested positive for COVID and'took the necessary five days the CDC had recommended, came back, and then tested twice negatively at the studio'.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said on Wednesday that his government is distributing about 830,000 COVID-19 rapid tests per week across the province.

A cleaner who turned up to work at a supermarket while infected with Covid-19 was unfairly sacked, an Employment Tribunal ruled.

Scotland's principal medical officer for mental health has urged those feeling the pressure to reach out for help.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power on Wednesday (12) afternoon announced that there will be no power cuts during the day.However, on Tuesday (11) even though the Ministry announced that there will be no power cuts, many areas were left in darkness following a breakdown at a private plant at the Kelanitissa Power Plant premises.Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Power Sugath Dharmakeerthi told News 1st that the breakdown is being rectified and therefore, there will be an uninterrupted supply of power.On Wednesday (12), given these unannounced power cuts, activists filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission noting that these power cuts are posing serious issues to the people.However, Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge alleges that these events could be the result of some form of conspiracy.Why is Sri Lanka facing an electricity crisis?Sri Lanka’s Forex Crisis is a main reason for the electricity crisis because the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is seeking dollar payments from the Ceylon Electricity Board for fuel provided for electricity generation.Concessions granted to consumers by the CEB have resulted in low revenue, which is another reason for the crisis.In addition, one generator at the Norochcholai Power Plant is not acting, posing an issue in electricity generation for the country.Furthermore, a considerable drop in rainfall in areas where reservoirs are situated is another reason leading to the electricity crisis.Despite these reasons, especially that Sri Lanka is receiving low rainfall, Sri Lankan authorities are releasing water from the Maussakele reservoir citing repairs.

An NHS doctor has explained why using tap water or fizzy drinks on a Covid lateral flow test can give you a positive result.

A Dundee singer is juggling work on the NHS frontline to launch her new song.

Opener Shevon Daniel hammered a blistering 75 runs as Sri Lanka Under 19s recorded a mammoth 128 run win against Ireland on Tuesday (11) in their opening warm-up match of the 2022 ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup held in the West Indies.Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl with the match being cut short for 43 overs due to overnight rain.

John Swinney has announced a "range of scenarios" are under consideration by the Scottish Government on extending the covid passport scheme.

The Omicron Covid variant is now the dominant strain throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK.

ER alum Julianna Margulies announced on Tuesday night that she tested positive for the coronavirus amid the nationwide omicron variant surge.'I'm fine because I am vaccinated so it just feels like the flu,' the 55-year-old native New Yorker reassured her 423K Instagram/Facebook followers.'How lucky we are to have the science that made these vaccinations? Please get vaccinated if you are not.' 'I'm fine': ER alum Julianna Margulies announced on Tuesday night that she tested positive for the coronavirus amid the nationwide omicron variant surge (pictured November 16)Julianna buried the lead, so to speak, while gushing over how much she enjoyed the 'genius' Lin-Manuel Miranda's film Tick Tick Boom starring the 'heartbreakingly talented' Andrew Garfield.'What a stunning film! Jonathan Larson's story is just remarkable,' Margulies wrote. 'This film and his life make you realize how precious time is and not to waste a minute of it...And thank you to the whole cast and crew of #ticktickboom.'The Sunshine Girl author then 'loved' comedian Chelsea Handler's comment on her post: 'Feel better soon, J! I will watch that tonight while my baby [Jo Koy] is out of town.' The 55-year-old native New Yorker wrote: 'I am vaccinated so it just feels like the flu.

Two tanked-up brutes attacked an innocent member of the public after refusing to follow covid rules in a town centre pub.

As COVID-related hospitalizations climb, the province of Quebec has announced that those who refuse to be vaccinated will have to pay for their choices.

Alberta health officials have restricted criteria for COVID-19 PCR testing and many say that’s leaving them far too vulnerable. Research shows at-home tests aren’t as accurate as PCRs and it’s raising concerns.

Alberta’s tourism industry could take another hit with the U.S. CDC advising Americans not to travel north of the border because of rising COVID-19 cases.

Quebec is putting its foot down on the unvaccinated, with Premier François Legault saying people who refuse to get immunized against COVID-19 will soon have to pay a health-care tax.

New COVID-19 testing protocols in Alberta means the options have narrowed significantly for most of the population and many Albertans have found themselves in a confusing predicament: if they wake up feeling under the weather, what’s their next step? Morgan Black explains.