Hospital bed blocking scandal exposed during coronavirus emergency

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday (9) said that his policies and the policies of the government were prepared with the future generations in mind.President Rajapaksa assured that all promises will be fulfilled.He said the government is facing challenges in various sectors, including education, agriculture, and electricity.Noting that the economy is reviving following the pandemic, President Rajapaksa urged the masses to obtain the booster dose and not leave any reason for the country to go into lockdown again.The President urged the public sector employees to fulfill their duties and responsibilities in line with the government’s policy statement.“I promised the farmers that fertilizer will be given for free and the certified price for paddy will be increased, and that was my first duty,” said the President while addressing a crowd at the Salgado Stadium in Anuradhapura.The President also promised to increase the income of the local farmers by 100% with or without fertilizer.

An ongoing legal issue that could affect the medallists in the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics, an event in which Canada finished fourth, has caused the award ceremony to be delayed, the IOC said Wednesday.

More than 70 Girvan residents did their bit for the Quay Zone leisure centre by continuing to pay membership fees despite the facility being forced to close because of Covid.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 15 people have died from coronavirus in the last 24 hours,

Jenna Jameson appears to be on the mend after a weeks-long struggle with a mystery illness. The model and former porn star, 47, was hospitalized in early January after losing her ability to walk.  Taking to her Instagram Story this week, the former adult film actress wrote to fans, "Hey, guys. I’m still in the hospital, but I’m doing OK and i’ll be out soon," Page Six reports.

Boris Johnson has announced a shock plan to end all covid self-isolation laws in England in just two weeks time.

With the announcement that Boris Johnson hopes to scrap all coronavirus restrictions by the end of February, you may be wondering what restrictions are still in place.

The City of Saskatoon is lifting vaccine mandates along with the province — but it may be done more as a requirement than by choice.

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PHILLIP Schofield got a scolding from his This Morning bosses after joking he was still Covid positive - despite being back at work. The presenter returned to the daytime sofa after coronavirus forced him to isolate for a week.

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SURPRISE, Ariz. - Police in Surprise say they arrested a man after he stabbed his girlfriend multiple times during an argument over homework.According to court documents, 27-year-old Raymond Maltos was arrested on Feb.

coronavirus restrictions may end in just two weeks time.Opening Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said: “It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.“Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive – a full month early.”Mr Johnson indicated that as long as the data remained positive, the legal duty to self-isolate would be lifted a whole month earlier than planned.The plan was for self-isolation regulations to expire on March 24., but the announcement means the law could axed on around as early as Thursday 24 February.Mr Johnson's announcement comes as a leading expert believes the UK is “past the point” where vaccinating young, healthy children against Covid-19 will do any good.Paul Hunter, professor of medicine from the University of East Anglia, said most children have already had coronavirus, with the vast majority not falling seriously ill.Prof Hunter told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme infection rates in children are “falling really quickly at the moment”, adding: “So I think in many ways we’re past the point where vaccines are actually going to make much difference.”This is a breaking news story and is constantly being updated.Please refresh the page regularly to get the latest updates. Reporters working on dailystar.co.uk will be working to source the latest information, reaction, pictures and video related to this story.

More European countries could scrap tests for fully vaccinated arrivals in the coming days, according to reports.

Over 1,000 arrests were made in Scotland over the weekend, as sunseekers made the most of the rays and the easing of the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

CANCER services could be gradually restarted as part of the plan to reboot the NHS.

Villagers in one of Scotland’s most famous beauty spots say they are living in fear of the deadly Covid-19 outbreak after crowds ignored government advice and flocked to their doorsteps.

Nicola Sturgeon has said the lifting on coronavirus restrictions for vulnerable people who cannot leave their homes does not apply in Scotland.

Scotland's coronavirus reproduction rate is the joint second highest in the UK as the regional R numbers have been revealed for the first time.

Police are set to support an investigation into care home deaths in Scotland throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotland is sitting on a potential cancer ‘timebomb’, according to a leading charity.

SCOTLAND’S automotive industry chiefs have called on the Holyrood Government to allow the immediate reopening of dealerships.

Ayshire appears to be winning the battle against coronavirus as Scotland gets set for an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed Scotland will begin easing lockdown restrictions from tomorrow.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce "cautious" steps out of lockdown for the country.

A woman whose mum died with coronavirus in a care home claimed elderly people have been “written off” in the crisis.

A number of Stirling area sports clubs have expressed relief as it looks like they will be allowed to reopen as part of the gradual easing of lockdown.

A majority of Scots back Nicola Sturgeon and her handling of the coronavirus crisis but have been less convinced by Boris Johnson during the pandemic, a new poll has found.

Lockdown restrictions will only be gradually eased in Scotland on Friday and not before, Nicola Sturgeon has revealed.

Firefighter leaders are demanding a halt to any further cuts to budgets across the UK as they prepare for the “next national emergency”.

Nicola Sturgeon has called on Boris Johnson to sack controversial Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings for breaking lockdown.

Scots parents have overwhelmingly backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on her policy for schools amid the coronavirus emergency.

The country has been in lockdown for weeks.

The number of Covid-19 patients to die in the UK has risen by 351 to 36,393.

East Kilbride Farm Show is the latest event to have fallen victim to the coronavirus outbreak.

Scottish golfers could be given the green light to tee up again as early as the end of next week.

Queen of the South chairman Billy Hewitson reckons the Scottish Government would need to underwrite the football season to allow the new campaign to begin on time behind closed doors.

A further 37 people have died in Scots hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus - bringing the total death toll to 2,221.

The coronavirus lockdown is to be gradually lifted after Nicola Sturgeon announced a “phased approach” to easing restrictions.

Tennis clubs in Lanarkshire are looking forward to a possible return to action next week after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today announced a route map out of lockdown.

An outbreak of coronavirus linked to a Nike conference in Edinburgh has been described as “ground zero” in Scotland.

Hundreds of Scots flocked to an Edinburgh beach to bask in the warm weather despite the coronavirus lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon's Government has backed a special fund for care home workers who take a financial hit during the pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon has said a rise in unemployment underlines the need to restart the economy as quickly as can be done safely.

Nicola Sturgeon has appeared to confirm that schools could go back on August 11th.

Neil Gaiman has apologised after returning to Scotland from New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 2,134 people have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus - a rise of 29 on yesterday’s figures.