Staycations could be back by Easter if Covid infection rate 'continues to improve'

The first blurry image captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA’s new space telescope has captured its first starlight and even taken a selfie of its giant, gold mirror.All 18 segments of the primary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope seem to be working properly 1 1/2 months into the mission, officials said Friday.The telescope's first target was a bright star 258 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major."That was just a real wow moment," said Marshall Perrin of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.Over the next few months, the hexagonal mirror segments — each the size of a coffee table — will be aligned and focused as one, allowing science observations to begin by the end of June.NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched successfully early Christmas morning from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the sky.

FILE - A baby koala is seen at Wild Life Sydney Zoo on Oct. 14, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.

Paddy McGuinness has shared a positive health update as he continues to recover following knee surgery. The 48-year-old Top Gear presenter picked up the injury whilst playing in Soccer Aid 2021 in September, alongside stars such as Usain Bolt, Olly Murs, Chunkz and Jamie Redknapp.He was eventually forced to retire from the charity football competition, joking at the time that the knock was “not something that can be sorted with the magic sponge”.Just last week the father-of-three underwent a procedure on the dodgy knee, having waited a whopping six months before the surgery could take place, reports the Express.

There was a lot of information to digest this week when it comes to COVID-19 and plans to ease restrictions. The decisions are being backed with a lot of scientific claims.

COVID-19 wave, if necessary.Under questioning from opposition health critics during a hearing at the legislature, Dubé suggested the passport could be dropped in the coming weeks.“When I said the vaccine passport was there to stay, will public health recommend that we, I hope in a few weeks, suspend it because it is going better?” Dubé said about the COVID-19 situation in the province. “Could we restore it if we were ever caught with another wave? That’s what you have to think about.”Quebec was the first province to introduce a vaccine passport on Sept.

COVID-19 dashboard available only to Saskatchewan Health Authority leaders no longer includes the number of people who died from the disease.Global News obtained images of the dashboard on several occasions. The latest, from Feb.

The Canadian Armed Forces is now investigating Maj. Stephen Chledowski, after the actively serving army officer released a new video denouncing COVID-19 measures.

Andrei Doroshin PHILADELPHIA - A graduate student in psychology whose COVID-19 vaccine operation got shut down by Philadelphia last year has settled with the state attorney general's office and agreed to destroy all personal health information his start-up gathered.The agreement was filed Friday in Commonwealth Court and requires a judge's approval to take effect.Central to the accusations against Andrei Doroshin, who had almost no public health experience when the city gave him the task, was that he had intended to profit from the vaccine operation run by his start-up, called Philly Fighting COVID.Mayor Jim Kenney says Philly Fighting COVID was a mistake after the Inspector General found no malice, no ill-intent, and no one seeking personal gain.Doroshin denied the allegations by the attorney general's office, including violating the state's nonprofit corporation law.Under the agreement, Doroshin and his associates are barred from managing charitable assets or soliciting charitable donations in Pennsylvania for 10 years.Doroshin also must destroy the personal health information gathered through the vaccine pre-registration service and is barred from receiving any financial benefit from the information or the vaccine.Doroshin must also dissolve Philly Fighting COVID.City officials said they gave him the job because he and his friends had organized one of the community groups that set up COVID-19 testing sites throughout the city in 2020.But they shut the vaccine operation down once they learned that Doroshin had switched his privacy notice to potentially sell patient data.

LOS ANGELES - It’s time to meet the domino-toppling trios competing in the first-ever season of "Domino Masters." Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family"), the series will feature teams of domino enthusiasts facing off in an unbelievable chain reaction tournament. DOMINO MASTERS: The all-new competition series DOMINO MASTERS premieres Wednesday, March 9 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. © 2022 FOX Media LLC. CR: Ray Mickshaw/FOX.

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.

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

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

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.

coronavirus tier system will be axed and replaced with a three-stage national plan to move the UK out of lockdown, according to new reports.Downing Street reportedly wants to "do away" with the previous system, which saw different parts of the country put into different Covid risk levels.According to The i newspaper, Boris Johnson will allow boozers to reopen at the beginning of April if rates continue to fall. Pubs across the nation had to close their doors to punters when the national lockdown was announced on January 4.

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.

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

direct to your inbox If you are over 70 years and you have previously received a letter saying you are at high risk of coronavirus as a result of being clinically extremely vulnerable, you can log on to the NHS site online here to book your appointment. For everyone else, you must wait for the NHS to contact you as it works through the priority list determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined how he wants everyone in the first four priority groups set out by the JCVI to have been offered a jab by next week.

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 inboxThose over the age of 70 who are yet to be offered a coronavirus jab have now been told to get in touch with the NHS. The health service in England has changed its messaging to "contact us" so that people over 70 make their own appointments.

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.

hereThe biggest week on week decrease came in Bury, where cases fell by 24 per cent.Nationally, across England cases fell by a quarter compared with the previous week.The impact of the third national lockdown is continuing to be seen with the latest infection rates.It came as the Prime Minister warned it is 'still early days' to be talking about opening up society again.Reports have suggested pubs could be re-opened in May.Previously a target date for all pupils to return to schools was set as March 8.Tory MP Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, has called on Boris Johnson to consider bringing the date forward.In a video message on Twitter, Mr Johnson urged people to stick to lockdown rules.He said: “I want to stress that it

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.

The health nudge is merely a mirage"Now that doesn't mean you can never have another peak but at this point in time provided people continue to follow the guidelines we're on a downward slope of cases, of hospitalizations and of deaths in all four nations in the United Kingdom. So I think we do think at this point, this peak, at least, we are past," Whitty added.Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK government hopes to set out a route map on February 22 for exiting its current national lockdown.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that coronavirus infections remain "alarmingly high" and the NHS is still under "huge pressure", despite promising vaccination data.