Covid index - October 2021 - December 2021
1 Nov 2021: All remaining red-list countries change to amber. (SI2021/1210)
Covid booster jabs available at walk-in sites in England
Global Covid deaths top five million
Ryanair set to cut winter fares to boost demand
Covid case shuts down Shanghai Disneyland
Revellers and owners celebrate NI nightclubs reopening
2 Nov 2021: MPs told to wear masks in Parliament amid rising Covid cases
3 Nov 2021: England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam has answered your Covid questions
He said we are in "half time of extra time" in the pandemic in the UK - but the final whistle hasn't blown
But he says he expects "calmer waters" by the spring
Prof Van-Tam says masks remain important in some settings - but declines to criticise MPs who don't wear them in Parliament
He also says making masks mandatory in more places is a matter for government, not scientists
The UK reported a further 33,865 cases and 293 new deaths on Tuesday
The number of daily cases is falling in the UK - down 10% week-on-week
One of the government's scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, has stepped down from his role
Elsewhere, the US will start giving children aged five to 11 the Pfizer jab
4 Nov 2021: Will complacency damage Covid booster rollout? Sage scientist Sir Jeremy Farrar steps down from role. He warned the crisis was "a long way from over".
5 Nov 2021: Pfizer says antiviral pill 89% effective in high risk cases
WHO warns Europe once again at epicentre of pandemic
6 Nov 2021: People able to book booster jab earlier in England from Monday
Compulsory jabs for Costa Rican children
7 Nov 2021: Get booster jabs to enjoy Christmas, says Javid
US court blocks President Biden's vaccine mandate
UK reports 30,000 new cases in latest Covid stats (slight fall on average)
NI children's lockdown eating habits less healthy
8 Nov 2021: US reopens border to UK travellers after almost two years
Ten million boosters now given in UK but more needed - PM
Vaccine appeal to pregnant women after mum dies of Covid
Book booster after 5 months (but need 6 month gap for actal jab)
9 Nov 2021: Vaccines to be compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England
10 Nov 2021: Coronavirus births: 'My baby's first word was mask'
Keir Starmer has called for investigation into Randox and the government Covid contracts
11 Nov 2021: UK economic growth slows as supply problems hit the recovery
Lives at risk from 'unacceptable' ambulance waits
Covid: First UK case in pet dog confirmed by top vet
12 Nov 2021: Covid: Medication holiday may boost vaccine protection
13 Nov 2021: UK reports 40,375 cases and 145 further deaths.
This week has seen 6.5% fewer cases than the week before, while deaths are down 8.9%.
In the rest of Europe, case rates are rising sharply, and the Netherlands has now gone into partial lockdown.
Care home manager says staffing 'on a knife edge'.
Big Bird posted on Twitter: "I got my Covid-19 vaccine today"
Republicans said that "government propaganda" was being directed at children.
Green Bay Packers quarterback tested positive for Covid-19
He has since received scrutiny for misleading the public about his immunity status.
Edinburgh heritage group concerned over outdoor eating areas
14 Nov 2021: First UK case in pet dog confirmed by top vet
Austria orders nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated
15 Nov 2021: The UK's top vaccine advisers, the JCVI, say all over-40s should be offered a third dose of a Covid vaccine
Medicines regulator, the MHRA, says it is safe for people aged 16-17 to have second Pfizer/BioNTec vaccine dose
12.6 million people in the UK have had a booster dose so far
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam says that for over-60s, getting booster achieves in excess of 90% protection from infection
He says the UK could be in for a "bumpy few months" over winter but hopes the situation will be calmer by spring
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says, at present, he sees no need for further Covid restrictions over winter
Austria has imposed a lockdown on two million unvaccinated people amid growing Covid pressure on hospitals
16 Nov 2021: The number of UK workers on payrolls rose by 160,000, between September and October to 29.3 million, the ONS says
That comes despite the furlough scheme, which protected millions of jobs during the pandemic, ending in September
NHS Providers is warning the health service is facing the most difficult winter in its history
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard says health services are "facing a really tough winter"
She says the best way for people to help is to take up the offer of a Covid vaccination
Scotland's First Minister will say if Covid restrictions, including the vaccine passport scheme, will be extended
NI health minister says "now is the time" for a phased introduction of a mandatory Covid-19 passport scheme
17 Nov 2021: Some 22,479 Covid cases were recorded in the Czech Republic yesterday, the highest since the pandemic began
Cases continue to rise around Europe. Russia has a further 36,626 and Poland reporting a 31% rise in cases in a week
University of Sheffield says Covid restrictions had a "catastrophic effect" on the arts, culture and heritage sectors
Organisations working on Covid vaccine research were one of the main targets of cyber attacks last year
UK health officials warn of "hidden pandemic" of antibiotic-resistant infections if people fail to act responsibly
Spectators will be allowed at New Year's Eve celebrations in New York's Times Square, after last year cancelled
18 Nov 2021: Germany's Covid cases hit another high with 65,371 daily cases recorded
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said a fourth wave of Covid is "hitting us with full force"
Much of Europe is facing a spike in cases, with new measures introduced in countries including Austria and Belgium
Covid passes may be used over Christmas in order to keep pubs and restaurants open, the Welsh government says
No decision will be made until early December, First Minister Mark Drakeford says
19 Nov 2021: Austria enters a full lockdown from Monday, lasting at least 10 days, in a bid to avoid a "fifth wave" of Covid
Covid vaccinations will also become mandatory from 1 February
Several European countries, including Germany and Greece, are imposing tighter controls on the unvaccinated
Meanwhile a report finds the UK government was not fully prepared for the wide-ranging impacts of Covid-19 on society
Covid booster and other third dose jabs can now be added to the NHS Covid pass for travel, the government says
In Northern Ireland, those who worked from home during the first wave of the pandemic are told they should do so again
Clothing sales in the UK have also reached their highest level since the start of the pandemic, according to the ONS
20 Nov 2021: WHO says it is very worried about Europe surge
Rotterdam police clash with rioters as Covid protest turns violent
Deaths of people treated under the Mental Health Act rose during pandemic
Unvaccinated stars cannot play Australian Open (tennis)
21 Nov 2021: Netherlands and other parts of Europe see protests over new restrictions
Black Friday: Tech retailers fear supply chain delays will hit stock
Healthy children aged 12 to 17 are being advised to wait 12 weeks after Covid before having a Covid jab in the UK
Pandemic sees big rise in obese children in England
22 Nov 2021: Austria has returned to a full lockdown, despite protests in the capital, Vienna
Protesters also clashed with police in the Netherlands and Belgium over the weekend.
Cases surge in Europe and restrictions return
Australia says it will begin significantly relaxing bans on foreigners entering the country, prioritising certain groups
People in England aged over 40 can book their Covid booster jabs from today
Stormont ministers will meet later to discuss proposals to help curb the spread of Covid in NI
Almost £9m was wrongly paid out by Northern Ireland's main Covid business support scheme, a watchdog estimates
23 Nov 2021: The government has updated its Covid testing guidance in the run-up to Christmas
It recommending that people in England take rapid lateral flow tests before going to high-risk settings
such as crowded areas such as busy shopping streets, or when visiting vulnerable people in enclosed spaces
The latest Covid advice signals a shift from previous guidance to take lateral flow tests twice a week
The UK recorded 44,917 new infections on Monday and 45 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test
More than 50m people aged 12 and over in the UK have had a first vaccine dose, while more than 46m have had a second
The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab may have played a key role in preventing serious illness in the UK
24 Nov 2021: Poland is warning that restrictions could be reintroduced if infection rates don't start to fall
The 28,380 new infections there in the last 24 hours is a 17% increase from cases reported a week ago
Temporary hospitals have been reactivated to accommodate a rising number of hospitalisations in the country
World Health Organization says a further 700,000 people could die of Covid by March in Europe and parts of Asia
Some 1.5 million Covid deaths have already been recorded in the WHO's Europe region of 53 countries
It warns of "high or extreme stress" in intensive care units in 49 countries by March, as Europe battles surging cases
The danger of a future UK pandemic is as serious as threats to the UK's defences, an ex-vaccines tsar says
Dame Kate Bingham says science must be included in policy-making just like economics
Officials say a drop in Covid testing in India could undermine the country's efforts to control the spread of the virus
25 Nov 2021: Welsh Cinema owner faces court for refusing to check Covid passes
More than 2,000 people die after catching Covid in Welsh hospitals
Depression in students increased during pandemic, says study
Covid sparks European bike boom
26 Nov 2021: Omicron variant. Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa & Zimbabwe change to red. (SI2021/1323)
Health Secretary Sajid Javid tells MPs there is "huge international concern" over a new highly mutated variant
But there are no cases in the UK currently
The UK imposes travel restrictions on six African countries over the variant that vaccines may be less effective against
A top health official calls it "the most significant variant" to date
An Oxford scientist tells the BBC: "It is bad news but it's not doomsday"
Countries including Germany, Italy, Israel and Singapore have also restricted travel
The agency leading Africa's response to Covid says travel bans are unlikely to reduce the spread of the new variant
The World Health Organization cautions against travel bans but is holding a special meeting later to discuss the variant
27 Nov 2021: World races to contain new Omicron variant (named yesterday)
Prof Chris Whitty has said his "greatest worry" is whether people will accept fresh curbs on activities
US joins EU with travel ban for South Africa
Schools asked to test on-site after Christmas
Swiss vote on ending restrictions while cases surge
28 Nov 2021: Angola, Malawi, Mozambique & Zambia change to red. (SI2021/1331)
Face masks compulsory in shops and on public transport in England from Tuesday, says Javid (Omicron)
Israel to impose travel ban for foreigners over new variant
Netherlands tightens partial lockdown amid surging infections (Delta)
South Africa has complained it is being punished - instead of applauded - for discovering the new variant Omicron.
Today is the deadline for US Marines and Navy to get Covid jabs
29 Nov 2021: Six cases of the Omicron variant are detected in Scotland, taking the total to nine found in the UK so far
The Scottish and Welsh first ministers have written to Boris Johnson calling for tougher travel restrictions
Approval is expected to be given by the UK's vaccine advisory body later for all adults to have Covid booster jabs
Boosters are currently offered to over 40s, frontline health or social workers, and those with certain health issues
Face masks will be required in shops and on public transport in England from Tuesday
Pupils in Year 7 and above in England are advised to wear face coverings in communal areas
Australia pauses the re-opening of its borders because of the Omicron variant
Japan is one of the latest countries to reinstate travel restrictions, banning all foreigners from entering
Health ministers from the G7 will hold urgent talks on Omicron later
30 Nov 2021: Self-isolation required for contacts of Omicron cases. (SI2021/1338)
Masks required on public transport, shops and banks. (SI2021/1340)
Testing & isolation for eligible travellers. (SI2021/1339)
New measures to combat the spread of the Omicron variant come into force
Face coverings are mandatory again on public transport and shops in England
People arriving in the UK will have to take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Omicron variant was in Europe earlier than thought, with cases found in samples taken in the Netherlands
Variant is present in two newly-sequenced test samples taken between 19 and 23 November
Don't socialise at Christmas with people you don't particularly need to, says UK health security chief Dr Jenny Harries
All adults in the UK are now being offered boosters and the NHS says people will be called in priority order
Boris Johnson will lead a press conference later as the government seeks to encourage take-up
42 confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant across EU.
Covid index - October 2021 - December 2021
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© Jo Edkins 2024