UK registers nearly 55,000 COVID-19 positive cases in past 24 hours

World News / Covid-19: The United Kingdom registered 54,990 COVID-19 cases within the past 24 hours, a drop from 57,725 the day before, according to government figures.

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This takes the total number of registered cases in the country to 2,654,779.

At the same time, an additional 454 fatalities, up from 445 on Saturday, put the overall death toll at 75,024.

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UK's health authorities do not keep a tally of recoveries, which leaves the number of active cases in the country unknown.

The UK may have been the origin of a new strain of the coronavirus which is believed to be 70 percent more infectious than its predecessor and may be driving the new wave of transmissions.

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Much of the UK is under the strictest level of lockdown with the holiday season effectively cancelled this year. 

News Source: ANI

European neighbours shut doors to Britain amid rapid spread of new coronavirus strain

 World News/ Covid-19 : Britain’s European neighbours began closing their doors to travellers from the United Kingdom on Sunday amid alarm about a rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus that has caused cases to soar there.

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France said it would bar all people coming from the United Kingdom for 48 hours from Sunday night, including freight carriers, whether by road, air, sea or rail.

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands ordered a suspension of flights from Britain, while Ireland said it would impose restrictions on flights and ferries from its neighbour.

Belgium said it would close its borders to flights and trains - including the popular Eurostar service - coming from the United Kingdom.

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“The COVID variant recently discovered in London is worrying and will need to be investigated by our scientists,” Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.

“In the meantime we choose the path of maximum prudence.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that the new strain had led to spiralling infection numbers. His government tightened its COVID-19 restrictions for London and nearby areas, and also reversed plans to ease restrictions over the Christmas period.

The travel curbs also compound problems for the United Kingdom as it finally exits the European Union on Dec. 31 after a transition period this year. London and Brussels have so far failed to reach a post-Brext trade deal, raising the prospect of chaos in goods traffic.

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The German government said all flights from the United Kingdom would be suspended from midnight.

“It (the virus mutation) has not yet been identified in Germany,” Health Minister Jens Spahn told public broadcaster ARD. “But of course we take the reports from Britain very seriously.”

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said the ban on incoming travel from Britain covers Eurostar services via the Channel Tunnel and will take effect for at least 24 hours from midnight on Sunday, broadcaster VRT said.

The Italian order blocked any flights departing from Britain and prohibited anyone who had transited through it in the last 14 days from entering Italy.

The Netherlands banned flights carrying passengers from the United Kingdom from Sunday and the restrictions will remain in place until Jan. 1, the Dutch government said.

Austria is also planning to ban flights from Britain, the APA news agency said, citing the health ministry. Sweden said it was preparing a decision to ban entry from the United Kingdom.

Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic also announced plans to bar flights from the United Kingdom.

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LAST TICKETS

At London’s St. Pancras International station, the terminal for Eurostar, thousands of travellers tried to secure places on trains.

“We got the last two tickets for today,” said a Frenchman named Leny. “We each respectively had tickets for Monday and Tuesday. But given the situation and what is happening we didn’t want to take any risk. And we were the last to be able to do so.”

The new variant in Britain has added a twist to a battle against the virus that many countries in Europe are waging.

The number of coronavirus cases in Britain surged by 35,928 on Sunday, the highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic, and it recorded 326 deaths, taking the official toll to more than 67,000.

In addition to the measures announced for England, the United Kingdom’s other nations, who control their own anti-coronavirus policies, tightened restrictions. Scotland has imposed a ban on travel to the rest of the United Kingdom.

News Source: Reuters

London move to heights alert for new variant of Coronavirus found in UK

 World News/Covid-19: Britain's capital are going to be placed under the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from Wednesday amid a "very sharp" spike in Covid-19 cases in London and its surrounding areas and a new variant of coronavirus being identified as liable for the "faster spread", the united kingdom government announced in Parliament on Monday.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs within the House of Commons that "swift and decisive action" was needed because the doubling rate of the deadly virus has hit just seven days in many of those areas.

Tier-3 restrictions, the highest level in England's three-tier system, mean a near-complete lockdown, with people allowed to meet those they are doing not accept only in outdoor settings and hospitality venues directed to shut apart from takeaways and deliveries.

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"A new variant of coronavirus has been identified in the UK, which may be associated with the fastest spread in the southeast of England," said Hancock.

"We do not know the extent to which this is because of the new variant but no matter its cause, we have to take swift and decisive action which unfortunately is absolutely essential to control this deadly disease while the vaccine is rolled out…We must act now to shift the curve… because when the virus moves quickly, we must move quickly too," he said.

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The minister said that experts had identified over 1,000 cases with the variant, predominantly within the south of England.

"Cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas and numbers are increasing rapidly. Similar variants have been identified in other countries over the last few months," he said, adding that the world Health Organisation has been notified about the variant which it's unlikely to cause more serious disease than other variants of the coronavirus.

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He stressed that mobile testing and community testing also are being expanded, with another 67 local authorities getting community testing in the week to help areas “move down tiers” and return closer to normal life.

In reference to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine rollout currently underway, Hancock said that thanks to science “help is on its way”, but “this isn't over yet”.

The announcement on Monday means even before the formal review date of the tier system scheduled for Wednesday, London , the South and West of Essex and South Hertfordshire are going to be placed into Tier 3 from 0001 GMT on Wednesday morning.

Uk Watchdog issued allergy warning for Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine

 UK's Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency issued the advisory after two NHS workers developed allergies shortly after receiving the Pfizer vaccine; they're stable now.

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World News/Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: British healthcare regulator has issued a warning that individuals with history of serious allergies shouldn't be given the newly approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The advisory was issued after two NHS workers suffered allergic reactions on Tuesday.

Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) said that the allergy advisory applies to people that have had reactions to medicines, food or vaccines, reported the BBC.

Dr June Raine, chief executive of MHRA, informed a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that the cases of severe allergic reactions didn't appear during vaccine trials. "We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn't a feature. But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we've had this experience in the vulnerable populations - the groups have been selected as a priority - we get that advice to the field immediately," said Dr Raine.

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The two UK healthcare workers reportedly developed anaphylactoid reaction shortly after the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was administered to them, the report said. They received treatment shortly after, and are stable now.

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Anaphylactoid reactios appear as skin rashes, breathlessnes and a drop in blood pressure. this is often different from anaphylaxis, which may cause death.

Notably, both individuals have prior history of allergies and carried adernaline pens for fiirst aid within the event of severe reactions.

The Pfizer-BioNTech jab, codenamed BNT162b2, became the first ever vacccine against coronavirus to receive emergency use approval - first in the UK then in Bahrain. the companies have also approved regulators in India for emergency use authorisation of the inoculation, but it seems like a long shot, considering the very fact it's never underwent any trials within the country. The vaccine has got to be stored at extremely frigid temperatures of -70 degree Centigrade , which presents another argument against its appoval by the Indian regulator.

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Meanwhile, the united kingdom has began to vaccinate its priority groups against COVID-19 using the Pfizer vaccine. Margaret Keenan, 90, and Shakespeare , 81, were the first and second recipients of the jab vaccine in the world. British government intends to administer 800,000 in the coming weeks.