Covid hospital admissions 'falling faster than expected' raising hopes for end of lockdown

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the nature or extent of the challenges will not matter in fulfilling the promises made to the people.He noted that development activities continue in the country while taking necessary steps to control the COVID-19 pandemic.The President also pointed out that the economy, which had been collapsed for nearly two years, is gradually recovering.The President made these remarks participating in the first round of discussions in a series of sessions with professionals representing various fields, held at the President’s House on Friday (11).The professionals who participated in the discussion said that they are further committed to make the national programme a success by giving the necessary strength to achieve the goals desired by the President, said a statement.The professionals vehemently rejected the allegations spread by some sections with the objective of achieving narrow political agendas, the statement added.Experts in the field said that the new approach to agriculture initiated by the President is being continuously supported by the researchers and entrepreneurs who are engaged full time in these fields, further noted the statement.Representatives from a wide range of fields, including education, policy, sociology, agriculture, research, water and renewable energy, medical, engineering and innovation, were present at the discussion with the President.Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Secretary to the President, the Principal Advisor to the President and many others were also present.

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Ontario hospital on Saturday with COVID-19, as the province continues to battle the pandemic.New data released by the province on Feb. 12 suggests a drop in the number of people in hospital from the previous day.

Health Matters February 11: As the Alberta Diabetes Foundation’s 48 Hours to Stop Diabetes fundraiser continues, Su-Ling Goh explains how local researchers are aiming to find a pharmaceutical way to achieve Type 2 remission, by understanding the diabetes “dimmer switch.”

were discharged in the past twenty four hours taking the total to 10,31,304.

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GANDHINAGAR :

◾New cases in State: 3,202◾New cases in B'lore: 1,293◾Positivity rate: State - 2.95%; Blore - 2.49%◾Discharges: 8,988◾Active cases: State- 38,747; B'lore- 16k◾Deaths:38 (B'lore- 10)◾Tests: 1,08,534#COVID

has moved to bravely open up about an "embarrassing" chronic health problem. The reality TV star suffers from bronchiectasis, she has revealed in a new interview.

The Windsor Police have commenced enforcement near the Ambassador Bridge, Windsor, Ont.

Nurses in Canada say working during the COVID-19 Omicron wave has left them burnt out, physically and mentally, and an increase in abuse directed at health-care workers has pushed them to breaking point. According to a report from the Ontario Science Table, pre-pandemic, 20 to 40 per cent of health-care workers reported severe burnout. By spring 2021, rates had climbed to more than 60 per cent.

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COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday (12) for Indian Rs. 10.75 crores after a closely fought bidding war.The Sri Lankan pair of Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, joined RCB for the second part of IPL 2021.Hasaranga took a hat-trick at last year’s T20 World Cup.

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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.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he aims to cautiously ease coronavirus restrictions in an "irreversible" manner, but conceded he cannot offer a "cast iron guarantee" that England's third national lockdown will be its 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.

direct to your inboxThe Prime Minister will lead a Downing Street press conference later this afternoon, No 10 has confirmed. Boris Johnson will use the opportunity to update the nation on the latest coronavirus developments and the government's response to the pandemic.

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

coronavirus vaccine.Figures on Sunday show the Government's target of offering a Covid-19 jab to the four highest priority groups by Monday has been beaten.The milestone is key to the lockdown exit strategy for England, which is due to be unveiled by Boris Johnson on February 22.Britain became the first country in the world last December to approve a Covid vaccine, when regulators gave the green light to the Pfizer and BioNTech jab.The Prime Minister had pledged last month to offer vaccines to everyone in the four groups.This includes the over-70s, care home residents and staff, frontline health and care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable.He tweeted: "Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s

no reason bars cannot open in April, as its boss expressed exasperation at ministers “lack of interest”.The Young's brewing conglomerate today called on Boris Johnson to “do the right thing” and show strong leadership when the industry “needs it most”.Scotland's hospitality industry has been shut since December, with pubs in much of the central belt closed since October.Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on the Scottish Government lockdown strategy on Tuesday, but there is so far no indication of when the licensed trade can expert to resume.In a letter to the Prime Minister, the chief executive of Young’s said the Government is basing its decision to keep pubs closed on “unfounded and unproven statistics”.But Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior

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

Staycations could be back on the cards by Easter with hotels open if the R number and number of infections are low enough, it has been reported.

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.

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.

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.

Boris Johnson could open schools during the period pupils would ordinarily be on summer break, it has been reported.

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.