Greater Manchester leaders to meet with deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam today over Covid lockdown tier

An expert in infectious diseases has shown concern about the number of children who remain absent from school weeks after Covid-19 infection.

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.

PHILADELPHIA - A water main break in Kingsessing is disrupting traffic and causing major problems early Wednesday morning. The water main break happened at approximately 6:30 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Police say they made an arrest in a carjacking that led to a wild pursuit Tuesday evening. The incident happened Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. when police responded to report of a man following his Mercedes Benz sedan that was stolen during a carjacking at gun point about a week ago. Police were able to catch up to the vehicle which was on the 4000 block of Aramingo Avenue. When police attempted to stop the stolen Mercedes Benz, the driver took off at a high rate of speed and refused to stop, according to officials. Officers continued their pursuit until the driver of that stolen vehicle got to the 4500 block of Richmond Street when the vehicle crashed, rear-ending a parked and unattended vehicle. At this point, the driver got out of the stolen vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.

Over 1⃣ crore youngsters between 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated against #COVID19

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at grocery stores, pharmacies and other settings.A government source with knowledge of the plan told The Canadian Press that Health Minister Christine Elliott will announce more details on Wednesday.The source said there will be a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit, though some stores might have different processes.Ontario provided free rapid antigen test kits at malls and liquor stores in December ahead of the holidays.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police confirmed the arrest of the main suspect wanted in connection with the attempted shooting of an ambulance driver on the 27th of January opposite the Panadura Base Hospital.Sri Lanka Police said 8 grams of heroin was seized from the possession of the 32-year-old suspect from Kuruppumulla on Tuesday (8) night.Detectives are planning on obtaining a detention order to detain and interrogate the suspect, after producing him to the Panadura Magistrate’s Court.Sri Lanka Police on Tuesday (8) also arrested a 51-year-old man in connection to the attempted shooting of an ambulance driver in Panadura, on the 27th of January 2022.The suspect was identified as the assistant to the ambulance driver who was the main target of the shooters.On Independence Day (4), the Kalutara Crimes Division arrested the ambulance driver who was the target of gunmen in Panadura.Sri Lanka Police said the ambulance driver was transferring an expectant mother to the Panadura Hospital when several people chased after him on four motorcycles and opened fire at him.However, the weapon used by the gunman had jammed.Police said the ambulance driver was arrested after it was revealed that he was transporting Heroin at the time of the incident.According to Police, the person who was driving the motorcycle and the person who assisted in the shooting were also arrested.The assistant to the ambulance driver had confessed to police that the ambulance was used to transport drugs on several occasions.In addition, another man was arrested from Panadura on Tuesday (8) for spying on the ambulance driver.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya on Wednesday (9) ordered to release of a Church worker, who was detained over the discovery of a hand grenade from All Saint’s Church in Borella.On the 2nd of February, the Additional Magistrate ordered to release of three other workers connected to the incident.Accordingly, all four church workers who were arrested and detained over the incident, have been released.Sri Lanka’s Attorney General had recommended that they be released given the fact that they were not involved in the incident.A week ago, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that it was revealed that the three other workers were not connected to the incident in any way, and the Attorney General had advised to release them.

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ANI reported. AIIMS Medical Superintendent DK Sharma in a letter today said in accordance with current ICMT's national guidelines, it has been decided to discontinue routine Covid-19 testing prior to inpatient hospitalisations (regular as well as daycare) and also prior to any minor or major surgical or interventional or non-interventional procedures and imaging in clinically asymptomatic patients.AIIMS, Delhi announces to discontinue routine COVID-19 testing prior to inpatient hospitalization and surgeries pic.twitter.com/R0wjcSdaFl

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Phillip Schofield has returned to This Morning after testing positive for coronavirus. The 59-year-old presenter had been forced to skip hosting This Morning and Dancing on Ice and admitted he was "bored out of his brain" while locked away in his home after testing positive for Covid seven days in a row.

Canada’s Meryeta O’Dine won the bronze medal in her Olympic debut at the Beijing Winter Games in women’s snowboard cross Wednesday.

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A review is set to be launched after four children were given Covid vaccine overdoses of more than twice the approved amount.

A Business Proposal has been pushed back by a week.Today (February 9), the show’s production team announced that the premiere of A Business Proposal has been pushed back by a week, attributing the delay to stricter COVID-19 protocols on the show’s set. The show will now premiere on February 28.“We have decided to inevitably postpone the first broadcast of A Business Proposal for a week due to COVID-19 in order to change the filming schedule and secure a safe production environment,” a representative from the show said, per Sports Chosun and translated by Soompi.“The first broadcast date has been changed from February 21 to February 28,” the representative added.

Read on to understand how:

COLOMBO (News 1st); The EU has urged Sri Lanka to continue reducing the use of the PTA, and to undertake further practical and administrative steps to release on bail those detained under the PTA without charges.The European Union (EU) and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held their 24th meeting of the Joint Commission on 8th February 2022 in Brussels.During the meeting, Sri Lanka reiterated its objective to achieve measurable, tangible, and verifiable results on the ground in meeting its commitments.In this context, the EU welcomed the submission by the Government of Sri Lanka of amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - A juror in the Scott Peterson trial has been offered immunity before testifying at a hearing that could determine whether a new trial is granted, authorities said.Richelle Nice was Juror 7 in the trial that ended with Peterson's conviction for killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son. However, Peterson's attorney said Nice was guilty of juror misconduct because she failed to reveal during the jury selection that she had been beaten by a boyfriend while she was pregnant. He said Peterson deserves a new trial.The offer to Nice will come before she testifies at a Feb.

Convicted rapist and murderer Wayne Couzens has been placed in isolation after catching coronavirus in prison with reports suggesting he is "suffering badly".

Train services are set to increase again as ScotRail recovers from staff shortages following a Covid surge over the festive period.

pic.twitter.com/z0E38qiXTP

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a news conference after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill February 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. McConnell told reporters he disagrees with fo WASHINGTON - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is going against the Republican National Committee calling the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will intervene with further localised restrictions to fight a rapidly growing second wave of the coronavirus pandemic after more of northwest England was put on the highest Covid-19 alert level.

Coronavirus deaths in England are "likely" to hit between 240 and 690 a day in just 10 days' time, experts predict.

The Government is reportedly on the verge of toughening lockdown rules for swathes of England under its new three-tier system.

according to the BBC and several other news outlets. Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to address update the House of Commons at around 11.30am on Thursday morning.One MP has already hit out saying it would be a "devastating move." Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and local officials met with the deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam earlier to discuss the evidence surrounding a move in tiers.

LONDON : Britain is at a "tipping point" in the coronavirus crisis and the country must act now to stop history repeating itself, the deputy chief medical officer for England said on Sunday, urging people to follow the rules.With the number of cases rapidly rising particularly in the north of England, ministers are readying a new set of rules to try to tackle the crisis that will include handing more power to local leaders to track the virus' spread.Jonathan Van Tam said in an opinion article that the spread of COVID-19 was now moving from younger adult age groups to older people in the worst affected areas, and "just as night follow day, increases in deaths will now follow"."In our national fight against COVID-19, we are at a tipping point

Government criticizedStill, the government’s approach is coming under criticism from lawmakers in the north of England, with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham bemoaning a lack of communication from officials.“To be called to a meeting with 10 Downing Street on a Friday evening, to be effectively presented with proposals that needed to be agreed over the weekend, I mean that isn’t adequate or acceptable consultation to me," he said on Times Radio on Sunday. “That is being railroaded into a position.

LONDON : One of the UK’s senior-most government medical advisers on Sunday warned that the country was running into a headwind with the number of coronavirus infections at a “tipping point" similar to the one back in March, when Britain went into a national lockdown.Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, issued a stark warning that the dreaded “R number", or the rate at which the infection is being transmitted within society, is now between 1.2 and 1.5, which means the epidemic grows larger as every one case generates more than one new case.His warning comes a day before UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on a new three-tier system of rules for localised

Northern leaders have threatened legal action against new Covid-19 wage support measures and called on MPs to reject the plan in a Commons vote.

The government's new coronavirus furlough package will lead to 'multiple business failure', Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned.He criticised the financial measures proposed to come in alongside impending lockdown measures during a northern leaders press conference on Saturday afternoon (October 10).Greater Manchester and many other areas face new tougher restrictions as early as next week, included reported plans for the closure of pubs and restaurants.Despite no official announcement being made on the new tiered system, the Chancellor announced that under the new measures, the government will fund businesses that are legally forced to close during the winter by paying two thirds of workers' wages.Eligible businesses will be

here"It would also run the risk of severe redundancies across the north of England, particularly when you combine the effect of any new local restrictions."We think it would be to do long term damage to the economy of Greater Manchester and the north of England, and would actually weaken recovery."This package is insufficient to protect our communities as we go into the rest of the autumn and the winter."The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, previously that under a new localised furlough scheme, employees of businesses forced to close would receive just over two thirds of their pay, in comparison to the 80 per cent during the national lockdown earlier this year.Mr Burnham said this would lead to 'severe hardship'.He said: "If you work in a bar or a

Northern leaders have rejected the Government's new local furlough scheme - saying it would put thousands in "severe hardship" - as a tougher lockdown looms.