Scottish Government announces 17 deaths and 7,676 covid cases in last 24 hours

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.

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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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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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.

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COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services, Dr. Hemanth Herath has slammed the organizing of mass gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 spread in the island.‘This is not something that needs to be said over again.

Truckers paralysing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules show no sign of backing down, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest.

First nasal spray for covid-19 treatment in India: For the treatment of adult patients suffering from Covid-19, pharma company Glenmark has launched Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (FabiSpray) in India. The nasal spray was launched by the pharma company in partnership with SaNOtize. "Phase 3 trial in India met the key endpoints and demonstrated reduction of viral load of 94 per cent in 24 hours and 99 per cent in 48 hours. Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) was safe and well-tolerated in COVID-19 patients. Glenmark to market NONS under the brand name FabiSpray," the company said in a statement.

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ladies tights such as pantyhose on your face could reduce the risk of getting Covid, more so than masks.A major risk identified with commonly worn face masks is that they do not fit tightly enough to block viral particles from being inhaled or exhaled significantly.Cambridge University researchers have tested seven hacks to improve the fit of masks.Their new study outlined DIY hacks people have used to make masks fit better, including using rubber bands or tape.They found the most effective tactic was to wrap pantyhose around the bottom half of the face or on top of a mask.Researchers have said that this could reduce the number of viral particles by up to seven times more than a loose mask on its own by sealing the gaps around the nose and mouth.They raised that the social and physical impact of wearing tights on your face in public was "unlikely to be tolerated for an extended period of time".Tight-fitting medical masks are great at blocking out the virus, but many describe them as uncomfortable.The study raised that the most common surgical or cloth masks are far less resistant to Covid.Cambridge researchers recruited four volunteers to try seven different mask hacks - the study looked at both surgical and KN95 masks.Other methods included tying the ear bands to make the masks fit more tightly or stuffing the gaps with bandages.Participants did seven minutes of various exercises designed to mimic real-world interactions such as talking, smiling, nodding and eating.The researchers measured how well the masks fit by monitoring the filtration efficiency and calculating a 'fit factor' score.Pantyhose and cloth tape were most effective, increasing the fit factor by 27.7 and 14.7.Surgical masks performed better if worn in

Epik High frontman Tablo has tested positive for COVID-19.OURS, Epik High’s management agency, confirmed the news through a press statement released earlier today (February 9).“Tablo experienced minor symptoms on February 3 and underwent PCR testing, and his results came back negative the next day (January 4),” the agency said, as translated by Soompi. “However, he voluntarily got tested again on February 8, and his results came back positive this morning.”The statement also noted that the rest of Epik High and staff members who were recently in contact with Tablo underwent rapid antigen testing following the hip-hop artist’s diagnosis.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced the province’s public health restrictions will now be lifting, while a blockade of protesters demanding an end to mandates resumes at the U.S.-Canada border crossing near Coutts. Heather Yourex-West looks at the province’s plan, and whether it will be enough to satiate demonstrators.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to press hard on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines. But Quebec Liberal MP Joël Lightbound is challenging his own government’s strategy, demanding Trudeau to stop driving up divisions and deliver a roadmap to end public health mandates.

China enacted a similar traffic light change after one case was detected in November, only to repeal it amid outcry on social media. 

Freedom Convoy” trucks and say their presence “complicates” efforts to end the demonstration.More than 100 of the trucks remaining as part of the nearly two-week-long protest in downtown Ottawa are estimated to have kids living in them, OPS Deputy Chief Steve Bell told media in a briefing Tuesday afternoon.“Almost 25 per cent of the 418 trucks have children living in them — children who could be at risk during a police operation,” Bell said.“There’s a multitude of concerns” he said, citing effects from carbon monoxide, diesel fumes, cold, noise and a lack of access to sanitation on kids. Trucker convoy — Here’s what the 10-day injunction against horns includes Ottawa police have tapped the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) for advice on how to proceed with enforcement operations in the downtown core.They’re not seeking to take the kids out of the trucks or away from their parents at this stage, Bell said, but will follow the recommendations of CAS.“We’re not at the stage of looking to do any sort of enforcement activity around that,” he said.“We just think it’s an important factor that complicates and makes this an even more challenging operation.”To date, police and bylaw officers have issued more than 1,300 tickets for traffic violations, made 23 arrests and have 85 active criminal investigations related to the protest, which began as a response to vaccination mandates but has expanded to include a wide umbrella of anti-government sentiment.OPS are also liaising with U.S.

COVID-19: Kenney announces Alberta vaccine passport program ending at midnight In a letter to school authorities, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange outlined the impact that relaxing COVID-19 restrictions will have on schools and students.“I have been encouraged to see a downward trend in the number of Alberta schools shifted to at-home learning over the last few weeks,” she said.“At the peak of the fifth wave, there were 29 schools that were shifted to at-home learning, and today, only seven of the over 2,500-plus schools in our province remain learning at home.”Please see my letter to school authorities below: pic.twitter.com/Z3sph78dDv— Adriana LaGrange (@AdrianaLaGrange) February 9, 2022LaGrange said the masking requirement that will be removed effective Feb. 14 will apply to any students in schools or on school buses.

₹808 crore to families of 1,616 deceased healthcare workers from 33 states and UTs, who were involved in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA - As a winter surge of COVID-19 cases brought on by the highly-infectious Omicron variant continues to recede, some states have set a deadline for lifting mask mandates in schools. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stood by its recommendation for students to wear masks in school, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said this week that individual districts will have the power to set mask rules after Mar.

coronavirus cases have surged to 41,610,976. On the other hand, the fatalities count has surged to 5,05,279, which accounts for 1.19% of the total caseload.

COVID-19 who have high risk of progression of the disease. 

Mumbai will be unlocked by the end of February, mayor Kishori Pednekar said on Tuesday, according to news agency ANI. "We have made up our minds," she also said, while stressing not to show laxity in adherence to Covid protocol. "It is essential for the people to wear masks and observe social distancing," Pednekar also said.

announced plans to lift COVID-19 restrictions in phases on Tuesday. COVID-19: Kenney announces Alberta vaccine passport program ending at midnight “It’s time for us to learn to live with COVID-19,” he said at a press conference, listing the challenges of the pandemic: disrupting livelihoods, dividing people and hurting mental health.“It’s time to let kids be kids.”Kenney said the restrictions exemption program has “outlived its useful purpose,” announcing that after Feb.

Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine passport program will cease to exist when the clock strikes midnight on Feb. 9, and almost all public health restrictions will be lifted March 1 if the situation in hospitals continues to improve, Premier Jason Kenney announced Tuesday.

Murderer Wayne Couzens has been placed in isolation after catching Covid in prison. The rapist cop who served as an officer for the Metropolitan Police force is currently serving a full life sentence for the murder of Sarah Everard.The 48-year-old is said to have caught the virus while serving time in HMP Frankland in Durham, with reports stating he is "seriously ill".Wayne is one of less than 20 prisoners in the Durham jail who have contracted Covid.It's been reported that a section of the prison has been closed off to stop the spread of the virus, with food and drink being left at the foot of the door of Wayne's isolated cell.A source told The Sun: "People have been talking about karma, but it looks like he will be OK.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G.L.

Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta’s vaccine passport will end almost Tuesday at midnight and most other big COVID-19 health rules will be gone in three weeks from now. Dan Grummett, Tom Vernon and Morgan Black have team coverage on what is happening, how the health-care system is doing and how Albertans feel about the changes.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds to a question about municipalities and the provincial governments being on the same page when it comes to COVID-19 policy.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says businesses who want to continue to use the Alberta COVID-19 vaccination QR code are allowed to do so as long as they are issued.

Premier Jason Kenney says the Restriction Exemption Program has been “extremely tough” on businesses in rural Alberta with low COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping announces expanded eligibility for youth to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Global’s Keith Baldrey looks at what COVID-19 trends B.C. officials will take into account, when deciding on which restrictions to ease.