The prime minister has backed his health secretary over revelations Matt Hancock breached Covid rules by kissing his aide. Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said the PM “considers the matter closed” after Hancock apologised for breaching social distancing rules after the Sun published images of Hancock embracing Gina Coladangelo. The PM’s spokesperson declined to comment as to […]
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The chief medical officer for England has warned “a lot more people will die” if the government lifts lockdown restrictions too soon. Chris Whitty told MPs on Tuesday (March 9) that despite the vaccine roll-out he expected a “significant” and “substantial” surge in Covid infections given there is “nothing to suggest the virus is going […]
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Health secretary Matt Hancock acted unlawfully by failing to publish details of multibillion-pound coronavirus contracts awarded by the government, a High Court judge has ruled. Mr Justice Chamberlain said Hancock had “breached his legal obligation” by failing to publish details of the contracts within 30 days, adding the public has a right to know where […]
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Matt Hancock has hailed the approval of the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine as “a day to remember in a year to forget”, describing the jab as a “victory for science”. The health secretary earlier claimed the fast approval of the vaccine – which makes the UK the first country in the world to authorise one – […]
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Doctors and soldiers have been put on notice to prepare for a national immunisation and mass testing drive across the UK following yesterday’s announcement of a coronavirus vaccine. Some 1,500 GPs and drive-through centres will deliver “at least 1,000 jabs a week” of the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccine from December 1, with health officials saying […]
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Matt Hancock’s plans to scrap Public Health England (PHE) is a “desperate attempt at blame shifting” for the government’s coronavirus failings, critics have said. The government has been accused of trying to “scapegoat” the organisation for their own failings in dealing with the pandemic after reports emerged that the health secretary will announce this week […]
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The government is considering introducing an age-tax on over-40s to help fund the UK’s crisis-hit social care sector. A report that ministers are studying radical plans to hike tax or national insurance contributions for people aged over 40 has caused outrage after the Guardian claims the new plans will compel people to “insure themselves against […]
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Key worker tests for coronavirus have run out for a second day running as the government announced the UK’s official death toll from the disease passed 20,000. The latest figures report a total 20,319 deaths of hospital patients in the UK – a rise of 813 on the previous day, with home secretary Priti Patel […]
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