This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/nov/24/uk-coronavirus-live-christmas-rules-tiers-covid-boris-johnson-latest-updates
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
UK coronavirus live: Johnson criticised for missing four-nation Christmas talks; 1 in 10 pupils missing school over Covid | UK coronavirus live: Johnson criticised for missing four-nation Christmas talks; 1 in 10 pupils missing school over Covid |
(32 minutes later) | |
Latest updates: No 10 unable to say whether agreement could be reached today; more than 870,000 children not in school last Thursday | Latest updates: No 10 unable to say whether agreement could be reached today; more than 870,000 children not in school last Thursday |
Scotland has recorded 771 further coronavirus cases. That is down from 949 yesterday and down from 1,248 a week ago today. | |
There are 1,197 coronavirus patients in hospital - down from 1,208 yesterday and down from 1,249 a week ago today. | |
And there have been 41 further deaths - up from 37 a week ago today. | |
According to Newsnight’s Katie Razzall, although the government is offering everyone in Liverpool a coronavirus test under its mass testing pilot, in some of the poorer areas of the city only 4% of people have had a test. She has summarised her report in a Twitter thread starting here. | |
Dan Carden, the Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, said: | |
NHS England has recorded 353 further coronavirus hospital deaths. There were 101 in the Midlands, 80 in the north-east and Yorkshire, 71 in the north-west, 35 in in the south-east, 24 in the south-west, 21 in London and 21 in the east of England. The details are here. | |
This is the second highest daily figure for coronavirus hospital deaths in England this month, passed only by the total for 11 November (361). Yesterday the figure was 178 and a week ago today the figure was 330. | |
Some of the “gains” made in Wales during its 17-day firebreak are already being reversed, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, has warned. | Some of the “gains” made in Wales during its 17-day firebreak are already being reversed, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, has warned. |
After the Welsh firebreak lockdown, the all-Wales coronavirus figures fell for two weeks but Drakeford said there had now been three days in a row where the numbers have risen. | After the Welsh firebreak lockdown, the all-Wales coronavirus figures fell for two weeks but Drakeford said there had now been three days in a row where the numbers have risen. |
He said 17 of the 22 local authorities have reported rises in infections in the under-25 age range – while it was the falling in the over-60s. The first minister said rapid rises in September and the start of October began in young people before spreading to older men and women. | He said 17 of the 22 local authorities have reported rises in infections in the under-25 age range – while it was the falling in the over-60s. The first minister said rapid rises in September and the start of October began in young people before spreading to older men and women. |
Conservative MPs are openly arguing with each other on Twitter about the case for Covid restrictions. Yesterday Steve Baker, deputy chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, posted this. | Conservative MPs are openly arguing with each other on Twitter about the case for Covid restrictions. Yesterday Steve Baker, deputy chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, posted this. |
His Tory colleague Neil O’Brien has this afternoon posted a chart on Twitter that he says shows Baker to be “just wrong”. | His Tory colleague Neil O’Brien has this afternoon posted a chart on Twitter that he says shows Baker to be “just wrong”. |
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed to MSPs that a four-nations Christmas framework should be agreed later today, with potential differences in what constitutes a household across the UK. | Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed to MSPs that a four-nations Christmas framework should be agreed later today, with potential differences in what constitutes a household across the UK. |
As she announced the weekly review of Scotland’s five-level tier system of Covid controls, with only one change, East Lothian moving into level two, she told the Holyrood chamber: | As she announced the weekly review of Scotland’s five-level tier system of Covid controls, with only one change, East Lothian moving into level two, she told the Holyrood chamber: |
She added that these concerns were “especially acute when we know we might be within weeks of being able to vaccinate a significant proportion of the population”. | She added that these concerns were “especially acute when we know we might be within weeks of being able to vaccinate a significant proportion of the population”. |
This is from the New Statesman’s George Eaton, picking up on what Matt Hancock told a joint health/science committee hearing this morning. (See 12.24pm.) | This is from the New Statesman’s George Eaton, picking up on what Matt Hancock told a joint health/science committee hearing this morning. (See 12.24pm.) |
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has expressed frustration that Boris Johnson will not attend this afternoon’s Cobra meeting on a four-nation approach to Christmas. | The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has expressed frustration that Boris Johnson will not attend this afternoon’s Cobra meeting on a four-nation approach to Christmas. |
Addressing the Welsh parliament, he said: | Addressing the Welsh parliament, he said: |
Drakeford warned that an easing of rules at Christmas was bound to lead to an increase in the spread of Covid. | Drakeford warned that an easing of rules at Christmas was bound to lead to an increase in the spread of Covid. |
He called for a four-nation approach not just for Christmas but for before and after. Drakeford said: | He called for a four-nation approach not just for Christmas but for before and after. Drakeford said: |
Here are two more lines from the Downing Street lobby briefing. | Here are two more lines from the Downing Street lobby briefing. |
The prime minister’s spokesman said that councils in England will be given new powers to close businesses for up to a week if they fail to make their premises Covid-secure. He explained: | The prime minister’s spokesman said that councils in England will be given new powers to close businesses for up to a week if they fail to make their premises Covid-secure. He explained: |
The spokesman said premises will be fined £2,000 for breaching an improvement notice and £4,000 for breaching a restriction notice. The new powers will become law through secondary legislation being introduced next week. Councils have been asking for the ability to use measures like this for some time. | The spokesman said premises will be fined £2,000 for breaching an improvement notice and £4,000 for breaching a restriction notice. The new powers will become law through secondary legislation being introduced next week. Councils have been asking for the ability to use measures like this for some time. |
The prime minister’s spokesman said the joint biosecurity centre would make recommendations to the government as to which areas of England should be in which of the new tiers. | The prime minister’s spokesman said the joint biosecurity centre would make recommendations to the government as to which areas of England should be in which of the new tiers. |
Around one in 10 children were absent from state schools in England last week for Covid-related reasons, according to official statistics which revealed yet another jump in the number of children sent home to self-isolate. | Around one in 10 children were absent from state schools in England last week for Covid-related reasons, according to official statistics which revealed yet another jump in the number of children sent home to self-isolate. |
More than 870,000 children were not in school last Thursday, with secondary schools the most severely affected. Nearly three-quarters (73%) reported at least one pupil off self-isolating - up from 64% a week earlier - and more than one in five secondary pupils were absent (22%). | More than 870,000 children were not in school last Thursday, with secondary schools the most severely affected. Nearly three-quarters (73%) reported at least one pupil off self-isolating - up from 64% a week earlier - and more than one in five secondary pupils were absent (22%). |
Figures published by the Department for Education showed that 82.9% of pupils were at school last week, down from 86.5% a week earlier. The impact on primary schools is also growing, with three in every 10 (29%) sending children home to self-isolate, up from 22% a week earlier. | Figures published by the Department for Education showed that 82.9% of pupils were at school last week, down from 86.5% a week earlier. The impact on primary schools is also growing, with three in every 10 (29%) sending children home to self-isolate, up from 22% a week earlier. |
More than a third of schools (36%) now have one or more children self isolating - up from 29% last week - and the impact on affected schools is growing, with a quarter reporting more than 30 pupils off isolating, up from 9% at the start of the month. | More than a third of schools (36%) now have one or more children self isolating - up from 29% last week - and the impact on affected schools is growing, with a quarter reporting more than 30 pupils off isolating, up from 9% at the start of the month. |
While the number of schools forced to close remains relatively small, numbers have doubled in the space of a week. | While the number of schools forced to close remains relatively small, numbers have doubled in the space of a week. |
The National Education Union said the collapse in school attendance was the direct result of government negligence. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: | The National Education Union said the collapse in school attendance was the direct result of government negligence. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: |
A Department for Education spokesperson said that it remained a national priority to keep education settings open full-time and that “at least 99% of schools have been open each week since the start of term”. | A Department for Education spokesperson said that it remained a national priority to keep education settings open full-time and that “at least 99% of schools have been open each week since the start of term”. |