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Covid news live: England drops all ‘plan B’ restrictions; Moderna begins trial of Omicron-specific booster shot Covid news live: England drops all ‘plan B’ restrictions; Moderna begins trial of Omicron-specific booster shot
(32 minutes later)
Compulsory use of face masks, vaccine certificates and work from home guidance all ended in England; Moderna follows Pfizer in launching trial to target OmicronCompulsory use of face masks, vaccine certificates and work from home guidance all ended in England; Moderna follows Pfizer in launching trial to target Omicron
Today is the day that England drops all the Plan B restrictions which were put in place ahead of the expected wave of Omicron infections.Today is the day that England drops all the Plan B restrictions which were put in place ahead of the expected wave of Omicron infections.
The move means compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, guidance to work from home and vaccine certificates will be scrapped in England. Last week the government changed guidance to remove face mask wearing in classrooms in secondary schools.The move means compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, guidance to work from home and vaccine certificates will be scrapped in England. Last week the government changed guidance to remove face mask wearing in classrooms in secondary schools.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the success of the vaccine programme, coupled with a better understanding of treatment for the virus, is “allowing us to cautiously return to plan A, restoring more freedoms to this country”.Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the success of the vaccine programme, coupled with a better understanding of treatment for the virus, is “allowing us to cautiously return to plan A, restoring more freedoms to this country”.
The move comes as the UK as a whole recorded 102,292 new daily Covid cases, with the week-on-week average being slightly down. There were 346 deaths recorded yesterday.The move comes as the UK as a whole recorded 102,292 new daily Covid cases, with the week-on-week average being slightly down. There were 346 deaths recorded yesterday.
Public health guidance urging people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces if coming into contact strangers will remain in place, the Government said. It also said organisations will be able to choose if they will require Covid passes from those visiting their venues.Public health guidance urging people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces if coming into contact strangers will remain in place, the Government said. It also said organisations will be able to choose if they will require Covid passes from those visiting their venues.
While the scrapping of measures have been welcomed by some, others have urged people to “be considerate to those around them” when it comes to choosing to wear a face covering, and to “be respectful” of policies in certain settings.While the scrapping of measures have been welcomed by some, others have urged people to “be considerate to those around them” when it comes to choosing to wear a face covering, and to “be respectful” of policies in certain settings.
Both Sainsbury’s and John Lewis said their customers will be asked to wear masks, though the latter acknowledged it will ultimately come down to “personal choice”.Both Sainsbury’s and John Lewis said their customers will be asked to wear masks, though the latter acknowledged it will ultimately come down to “personal choice”.
PA Media quote the British Retail Consortium saying the changes “will enable shopping to return to a more normal experience for customers, employees and businesses”.PA Media quote the British Retail Consortium saying the changes “will enable shopping to return to a more normal experience for customers, employees and businesses”.
But their chief executive Helen Dickinson added: “Retailers ask customers to be considerate to those around them when choosing whether to wear a face covering and to respect the decision of other customers.”But their chief executive Helen Dickinson added: “Retailers ask customers to be considerate to those around them when choosing whether to wear a face covering and to respect the decision of other customers.”
NHS absences due to Covid-19 are falling much faster in London and the North West than in other parts of the country, particularly the Midlands, my colleagues Niamh McIntyre and Pamela Duncan report.
New figures show the number of NHS London staff off sick with Covid was close to 3,000 on an average day in the week to 23 January or 47% of its Omicron peak.However in the Midlands, there are close to 7,500 staff off sick with Covid, or 69% of the region’s lowest staffing levels in the Omicron wave. Absences in NHS East of England and the South East are both running at 65% of their Omicron peaks respectively.Across NHS England Covid absences have fallen again, the latest figures show, down 15% on the previous week.There were just over 30,000 NHS staff absent due to Covid in the week to 23 January, compared to 35,000 last week. This is the second week in a row where absences have fallen, down from a winter peak of 46,000 on average at the start of January. In the past week the North West saw a 25% dropoff in staff absences while NHS London reported a 22% drop. This compares to a 13% fall in the Midlands and an 11% drop in the North East and Yorkshire, 8% in the South West and 6% in the South East.
Staff absences due to all causes remains high across NHS England with more than 72,000 staff absent due to sickness each day last week on average, down from a peak of 88,000 in early January but significantly higher than in early December when they were running at 60,000. Separate figures published today show that the number of ambulance callouts grew substantially in the latest week with 2,000 more callouts than the previous week, to 85,467, the highest in the winter to date. The proportion of occupied beds in the NHS remained stable in the week to 23 January at 91.6%. Pressure in hospitals remains high, with 93% of adult general and acute beds occupied over last week, and paediatric general and acute beds seeing an almost 3 percentage point increase in occupancy the previous week to this past week.NHS England’s national medical director, Prof Stephen Powis, said that it was positive to see more NHS staff back at work but that pressure on the NHS remained “intense”. He said:
Good morning from London. I’m Lucy Campbell, I’ll be bringing you all the latest global developments on the coronavirus pandemic for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
England has dropped all plan B restrictions from today. The decision means compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, guidance to work from home and vaccine certificates will be scrapped in England. Last week the government changed guidance to remove mask wearing in classrooms in secondary schools.
Care home residents in England can receive unlimited visitors from Monday as restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant of coronavirus are eased, the Department of Health has said. Care homes in England will have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days, and self-isolation periods will be cut from 15 days to 10 days for those who test positive – with further reductions if they test negative on days five and six.
We are still waiting for the publication of Sue Gray’s report into allegations of partying during lockdown at Downing Street and in Whitehall. Andrew Sparrow’s live blog has the latest on that saga.
Travel companies are reporting a bounce back in bookings in the UK, with easyJet and Saga predicting a summer surge as the impact of Omicron on consumer confidence wanes, and the government’s move to lift testing and travel restrictions pushes capacity back to near pre-pandemic levels.
Moderna says it has started a mid-stage study, testing a booster dose of its Covid-19 vaccine specifically designed to target the Omicron variant, a day after rival Pfizer launched a similar trial.
Germany’s Omicron wave continues apace, as the country again set another record number of daily new infections, crossing the 200,000 threshold for the first time.
Russia’s daily Covid-19 cases rose to 88,816 on Thursday, a new record high for the seventh consecutive day as the Omicron variant was identified in new regions, officials said.
Poland has set another new daily Covid caseload record, at 57,659. The country’s defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak has tweeted that he has tested positive.
Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement to 14 days for incoming travellers starting from 5 February.
Current and former staffers have accused the top director of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific of racist, unethical and abusive behaviour that has undermined the UN health agency’s efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Takeshi Kasai denies the allegations, which are said to have been raised by more than 30 staffers.
Australia’s expert immunisation advisers are still considering whether to expand the definition of “fully vaccinated” to mean three Covid jabs, while some state and territory leaders have indicated they may be approaching the peak of their Omicron waves.
Israel’s government has said in a report marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day that protesters against Covid-19 measures who liken themselves to Jews under Nazi persecution are stoking global antisemitism.
A group of vaccine-sceptic writers are generating revenues of at least $2.5m (£1.85m) a year from publishing newsletters for tens of thousands of followers on the online publishing platform Substack, according to new research.
Lucy Campbell will be here shortly to take you through the rest of the day’s Covid news from the UK and around the world. Andrew Sparrow has got all the latest UK politics. And I’m off to host a special 40th anniversary edition of our rather silly Thursday quiz.
Martin Quin Pollard reports from Beijing for Reuters that with just over a week until the Winter Olympic Games begin, teams are frantically trying to ensure that athletes stay virus-free to get past Beijing’s strict checks and make it to the start line.Martin Quin Pollard reports from Beijing for Reuters that with just over a week until the Winter Olympic Games begin, teams are frantically trying to ensure that athletes stay virus-free to get past Beijing’s strict checks and make it to the start line.
Several teams have reported positive cases of Covid-19 amongst their athletes and coaching staff this week just days before their scheduled departures for China, throwing careful preparations into disarray. Several teams have reported positive cases of Covid-19 among their athletes and coaching staff this week just days before their scheduled departures for China, throwing careful preparations into disarray.
Norway’s ski federation said it was delaying the team’s departure to Beijing, scheduled for Thursday, by at least four days, after a coach and two competitors tested positive.Norway’s ski federation said it was delaying the team’s departure to Beijing, scheduled for Thursday, by at least four days, after a coach and two competitors tested positive.
US bobsleigh competitor Josh Williamson missed his flight with his teammates this week after a positive test, he said on social media Wednesday, though he will still compete if he can both get enough negative tests and catch a flight in time. The US bobsleigh competitor Josh Williamson missed his flight with his teammates this week after a positive test, he said on social media Wednesday, though he will still compete if he can both get enough negative tests and catch a flight in time.
On Monday, Beijing 2022 slightly eased its Covid-19 measures by adjusting the cycle threshold (CT) of PCR tests so that only those with a CT of less than 35 will be deemed positive, making it easier to test negative, although that applies only once athletes arrive in Beijing.On Monday, Beijing 2022 slightly eased its Covid-19 measures by adjusting the cycle threshold (CT) of PCR tests so that only those with a CT of less than 35 will be deemed positive, making it easier to test negative, although that applies only once athletes arrive in Beijing.
To minimise risks, Beijing 2022 has introduced a “closed loop” system which restricts all Games participants to certain zones in and around venues and accommodation, creating a bubble that separates them from the local population.To minimise risks, Beijing 2022 has introduced a “closed loop” system which restricts all Games participants to certain zones in and around venues and accommodation, creating a bubble that separates them from the local population.
The organisers have reported 129 positive cases among Games-related personnel between 4 January, when the loop began operations, and 26 January.The organisers have reported 129 positive cases among Games-related personnel between 4 January, when the loop began operations, and 26 January.
Athletes must provide proof of two negative tests within 96 hours of their departure for China to get permission to fly and then test every day while there, and close contacts of those infected can be forced to isolate. Close contacts can still compete but are subject to extra restrictions and tests.Athletes must provide proof of two negative tests within 96 hours of their departure for China to get permission to fly and then test every day while there, and close contacts of those infected can be forced to isolate. Close contacts can still compete but are subject to extra restrictions and tests.
“The main concern in the pandemic situation for us is a matter of getting there safely rather than the bubble itself,” the German Olympic Sports Confederation told Reuters.“The main concern in the pandemic situation for us is a matter of getting there safely rather than the bubble itself,” the German Olympic Sports Confederation told Reuters.
Australia’s expert immunisation advisers are still considering whether to expand the definition of “fully vaccinated” to mean three Covid jabs, while some state and territory leaders have indicated they may be approaching the peak of their Omicron waves.Australia’s expert immunisation advisers are still considering whether to expand the definition of “fully vaccinated” to mean three Covid jabs, while some state and territory leaders have indicated they may be approaching the peak of their Omicron waves.
National cabinet met for the 65th time on Thursday, with the capacity of the health system, the vaccine rollout and supply chains topping the agenda. As he did prior to last week’s meeting, Daniel Andrews raised his support for mandating a third or booster dose in order for an Australian to be considered fully vaccinated.National cabinet met for the 65th time on Thursday, with the capacity of the health system, the vaccine rollout and supply chains topping the agenda. As he did prior to last week’s meeting, Daniel Andrews raised his support for mandating a third or booster dose in order for an Australian to be considered fully vaccinated.
“This is not a two-dose thing, or two doses and a bonus,” he told reporters on Thursday as Victoria recorded 15 deaths and 13,755 new infections.“This is not a two-dose thing, or two doses and a bonus,” he told reporters on Thursday as Victoria recorded 15 deaths and 13,755 new infections.
“International evidence, our own experience, the views of experts and hopefully the confirmation of both Atagi and national cabinet later today will mean that everyone knows and understands that this is a three-dose project.”“International evidence, our own experience, the views of experts and hopefully the confirmation of both Atagi and national cabinet later today will mean that everyone knows and understands that this is a three-dose project.”
Andrews said he believed it “will be very soon be three doses to get the green tick” to enter restaurants, bars, cafes, hairdressers and beauty services. But the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) is still considering its stance, with federal government sources indicating that advice will be finalised soon.Andrews said he believed it “will be very soon be three doses to get the green tick” to enter restaurants, bars, cafes, hairdressers and beauty services. But the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) is still considering its stance, with federal government sources indicating that advice will be finalised soon.
Read more of Josh Butler and Daniel Hurst’s report here: Booster jab not yet required to be ‘fully vaxxed’ in Australia as national cabinet anticipates Omicron peakRead more of Josh Butler and Daniel Hurst’s report here: Booster jab not yet required to be ‘fully vaxxed’ in Australia as national cabinet anticipates Omicron peak
Reuters reports that the rising number of infections in Germany – where cases exceeded 200,000 in a day for the first time today – has led to staffing shortages in sectors including logistics, healthcare and child care.Reuters reports that the rising number of infections in Germany – where cases exceeded 200,000 in a day for the first time today – has led to staffing shortages in sectors including logistics, healthcare and child care.
The airline group Lufthansa’s cargo arm said a staffing crunch at its hub in Frankfurt meant it was currently unable to handle sorting of loose freight from the United States, Canada and Europe.The airline group Lufthansa’s cargo arm said a staffing crunch at its hub in Frankfurt meant it was currently unable to handle sorting of loose freight from the United States, Canada and Europe.
“Despite comprehensive preventative measures, we are now clearly feeling the rising infection numbers,” Lufthansa Cargo said, adding that up to 15% of cargo at Frankfurt was affected by delays.“Despite comprehensive preventative measures, we are now clearly feeling the rising infection numbers,” Lufthansa Cargo said, adding that up to 15% of cargo at Frankfurt was affected by delays.
It said its flight schedule was unaffected, as was transportation of time-sensitive goods such as organs for transplants or temperature-controlled cargo. Rival DHL said its operations in Frankfurt and Leipzig were still running smoothly.It said its flight schedule was unaffected, as was transportation of time-sensitive goods such as organs for transplants or temperature-controlled cargo. Rival DHL said its operations in Frankfurt and Leipzig were still running smoothly.
The German Hospitals Federation had warned earlier this week that three-quarters of hospitals were reporting higher than usual numbers of staff out on sick leave.The German Hospitals Federation had warned earlier this week that three-quarters of hospitals were reporting higher than usual numbers of staff out on sick leave.
Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement to 14 days for incoming travellers starting from 5 February, its leader, Carrie Lam, has said. Reuters reports that it is a move that comes after months of pressure from financial executives and foreign diplomats who said the rule was eroding the city’s competitiveness.Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement to 14 days for incoming travellers starting from 5 February, its leader, Carrie Lam, has said. Reuters reports that it is a move that comes after months of pressure from financial executives and foreign diplomats who said the rule was eroding the city’s competitiveness.
Currently Hong Kong residents returning from more than 160 countries have to quarantine for 21 days at their own cost in designated hotels.Currently Hong Kong residents returning from more than 160 countries have to quarantine for 21 days at their own cost in designated hotels.
A group of vaccine-sceptic writers are generating revenues of at least $2.5m (£1.85m) a year from publishing newsletters for tens of thousands of followers on the online publishing platform Substack, according to new research.A group of vaccine-sceptic writers are generating revenues of at least $2.5m (£1.85m) a year from publishing newsletters for tens of thousands of followers on the online publishing platform Substack, according to new research.
Prominent figures in the anti-vaccine movement including Dr Joseph Mercola and Alex Berenson have large followings on Substack, which has more than 1 million paying subscribers who sign up for individual newsletters from an array of authors who include novelist Salman Rushdie, the writer-musician Patti Smith and former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings.Prominent figures in the anti-vaccine movement including Dr Joseph Mercola and Alex Berenson have large followings on Substack, which has more than 1 million paying subscribers who sign up for individual newsletters from an array of authors who include novelist Salman Rushdie, the writer-musician Patti Smith and former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings.
Mercola, a US alternative medicine doctor and prolific producer of anti-vaccine content, and Alex Berenson, a journalist banned from Twitter last year after questioning the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, are among five vaccine sceptics on the platform who earn themselves and Substack a minimum of $2.5m a year from their newsletters. Under Substack’s business model, writers keep about 90% of the subscription income, with the platform taking 10% and the payment company Stripe charging the writers 3% of their take.Mercola, a US alternative medicine doctor and prolific producer of anti-vaccine content, and Alex Berenson, a journalist banned from Twitter last year after questioning the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, are among five vaccine sceptics on the platform who earn themselves and Substack a minimum of $2.5m a year from their newsletters. Under Substack’s business model, writers keep about 90% of the subscription income, with the platform taking 10% and the payment company Stripe charging the writers 3% of their take.
Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a campaign group, showed that Mercola’s newsletters made a minimum of $1m a year from charging subscribers an annual fee of $50, with Berenson making at least $1.2m from charging people $60. Three other vaccine sceptic newsletters, from the tech entrepreneur Steven Kirsch, virologist Robert Malone and anonymous writer Eugyppius, generate about $300,000 between them.Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a campaign group, showed that Mercola’s newsletters made a minimum of $1m a year from charging subscribers an annual fee of $50, with Berenson making at least $1.2m from charging people $60. Three other vaccine sceptic newsletters, from the tech entrepreneur Steven Kirsch, virologist Robert Malone and anonymous writer Eugyppius, generate about $300,000 between them.
Read more of Dan Milmo’s report here: Anti-vaxxers making ‘at least $2.5m’ a year from publishing on SubstackRead more of Dan Milmo’s report here: Anti-vaxxers making ‘at least $2.5m’ a year from publishing on Substack
Travel companies are reporting a bounce back in bookings, with easyJet and Saga predicting a summer surge as the impact of Omicron on consumer confidence wanes, and the government’s move to lift testing and travel restrictions pushes capacity back to near pre-pandemic levels.Travel companies are reporting a bounce back in bookings, with easyJet and Saga predicting a summer surge as the impact of Omicron on consumer confidence wanes, and the government’s move to lift testing and travel restrictions pushes capacity back to near pre-pandemic levels.
easyJet said it expected Omicron to continue to have an impact over its short-term performance. However, the airline said that customers looked to rebook, rather than cancel, which would help boost its performance.easyJet said it expected Omicron to continue to have an impact over its short-term performance. However, the airline said that customers looked to rebook, rather than cancel, which would help boost its performance.
“We see a strong summer ahead, with pent-up demand that will see easyJet returning to near 2019 levels of capacity, with UK beach and leisure routes performing particularly well,” said Johan Lundgren, the chief executive of easyJet.“We see a strong summer ahead, with pent-up demand that will see easyJet returning to near 2019 levels of capacity, with UK beach and leisure routes performing particularly well,” said Johan Lundgren, the chief executive of easyJet.
Saga, the travel and insurance group specialising in products and holidays for over-50s, said it had seen strong bookings for its cruises in the period from 1 August to 26 January.Saga, the travel and insurance group specialising in products and holidays for over-50s, said it had seen strong bookings for its cruises in the period from 1 August to 26 January.
The company said that for this 2022-2023 financial year, which runs from 27 January, cruises had a booking load factor of 86% in its first half and 73% for the full year.The company said that for this 2022-2023 financial year, which runs from 27 January, cruises had a booking load factor of 86% in its first half and 73% for the full year.
“While Omicron has impacted travel bookings through December and January, our outlook for cruises in 2022-2023 and beyond is positive,” said Euan Sutherland, the chief executive of Saga.“While Omicron has impacted travel bookings through December and January, our outlook for cruises in 2022-2023 and beyond is positive,” said Euan Sutherland, the chief executive of Saga.
Read more of Mark Sweney’s report here: UK travel industry forecasts summer boom amid surge in holiday bookingsRead more of Mark Sweney’s report here: UK travel industry forecasts summer boom amid surge in holiday bookings
My colleague Kalyeena Makortoff has a rundown here of six UK firms that have handed bonuses to executives or payouts to shareholders despite refusing to refund taxpayers for support, including business rates relief and the furlough job retention scheme.My colleague Kalyeena Makortoff has a rundown here of six UK firms that have handed bonuses to executives or payouts to shareholders despite refusing to refund taxpayers for support, including business rates relief and the furlough job retention scheme.
A very quick snap from Reuters confirming that Poland has set another new daily Covid caseload record, at 57,659. The deputy health minister there yesterday warned that the country could soon see case numbers over 60,000 each day.A very quick snap from Reuters confirming that Poland has set another new daily Covid caseload record, at 57,659. The deputy health minister there yesterday warned that the country could soon see case numbers over 60,000 each day.
The Israeli government has said in a report marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day that protesters against Covid-19 measures who liken themselves to Jews under Nazi persecution are stoking global antisemitism.
Such displays showed factual knowledge of the genocide was eroding, the report said, adding that some Covid-19 agitators had been “consuming and disseminating antisemitic conspiracy theories that Jews are responsible for the crisis and are using it for oppression, global domination, economic gain, etc”.
Expanding on the findings, the diaspora affairs minister Nachman Shai said Holocaust distortion or trivialisation was itself antisemitic and could sometimes lead to actual endangerment of Jews.
“There are people so fraught with hate who can, when faced with such imagery, be tipped over into action,” he told Reuters.
Yad Vashem, Israel’s main Holocaust memorial, has urged world leaders to come out against such discourse – a call apparently heeded by the UN secretary general, António Guterres, who on Monday said the yellow star protests were “reprehensible”.
“Covid brought Holocaust trivialisation to a summit,” said the Yad Vashem chairman, Dani Dayan. “Things like that, sometimes done by politicians, by public figures, are despicable and Yad Vashem is very clear in demanding those persons retract.”
Andrew Sparrow is live with our UK politics blog for today, which is of course heavily intertwined with the Covid story as we await the publication of Sue Gray’s report. You can find that here.
I’ll be continuing here with major UK Covid developments and the coronavirus news from around the globe.
Poland’s defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak has tweeted that he has tested positive for coronavirus. “I feel well, I will carry out my duties under isolation,” Blaszczak said.
Reuters remind us that Poland reported a record 53,420 new daily Covid infections yesterday.
Russia’s daily Covid-19 cases rose to 88,816 on Thursday, a new record high for the seventh consecutive day as the Omicron variant was identified in new regions, officials said.
The number of new infections was a significant jump from the 74,692 reported on Wednesday. Reuters report that officials also said that 665 people had died in the last 24 hours.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has take some time out of waiting for the Sue Gray report to arrive to tweet about England dropping Plan B measures today, and to urge people to continue to get vaccinated.
Care home staff in England have said they are facing Covid “testing fatigue” with up to 50% of services experiencing outbreaks, the chairwoman of the National Care Association has warned on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme today.
Responding to the Government announcement that visitor restrictions in care homes will be scrapped next week, Nadra Ahmed said the situation would need to be “considered carefully” by independent providers. PA Media quote her saying:
Asked whether independent providers would place their own restrictions on visitor numbers despite the Government announcement, Ahmed said care homes would be “aiming towards” allowing people to visit freely.
She added: “There may be some challenges for some providers if they are short-staffed or there’s an outbreak, and if there are additional challenges those are the things that we’ll need to take into consideration”.
EasyJet has said the Omicron variant hit passenger demand last month, but revealed it had seen a recent boost in bookings from the move to scrap Covid travel tests.
The low-cost airline said Omicron saw its load factor, a measure of how well it fills its planes, slump to 67% in December after recovering past 80% in October and November.
PA Media report that the carrier said it has seen a “step change” in bookings since the 5 January announcement that pre-departure Covid testing would be scrapped for fully vaccinated arrivals entering England, with demand buoyed further by last week’s news of restriction-free travel from 11 February.
There is a developing story from Associated Press that current and former staffers have accused the top director of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific of racist, unethical and abusive behaviour that has undermined the UN health agency’s efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
The allegations were laid out in an internal complaint filed in October and again in an email last week, sent by unidentified “concerned WHO staff” to senior leadership and the executive board and obtained by the Associated Press. Two of the authors said more than 30 staffers were involved in writing it, and that it reflected the experiences of more than 50 people.
Maria Cheng reports that the internal complaint and the email describe a “toxic atmosphere” with “a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing” at WHO’s Western Pacific headquarters in Manila, led by Dr Takeshi Kasai, director of the region that includes China and his home country of Japan. Kasai denies the allegations.
The AP says it has also obtained recorded snippets of meetings where Kasai is heard making derogatory remarks about his staff based on nationality. Eleven former or current WHO staffers who worked for Kasai told the AP he frequently used racist language.
In an email to the AP, Kasai denied allegations of racism and unethical behavior. He said that after receiving the email last week, he immediately took steps to communicate with all his staff.
“I ask a lot of myself, and our staff,” he said. “This has particularly been the case during the Covid-19 response. But it should not result in people feeling disrespected.”
Isobel Frodsham at PA Media has a little bit more on those changes to care home rules in England. Limits on the number of visitors to care homes are being scrapped from Monday.
She writes that care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days, and self-isolation periods will be cut from 15 days to 10 days for those who test positive - with further reductions if they test negative on days five and six.
Isolation periods for those in care following an emergency hospital visit are also being reduced from 14 to 10 days. The move comes as 86.5% of care home residents have now had a booster vaccination.
Care minister Gillian Keegan said: “Thanks to the continued success of the vaccine rollout, I am delighted we can ease restrictions in care settings and allow unlimited visits to ensure people living in care homes see all their family and friends.
“The changes announced today are backed by scientists, ensuring we all have more freedoms from coronavirus, including care home residents and their families.”
The withdrawal of the requirement for Covid passes in England from today has been welcomed by those within the hospitality industry.
PA Media quote Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, described the requirement as having been a “debilitating and divisive mitigation” and said businesses across the night-time economy will celebrate the change.
Kill said the impact of the measure has left “many businesses now concerned that they will struggle to survive beyond February” and called for more government support.
Shaun Hinds, chief executive at Manchester Central, which describes itself as one of the UK’s leading events venues, described the end of plan B as “a very positive move”.
He said “a number of significant inquiries for events in 2022” and new bookings for 2023 indicate a “real appetite and eagerness in the live events sector as it continues in its recovery”.