Central London saw chaotic scenes as anti-lockdown protesters were met by a large police presence leading to over 60 arrests.
Several people were handcuffed and led away by Metropolitan officers as hundreds of demonstrators weaved through the capital's streets on Saturday afternoon.
Police action was met with booing and chants of "shame on you" as demonstrators, many not wearing face masks, ignored requests to go home.
A large crowd of demonstrators chanting "freedom" left the park near Marble Arch and marched along a road parallel to Oxford Street.
Police clashed with protesters who had carried placards reading "stop controlling us" and "no more lockdowns". Other signs read "ditch the face masks" and "no to mandatory masks".
Protest is not a permitted exemption to the prohibition on gatherings under current coronavirus regulations in England and those who attend risk enforcement action by officers, the Metropolitan Police had warned ahead of the weekend.
The grassroots group Save Our Rights UK, which says it is working for democracy, had planned a protest on Saturday called Unite For Freedom - Time For Action.
Lord's has become the first major sporting venue to declare it is planning for "full ground capacity" thanks to breakthroughs in the Covid-19 vaccine.
The high-profile epidemiologist who led Sweden's no lock-down strategy in the spring appears to be being sidelined by the government after his prediction that greater immunity would mean a lighter second wave proved badly wrong.
05:20 PM
Boris Johnson steps in save Christmas by allowing groups of six carol singers
The Prime Minister ordered a tweak to the new tiers that come into force this week to allow for people to sing carols outside as long as the rule of six is observed.
The rules mean that while congregations cannot sign carols inside, people can sing them outside as long as social distancing rules are maintained.
Door to door carol singing is also particularly allowed as long as carollers observe the rule of six, and social distancing.
The Boxing Day shoot is a longstanding royal tradition, but will it go ahead this year amid the coronavirus pandemic?
The Queen could potentially go to Sandringham - as is usual - during the five-day period in December when rules are relaxed to allow three households to mix.
The Daily Mail quoted an unnamed source as saying the Earl of Wessex and his family will be in the Queen's Christmas bubble.
The newspaper also reported that plans are being considered around whether the traditional Boxing Day shoot might be able to take place and whether in that case the Queen could see other members of her family.
Government guidelines, published as the "rule of six" came into force in England, provided an exemption for shooting - including hunting and paintball that requires a shotgun or firearms certificate licence - as an organised sport that can be done with more than five others.
Countryside campaigners said last month that Boxing Day hunts will go ahead on Covid-secure trails without spectators this Christmas.
04:59 PM
Exclusive: Football fans will not face mandatory temperature checks or have to wear face masks inside stadiums
Fans will be spared mandatory temperature checks and face masks inside stadiums under government guidance to be sent to the sporting bodies on Monday, writes Tom Morgan.
Both infection-control measures will be left largely to the discretion of clubs and their local safety advisory groups when venues reopen on Wednesday.
Some clubs are already planning to err on the side of caution, however, with Cambridge United the first club to say it will ask fans to wear masks at all times.
Turkey's daily coronavirus death toll hits record for sixth day in a row
Turkey's daily Cvoid-19 death toll hit a record high for a sixth consecutive day on Saturday, with 182 fatalities in the last 24 hours, data from the Health Ministry showed.
Turkey also recorded a new high of 30,103 coronavirusinfections in the space of 24 hours, including asymptomatic ones. For four months, Turkey only reported symptomatic cases, but since Wednesday it has reported all cases.
The total number of deaths stood at 13,373.
04:46 PM
Seasonal workers left in limbo as Europe battles over opening of ski resorts
Seasonal workers are stranded in limbo as nations across Europe squabble about the possibility of closing all pistes for the season.
Passo Tonale in the Dolomites which has become a virtual ghost town after the government decision to close everything down - Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Resorts are desperately trying to salvage the winter, but travel restrictions, the need for social distancing and a disjointed approach from Governments means they are no closer to finding a solution.
At the centre of the crisis are thousands of workers, from instructors and lift operators to catering staff and nannies, who rely on the season for their income.
“I am thinking in the first place of the tens of thousands of seasonal workers, employees and socio-professionals in the mountains who risk being deprived of income,” vice-president of Isère Chantal Carlioz said he reacted to the news that lifts would be closed this Christmas in France.
“The situation is serious. I feel its gravity and perceive the tragedies to come,” he told PlanetSKI.
04:36 PM
Protesters rally in Warsaw on women's vote anniversary despite Covid restrictions
Thousands of protesters marched Warsaw on Saturday in defiance of coronavirus restrictions on the 102nd anniversary of women getting the right to vote in Poland.
The march was the latest in weeks of demonstrations against the government's plans to tighten further Poland's already highly restrictive legislation on abortion.
The Polish National Women's Strike demostration in Warsaw, Poland - Shutterstock
"We did not win our civil rights more than a century ago just to allow those in power to take away our human rights," the protest organisers said on Facebook.
Participants set off red flares and waved flags bearing the protest movement's red thunderbolt symbol.
04:25 PM
Doctors' leader warns of massive levels of burnout in NHS after Covid-19
The health service risks having a "massive level of burnouts" in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, unless additional care is given to the "very fragile" mental health of staff, a leading doctor has warned.
Dr Lewis Morrison, the chair of the British Medical Association in Scotland, spoke about the impact the pandemic was having on health professionals.
And he said a "public messaging campaign" was now required to explain to the people why things were still being delayed several months after Covid-19 first hit Scotland.
Speaking at a fringe event at the SNP conference, Dr Morrison said public understanding of the impact the virus was having on health services was starting to "fray at the edges now".
Dr Morrison said: "We're entering a period now where people's frustrations are starting to show a wee bit more, and health and social care are on the front line of the expression of those frustrations, when people can't get the health care they need as quickly as they normally would."
04:14 PM
Met police say number of arrests at anti-lockdown protest 'expected to rise'
Hundreds of anti-lockdown demonstrators, including a man dressed as Santa Claus, marched through Westminster chanting "shame on you" and "freedom", causing traffic disruption on Saturday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police said officers had made more than 60 arrests by 3pm.
The force said: "These were for a number of different offences, including breaching coronavirus restrictions.
"We expect this number to rise. We continue to urge people to go home."
Protesters, including some dressed as Christmas elves, brandished signs reading "All I want for Christmas is my freedom back", "Ditch the face masks" and "Stop controlling us".
Activists marched from Hyde Park to Oxford Circus and Regent Street, clashing with helmeted police - Henry Nicholls/Reuters
04:03 PM
Iran health ministry reports slowing of virus infections
Iran's Health Ministry on Saturday reported a slowdown in Covid-19infections, saying that 89 of 160 cities were out of the designated high risk category.
"I thank our dear people for taking the appropriate precautions and tolerating the restrictions," deputy health minister Alireza Raisi said on state TV, adding that public adherence was 90 percent.
Still, the government on Saturday announced the closure of most non-essential government offices in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
A health ministry spokeswoman reported 13,402 new cases on Saturday, pushing the national tally to 935,799 in the Middle East’s worst-hit country.
03:53 PM
Pope elevates 13 new cardinals in ceremony marked by Covid-19
Pope Francis is preparing to formally elevate 13 new cardinals, including the first African-American to receive the rank, in a ceremony marked in every way by the pandemic:
Two of the cardinals stayed home, the rest eschewed the usual celebrations and St. Peter's Basilica was practically empty for Saturday's service.
Pope Francis (C) during a consistory ceremony in the Saint Peter's basilica - Shutterstock
The ceremony, known as a consistory, is the seventh of Francis' pontificate and once again reflected the Argentine pope's effort to name cardinals from places that have never had them before or whose service to the church he wants to highlight.
The first African-American cardinal, Wilton D. Gregory (R) with protective mask during a consistory ceremony - Shutterstock
Nine are under age 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope, further solidifying the majority of Francis-appointed prelates in the College of Cardinals.
Cardinal-designate Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington D.C., is becoming the first African-American cardinal. He told The Associated Press ahead of the ceremony that he viewed his appointment as "an affirmation of Black Catholics in the United States, the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent."
03:41 PM
A further 289 people in England die from Covid-19
A further 289 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 40,197, NHS England said on Saturday.
The patients were all aged between 27 and 100. All except 16, aged between 45 and 92, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths occurred between October 14 and November 27.
Nineteen other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
03:25 PM
'Infodemic' risks jeopardising virus vaccines, says WHO
A early as February, with the global pandemic spreading fast, the World Health Organisation issued a warning about an "infodemic", a wave of fake news and misinformation about the deadly new disease on social media.
Now with hopes hanging on Covid-19 vaccines, the WHO and experts are warning those same phenomena may jeopardise roll-out of immunisation programmes meant to bring an end to the suffering.
"The coronavirus disease is the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media are being used on a massive scale to keep people safe, informed, productive and connected," the WHO said.
"At the same time, the technology we rely on to keep connected and informed is enabling and amplifying an infodemic that continues to undermine the global response and jeopardises measures to control the pandemic."
03:12 PM
Comment: Covid-19 has plunged us into an existential crisis over the role of the state
When did democratic citizens sign up to this power grab to control personal and family life, writes Janet Daley.
Who would have thought that a random biological event – not a military conflict, or global competition for economic dominance or indeed, any other kind of phenomenon that arises from the intentions of sentient beings – could have produced this? Here we are with a crisis of confidence in our political system that goes way beyond the immediate consequences for resources, finances, and healthcare: an existential dilemma that questions the most fundamental assumptions about our relationship to the state.
Anti-lockdown protesters arrested in Edinburgh during ceilidh performance
A number of anti-lockdown protestors have been arrested in Edinburgh after holding a demonstration ceilidh outside the Scottish Parliament.
The group, known as Saving Scotland, held the Ceilidh ahead of St Andrews day, asked people to listen to 'real scientific evidence' in regards to the health of the Scottish people
hold a demonstration Ceilidh outside the Scottish Parliament - Jeff J Mitchell A man is arrested as anti-lockdown protestors hold a demonstration Ceilidh outside the Scottish Parliament - Getty Images Europe/Jeff J Mitchell
02:38 PM
Swedish government sidelines epidemiologist who steered country's no lockdown experiment
The high-profile epidemiologist who led Sweden's no lock-down strategy in the spring appears to be being sidelined by the government after his prediction that greater immunity would mean a lighter second wave proved badly wrong.
Anders Tegnell's biweekly press conference was pushed into the shade
Anders Tegnell's biweekly press conference was on Thursday pushed into the shade by an overlapping press conference fronted by Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, where new scenarios prepared by the Public Health Agency were announced.
"There's certainly a split, and I'm pretty sure that many in the government have rather lost faith in the Public Health Agency," said Nicholas Aylott, an associate politics professor at Stockholm's Södertorn University.
"By some counts, we've now got exactly the same level of spread of the virus that we had in the spring, and that's about as clear a refutation of Tegnell's strategy as you could wish for."
02:25 PM
Speed of viral spread causes concern in South Korea
South Korea reported more than 500 new coronavirus cases for the third straight day on Saturday, the fastest spread of infections the country has seen since the early days of the pandemic.
Shoppers wearing protective masks browse stalls at the Dongdaemun market in Seoul, South Korea - SeongJoon Cho /Bloomberg
The 504 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention brought the total number of infections since the pandemic began to 33,375, including 522 deaths.
Around 330 of the new cases came from the Seoul metropolitan area, home to about half of the country's 51 million people, where health workers are struggling to stem transmissions linked to hospitals, schools, saunas, gyms and army units.
Infections were also reported in other major cities including Daegu, which was the epicentre of the country's previous major outbreak in late February and March.
02:14 PM
Queues at barber shops as France eases coronavirus lockdown
People eager to get a haircut stood in line outside barber shops and department stores selling gifts and Christmas decorations were busy on Saturday as France partially reopened following a month-long lockdown.
A hairdresser wearing a protective face mask gives a haircut to a customer at a barber shop in Paris - Shutterstock
Shops selling non-essential goods such as shoes, clothes and toys reopened in the first easing of a nationwide lockdown that started on October 30 and will remain in place until December 15.
Bars and restaurants remain closed till January 20,
"Today we have people who had been waiting for weeks while others are coming now so they can look good for Christmas, as one never know what happens next," said Remi Thor, a barber in central Paris.
02:06 PM
Moscow opens its biggest outdoor ice rink for winter amid pandemic
Across town one ice rink has been converted into a Covid-19 hospital, but some Moscow residents took to the ice late on Friday as the city's biggest outdoor rink opened for winter during the pandemic.
The rink in the Soviet-era VDNKh amusement park in northern Moscow opened its doors despite a surge in ccoronavirus cases since September with the city of over 12.5 million people regularly reporting the most infections of any Russian region.
eople skate during the opening of a skating rink at VDNKh (The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy), in Moscow, Russia - AP
On Saturday, officials confirmed 27,100 new cases overnight, including 7,320 in Moscow. They said 510 people had died in the last 24 hours nationwide.
01:58 PM
Watch: Protesters and police clash on Oxford Street in London,
Anti-lockdown protesters and police have continued to clash in Oxford Street as officers armed with batons faced off against activists.
Footage posted on social media shows activists throwing bottles at officers and charging through police ranks.
Police arrests of protesters continue on Regent Street
Police have continued to arrest anti-lockdown protesters in Regent Streets as crowds of demonstrators marched through the heart of London.
Met Police had warned earlier that anti-lockdown activists would not be exempt from the Government's Covid restrictions - Peter Macdiarmid/LNP /London News Pictures Ltd Police make arrests in Regent Street as anti-lockdown protesters march in central London - London News Pictures Ltd/Peter Macdiarmid/LNP
01:33 PM
Traffic blocked on Regent Street as officers handcuff protesters
Police have faced booing from demonstrators and chants of "shame on you" as they intervened in the anti-lockdown protest.
Traffic was temporarily blocked on Regent Street as officers attempted to handcuff people on the ground in the middle of the road.
London 🇬🇧 Anti-lockdown protest. The crowds have now formed up and are marching down Upper Brook Street. pic.twitter.com/mgUYeZbmLH
A police officer wearing a protective face covering leads away anti-lockdown protesters in Oxford Street - Tolga Akmen/AFP A protester is arrested and lead away by police in front of Kings Cross railway station. - Jamie Lorriman/Jamie Lorriman
01:24 PM
Nadhim Zahawi says he is 'delighted' with his new appointment as a health minister
The newly appointed Nadhim Zahawi said he was "delighted" to have been asked to become the minister responsible for the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Delighted to have been asked by @BorisJohnson to become the minister for Covid vaccine deployment.A big responsibility&a big operational challenge but absolutely committed to making sure we can roll out vaccines quickly-saving lives and livelihoods and helping us #buildbackbetter
Police continue to handcuff anti-lockdown protesters and ask they return home
Police have continued handcuffing and leading away several demonstrators, including one dressed as Father Christmas, as an anti-lockdown protest weaved through central London streets.
Officers asked those in a noisy crowd to go home as the march abruptly changed its direction on the way to Oxford Circus.
A man dressed as Santa Claus is arrested for breaching the #Coronavirus Act during a #lockdown protest. The SOR movement, organised the march to unite people for freedom, justice and to develop a real democracy which they see as being under threat. @saveourrightsuk@StandUpX2pic.twitter.com/RVxRGbQNUP
Anti-lockdown protesters leave Hyde Park and head for Mayfair
Anti-lockdown protesters have been filmed marching towards Mayfair after demonstrating at Hyde Park.
The crowd, many of whom are pictured without wearing face masks, can be heard chanting 'freedom' and holding placards reading 'they do not intend to give my freedom back' and 'stop controlling us'.
Police officers walked alongside the protesters as they made their way through the city centre.
Here is your afternoon round-up of today's top stories:
Boris Johnson's decision to impose tougher tiers of restrictions on much of the country this week will cost the economy £900 million a day , according to a leading economic forecaster.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police have detained a number of anti-lockdown protesters at King's Cross station with protests been planned to take place across the weekend.
The public will be told to call NHS 111 to book "urgent" slots in Accident and Emergency departments rather than just turning up in a bid to reduce overcrowding this winter,
12:50 PM
Lockdown protests continue in Hyde Park
Police have led people away in handcuffs from an anti-lockdown protest in London's Hyde Park.
A man is detained by police during today's anti-lockdown protest at Kings Cross St Pancras, London. - Stefan Rousseau/PA
A large crowd of demonstrators chanting "freedom" left the park near Marble Arch and marched along a road parallel to Oxford Street.
Police officers walked alongside the protesters who carried placards reading "stop controlling us" and "no more lockdowns".
A woman is arrested for breaching the #Coronavirus Act during a lockdown protest. The Save Our Rights movement, organised the march to unite people for freedom, justice and to develop a real democracy which they see as being under threat due to the #Lockdown. @saveourrightsukpic.twitter.com/bfVDAukIhG
Police detain anti-lockdown protesters at King's Cross
Officers from the Metropolitan Police have detained a number of anti-lockdown protesters at King's Cross station.
Protests had been planned to take place across the weekend on by the grassroots group Save Our Rights UK called Unite For Freedom - Time For Action.
Met officers lead away anti lockdown activists at the protest in King's Cross - Tolga Akmen/AFP So far three people have been have been arrested for allegedly breaching Covid restrictions at King's Cross station in London - Tolga Akmen/AFP The protests had been planned by the grassroots group Save Our Rights UK called Unite For Freedom - Time For Action. - Victoria Jones/PA
12:35 PM
Shadow health secretary calls for mass public campaign 'urging uptake' of vaccine
Nadhim Zahawi's appointment as a health minister follows calls from Labour for the Government to appoint a minister to oversee the vaccine rollout, who would provide accountability and avoid repeating mistakes made over PPE procurement and Test and Trace.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "Only days ago Labour called for a vaccines minister to oversee the huge logistical challenge of widespread vaccination.
"We now need a mass public health campaign urging uptake of the vaccine, alongside ensuring the resources are in place for GPs and other health professionals to rapidly roll this out as soon as possible."
12:24 PM
Watch: WHO says it needs to evaluate Covid-19 vaccine on more than just a press release
12:09 PM
Spike in F grades across US as online learning gap emerges amid pandemic school closures
America's great experiment in "remote learning" during the pandemic has proved disastrous for many children as the first figures from one of its largest school districts showed an explosion in failing grades, and a widening gulf between thriving and struggling pupils.
Unlike in the UK, thousands of schools across the United States have still not reopened, having been closed since March. Children from age five up are instead being taught on computer screens at home. Many will end up missing an entire academic year of in-person schooling.
An internal report from Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, just outside Washington DC, which has 188,000 pupils, was released this week following a Freedom of Information request by a local parent. It confirmed what many families around the country had feared for months.
Among children aged 11 to 18 there was an 83 per cent jump in those with two or more 'F' grades, in the first quarter of the 2020-21 academic year, which has just ended.
Revealed: Boris Johnson's decision to impose tougher Covid tiers 'will cost £900 million a day'
Boris Johnson's decision to impose tougher tiers of restrictions on much of the country this week will cost the economy £900 million a day, according to a leading economic forecaster.
Ministers have refused to publish any details of the economic impact of the new tiers, and have only agreed to do so in the next couple of days after coming under pressure from backbench Conservative MPs.
More than 34 million people are facing tougher restrictions than before the national lockdown in the Prime Minister's new tougher tiers this week.
MPs have been described as being "in open revolt" after 99 per cent of England's population was placed in the highest tiers, two and three, with only Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly placed in the lowest tier 1.
Breaking: PM appoints Nadhim Zahawi as health minister responsible for vaccine roll out
Boris Johnson has appointed Nadhim Zahawi as a health minister responsible for the deployment of the coronavirus vaccine, Downing Street has announced.
The temporary position will last 'until at least next summer', Downing Street has said with Mr Zahawi retaining his Business minister brief.
Mr Zahawi has said he is 'hugely disappointed' that his Stratford-on-Avon constituency will be in Tier 3
Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, formerly the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry. - Julian Simmonds
11:48 AM
Police arrests at anti lockdown protest at King's Cross station
Three people have been arrested for allegedly breaching coronavirus restrictions at King's Cross station in London, the Metropolitan Police said.
It comes ahead of a planned protest on Saturday by the grassroots group Save Our Rights UK called Unite For Freedom - Time For Action.
Police have urged people not to attend protests in central London this weekend during the coronavirus lockdown.
A protest is not a permitted exemption to the prohibition on gatherings under current coronavirus regulations in England and those who attend risk enforcement action by officers, the Met said.
11:45 AM
Wales First Minister urges people to help 'stem the flow of this cruel virus'
The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has urged people to help "stem the flow of this cruel virus" as "winter brings extra pressures" amid an increase in Covid-19 patients in hospitals.
NHS figures show there are over 1,700 people with coronavirus in our hospitals. At the end of September this was under 400. Winter brings extra pressures. We must play our part by showing compassion for our most vulnerable and acting together to stem the flow of this cruel virus.
The total number of novel coronavirus cases in Ukraine climbed to 709,701 as it registered a record daily tally of 16,294 new infections in the past 24 hours, health minister Maksym Stepanov said on Saturday.
He said 184 patients had died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 12,093.
11:27 AM
How the tiers will change on December 2
11:18 AM
Quizzes, no singalongs and elbow bumps instead of hugs, advises scientists for Christmas
Quizzes instead of board games, spacing out furniture, and opening windows are among recommendations to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus at Christmas get-togethers.
Scientists advising the Government have set out a number of general tips for people to consider around mixing households for any kind of family, religious or cultural celebration.
Here is what the advice, from the Environmental and Modelling Group (EMG) and the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) dated November 26, says:
Games involving lots of shared objects, such as board games, are not recommended. Scientists say these could be substituted for quiz-based games.
Festive singalongs indoors are also advised against, with experts saying several studies have shown that singing is associated with a high transmission risk especially if ventilation is poor.
Dancing along to your favourite Christmas tunes is not advised either, with scientists saying aerobic activities like high-energy dance fitness have been linked to outbreaks, explaining that this is probably down to higher breathing rates.
11:11 AM
Malaysia will hold an election after coronavirus is over, says PM
Malaysia will hold a general election when the pandemic is over, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday, shortly after he averted a showdown by winning parliamentary support for his administration's budget.
Malaysia is facing a new wave of coronavirus infections, cases rising to more than 60,000 as of Friday. - AFP
Parliament passed the largest-ever budget by a voice vote on Thursday despite weeks of threats by the opposition and some of Muhyiddin's allies to derail the government's 2021 spending plan, which could have triggered a crisis.
"God willing, when Covid-19 is over, we will hold a general election," Muhyiddin said in a speech at a virtual annual general meeting of his Bersatu party.
"We will return the mandate to the people and leave it to them to choose which government they want."
11:05 AM
North Korea authorised cyber gang to steal Britain's Covid vaccine secrets, sources say
North Korea authorised a state-sponsored cyber gang to pose as headhunters in an attempt to steal Britain's Covid-19 vaccine secrets, security sources said on Friday.
The cyber criminals targeted AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company working with Oxford University to develop the UK's Covid vaccine. Initial results suggest the Oxford vaccine is anywhere between 60 per cent and 90 per cent effective, and regulators have now been asked to appraise it.
The hackers approached staff working with AstraZeneca, based at its headquarters in Cambridge, with fake job offers. Posing as recruiters working on behalf of rival firms, they sent messages over the past few weeks via the social networking site LinkedIn and also through messaging service WhatsApp.
AstraZeneca employees were then sent documents, claiming to be job descriptions, which included malicious computer code designed to allow the hackers access to the company's computer systems.
Pandemic has 'brought out the best in people', says Nicola Sturgeon
Dark times caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have "brought out the best in people", Scotland's First Minister has said.
Addressing the virtual SNP conference, Nicola Sturgeon said: "The Covid pandemic has taken thousands of lives, it has upended our society and severely damaged business and the economy.
"But these dark times have also brought out the very best in people.
"Every day I have seen examples of people across Scotland pulling together in a time of crisis to support each other.
"These last few months have reminded me what a privilege it is to serve as First Minister of our country."
10:48 AM
Comment: The Government's tin-eared, patronising Covid lecturing is growing more irritating by the day
Getting to Tier 1 isn't something that can be achieved by the public behaving nicely. Ministers are wrong to pretend that it is, writes Ross Clark.
The reason we have a patchwork of areas with very different rates of infection isn’t down to personal behaviour; it has rather more to do with geography and socio-economics.
Covid-19 has torn through crowded urban areas one by one, while leaving rural areas and spacious suburbs less affected.
Naturally, the Government needs to deal with the epidemic differently depending on local infection rates – closing pubs in Cornwall just because of a rise in infections in Manchester would be silly. But ministers shouldn’t be patronising us with a condescending communications strategy that effectively amounts to putting some of us on the naughty step and rewarding others with sweeties.
Comment: For Bristolians, going from Tier 1 to Tier 3 is a bitter pill to swallow
It was in Tier 1 at the beginning of November, but Bristol will soon face the toughest measures, writes Simon Horsford.
It didn’t come as a complete surprise to the people of Bristol that it has been put in the strictest tier, but it is still a bitter pill to swallow, particularly as the city was in Tier 1 at the beginning of November.
The rise in hospital admissions and high levels of Covid-19 cases across the west of England meant the bad news seemed almost inevitable when it was announced yesterday morning.
There are few pedestrians, although there is a disheartening sign of homelessness with people cuddled up in doorways. In a city renowned for it diversity and vibrancy, it was as though someone has flicked a kind of off-switch – at least for the time being – and not just because it was bitingly cold.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have shown that exercises such as attempting to tell the difference between a lemon and rose odour, done twice a day, can repair the olfactory damage done by the virus.
Although the Government waited weeks to acknowledge it, impairment to taste and smell have emerged as main symptoms of the virus. For many sufferers, that means previously pleasant smells such as chocolate become unpleasant and can smell more like rotting cabbage.
The UEA team has worked with 143 post-viral volunteers, encouraging them to try smelling at least four different odours twice daily for several months.
Their study, published in the journal Laryngoscope, found that the exercises improved the sense of smell by means of neuroplasticity – the brain's ability to reorganise itself after injury.
Exclusive: Public told to book 'urgent' A&E slots by calling NHS 111
The public will be told to call NHS 111 to book "urgent" slots in Accident and Emergency departments rather than just turning up in a bid to reduce overcrowding this winter, reports Laura Donnelly.
Next week, the NHS will run a TV campaign and billboard adverts urging people to use the phoneline to secure an appointment at their local casualty unit.
Health officials said the reforms will mean those with an "urgent but not life-threatening" medical need can get seen in A&E more quickly.
They said the changes would result in shorter waiting times and less crowding because the service will also be able to book other types of medical assistance, such as a GP appointment, reducing the numbers that end up in A&E and cutting the risk of Covid spread.
Vitamin D to be sent to three million clinically vulnerable people to help protect against Covid-19
Free Vitamin D supplements will be delivered to almost three million clinically vulnerable people and care home residents, in order to help protect them during the pandemic.
The stocks are to be sent out by the Government, after the Health Secretary called for a further review of the evidence about whether the “sunshine vitamin” can reduce the risk of dying from Covid.
Under current health advice, everyone in the country is told to consider taking Vitamin D, amid concerns that lockdowns have deprived many of sunshine, which is key to its production.
On Saturday health officials will target efforts on protecting the most vulnerable, with free supplies aimed at boosting bone and muscle health.
Met Police issues warning over planned anti-lockdown protests in city centre
The Metropolitan police has urged anti-lockdown activists to remain at home with protests in the capital due to take place over the weekend.
A statement from the force has said that "a robust policing plan is in place throughout the weekend and officers will take action if they witness breaches of the regulations".
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, policing commander for this weekend, said: “The Met has a proud history of facilitating protest.
"However, our city is in a critical fight against Covid-19 and we cannot allow gatherings to jeopardise the progress and sacrifices our communities have made in fighting this virus."
We're aware groups are intending to protest in #London tomorrow.
We want to be clear, gathering in groups is not permitted under the current regulations.
Anyone looking to join a protest is urged to stay home.
Russia reports 27,100 new coronavirus cases and 510 deaths
Russia reported 27,100 newCovid-19 cases today, including 7,320 in Moscow, taking the national total to 2,242,633 since the pandemic began.
Authorities also confirmed 510 deaths related to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the official national death toll to 39,068.
Medical staff members at work at clinical hospital No 5 treating Covid-19 patients - Dmitry Rogulin/TASS
09:41 AM
Switzerland drafts civil defence corps to tackle outbreak in hospitals
Sent by the government to support the hard-pressed Swiss healthcare system, members of the civil defence corps are on the frontline of the battle against Covid 19, helping out in emergency rooms and handling bodies.
Civil defence workers are part of the Swiss system of compulsory national service for all able-bodied men.
"I volunteered for these missions because I wanted to help people, to do my part in this crisis," said 32-year-old Mehdi Ben Khaelifa from Geneva, who joined the corps a decade ago.
We prepared ourselves, we tried to look at the pictures in advance. Clearly we were worried because I have never worked in a morgue, or even seen one, but to see several patients every day, helping the morgue staff with the influx...
The civil defence service has also set up teams of psychologists to help colleagues handle the emotional burden.
09:31 AM
Europe's death toll passes 400,000
Coronavirus deaths passed 400,000 today in Europe, the world's second worst-hit region, as parts of the continent began to reopen shops for the Christmas period.
Britain accounted for almost two-thirds of the fatalities at 57,551, followed by Italy with 53,677, France at 51,914 and Spain with 44,668.
The densely populated Los Angeles county meanwhile announced a ban on gatherings of people from different households under a new "safer-at-home order" to battle the pandemic surging across the United States.
Most nations hope to ease their virus rules for Christmas and New Year, allowing a respite before bracing for what the world hopes is one last wave of restrictions until a clutch of promising new vaccines kick in.
09:23 AM
'Individual judgment' important when seeing elderly relatives over Christmas, says advisor
Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling led to the original lockdown in March, said "individual judgment" is important when deciding whether to see elderly relatives over Christmas.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that mixing at Christmas will "increase transmission compared with everyone staying at home not mixing at all".
"But there's a real question that if that was the policy, what proportion of the population would actually go along with it? I think you have to bring the population with you.
"I think the measures at Christmas - they do pose some risks and I think individual judgment is important in deciding whether to see elderly relatives.
09:15 AM
University lowers entry requirements to 'relieve pressure' on students
The University of Surrey will reduce its entry requirements by one grade for most undergraduate courses starting next year in recognition of the disruption to education caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grade requirements will be lowered to help "relieve the pressure and anxiety" faced by young people who will have seen their learning affected by the pandemic across two academic years.
Entry grades will be reduced by one grade for the majority of undergraduate programmes starting in September 2021, except for regulated courses such as Veterinary Medicine, foundation year courses, four-year integrated masters programmes and audition-based performance courses.
Lizzie Burrows, director of recruitment and admissions at the University of Surrey, said: "We are taking this action now to relieve the pressure and anxiety facing this year's applicants, as they experience ongoing disruption and uncertainty surrounding exams and assessment of their learning.
"By taking this step, we can provide one additional element of certainty and reassurance that these students will be protected from unfair disadvantage as a result of the impact of the pandemic."
09:10 AM
Conservative MPs plan to block tier legislation on Tuesday
Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, who is among rebel Tories who voted to block coronavirus legislation including the 10pm curfew for the hospitality industry in October and England's second lockdown in November, said he is planning to vote against the new tiered restrictions on Tuesday.
He told BBC Breakfast: "We've just lived through lockdown version two, and yet we now have vastly more people being moved up a phase, despite being told: 'This is the last push, this is the new panacea, get through this and we can start seeing the sunny uplands'.
"Of course, the big sunny uplands will come when those vaccines are being rolled out - there's some really good news on the horizon... but this is all going to take a long time.
08:51 AM
German minister says partial lockdown could last until Spring 2021
Germany's partial lockdown measures could be extended until early Spring if infections are not brought under control, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has said.
Mr Altmaier told German newspaper Die Welt that it was not possible to give the all-clear while there were incidences of more than 50 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in large parts of Germany.
"We have three to four long winter months ahead of us," he s. "It is possible that the restrictions will remain in place in the first months of 2021."
08:44 AM
Exclusive: NHS workers set to get Covid vaccine before elderly
The Pfizer jab, which needs to be stored at -70C, is the only vaccine so far being formally assessed by watchdogs and could get the green light as soon as next week. But its storage requirements mean that it is at first likely to be sent to 52 NHS vaccine hubs, which are set to begin by offering the jabs to health service workers.
More than 1,000 GP sites to administer jabs more widely are being set up across the country and have been told they will be given at least 10 days notice before their programmes begin.
These centres, alongside roving teams and mass "pop-up" sites, are likely to rely on a second vaccine, developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which can be stored and transported more easily, NHS sources said.
08:39 AM
Pfizer vaccine will be approved by early-mid December, says NHS chief
Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson has said he expects the Pfizer vaccine to reach regulatory approval by "early to mid December".
Speaking about the Pfizer vaccine on BBC Breakfast, he said: "They are in batches of 975 that you can't break up, you've got to store them at (temperatures of) minus 70 or minus 80 in a very large cold-chain fridge, and then because they only last five days when they come out of the fridge, you've also got to ensure you've got all those 975 people lined up and ready to go.
"So whereas the other vaccines are probably likely to be done through primary care, through GP surgeries like they do flu vaccination, for the Pfizer one it's going to be our trusts who are going to have to do that."
"This a huge logistical task that we're doing at real pace, so I can't believe there won't be some bumps in the road."
08:33 AM
Tier 3 areas will reach 'breaking point' without extra financial help, says Labour
Labour has warned that parts of England under the most stringent coronavirus restrictions will be stretched to "breaking point" without the support of a key business grant.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is set to urge her opposite number Rishi Sunak to bring forward additional help and will suggest the Government extends its Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) in Tier 3 areas.
The one-off ARG funding - which equates to £20 per person in an area - is designed to help closed businesses that do not directly pay business rates, as well as those that do not have to close but are affected by restrictions.
In an address to the party's online regional conference - Connected North West - on Saturday afternoon, Ms Dodds will say: "It is completely irresponsible for the Government to leave Tier 3 areas in the lurch like this again.
"The run-up to Christmas is a critical period, and local authorities are going to be stretched to breaking point trying to help.
The coronasomnia cure: how to get good sleep in a pandemic
The pandemic has brought more than its share of reasons to lie awake at night. But so profound have the changes to our sleep patterns been in the nine months since the first lockdown that experts have now coined a term for it – “coronasomnia”.
A staggering 70 per cent of Brits aged 40 to 63 reported changes to their sleep patterns since the first lockdown, according to findings from The British Sleep Society published last month in the Journal of Thoracic Disease. The catalogue of sleep problems reported by the participants included disrupted sleep, falling asleep unintentionally, difficulties falling/staying asleep, and later bedtimes.
Russia reported 27,100 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, including 7,320 in Moscow, taking the national total to 2,242,633 since the pandemic began.
Authorities also confirmed 510 deaths related to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the official national death toll to 39,068.
07:18 AM
Vaccine wars: celebrities and billionaires battling to cut biggest cheques
A vaccine is on the horizon - finally something positive to discuss. But who can we thank for this glimmer of hope, aside from the researchers and scientists?
Country music legend Dolly Parton became an international hero last week, having donated $1m to the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, which contributed to the development of the Moderna vaccine.
Tier 2 pub customers have to leave after finishing meals
Pub-goers in Tier 2 areas will have to leave after finishing their "substantial" meal, the Government has said.
Under the post-lockdown guidance, pubs in Tier 2 areas can only stay open if they can function as a restaurant, and alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal.
The "no lingering" warning was issued by the Prime Minister's official spokesman, who said customers could no longer stay "once the meal is finished".
The Local Government Association (LGA) has suggested a two-hour turnaround is the "maximum amount of time for a meal of multiple courses".
Parts of Europe will reopen stores on Saturday in time for the holiday season after progress in containing the coronavirus.
Stores will lift their shutters in France on Saturday, while Poland's shopping centres will also reopen.
Belgium is to allow shops to reopen from December 1, but keep the current semi-lockdown in place possibly until mid-January.
The move mirrors similar easing in Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
The Italian government partially lifted restrictions in Lombardy and Piedmont in the north, and Calabria in the south from Sunday, changing their alert levels from red to orange.
And Ireland has also announced a staggered easing of restrictions to allow some businesses to reopen and for families to gather ahead of Christmas.
Although the virus spread is slowing thanks to weeks of tough restrictions, Europe remains at the heart of the pandemic, recording more cases than the United States in the past week.
Minister warns hospitals could be overwhelmed without tiers
Every hospital in England could be overwhelmed with coronavirus cases if new tier restrictions are not introduced, Michael Gove has warned, as he seeks to quell a Tory backbench rebellion over the measures.
The Cabinet Office Minister, writing in The Times, urged MPs to "take responsibility for difficult decisions" to curb the spread of Covid-19, amid anger from some Conservatives that much of England will face stringent restrictions.
Mr Gove said the decision to impose the restrictions was necessary to "pull the handbrake" and avoid the "disaster" of NHS hospitals - and private sector and newly-built Nightingale hospitals - becoming filled to capacity with only Covid patients and emergency cases.
"Keeping our hospitals open, available and effective was not just crucial to dealing with Covid-19. It was imperative for the health of the whole nation," Mr Gove wrote."But the only way to ensure we can take care of cancer patients, administer radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and help stroke victims and treat heart attacks is by protecting the NHS," he wrote, adding this could only be done by reducing the spread of the virus and thus limiting the number of Covid patients in hospitals.
India's infections dipped further with 41,322 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, and apparently there no signs of a resurgence as a result of a major festival two weeks ago.
The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 21,695 to 1,028,089, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.
US health authorities will hold an emergency meeting next week to recommend that a vaccine awaiting approval be given first to healthcare professionals and people in long-term care facilities.
China on Saturday reported six new cases in the mainland for Nov. 27, compared with five cases a day earlier, the health authority said.
Mexico's Health Ministry on Friday reported 12,081 additional cases and 631 more deaths in the country, bringing the official number of infections to 1,090,675 and the death toll to 104,873.
A man walks next to a skull sculpture in Shanghai where a cluster of Covid-19 infections have been linked to the local airport - ALEX PLAVEVSKI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
02:49 AM
Seventh Pakistan cricketer tests positive in NZ
A seventh Pakistan cricketer tested positive for Covid-19 as the team remained confined to their hotel in Christchurch on Saturday, unable to train and with a question mark over their New Zealand tour.
The Pakistanis, who only arrived four days ago, are already on a "final warning" for breaching New Zealand's tight quarantine restrictions, with the growing number of coronavirus cases adding pressure to preparations for their opening match on December 18.
Despite all members of the squad returning negative tests before flying to New Zealand, six came up positive after testing on day one in the country.
South Korea has reported more than 500 new cases for the third straight day, the speed of viral spread unseen since the worst wave of the outbreak in spring.
The 504 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday brought the national caseload to 33,375, including 522 deaths.
Around 330 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, home to about half of the country's 51 million population, where health workers are struggling to stem transmissions linked to hospitals, schools, saunas, gyms and army units.
Infections were also reported in other major cities including Daegu, which was the epicenter of the country's previous major outbreak in late February and March.
Students and staff queue to receive a test for the Covid-19 at a high school in Sejong city, south of Seoul - AFP
01:56 AM
LA County introduces 'safer-at-home order'
Los Angeles County on Friday announced a temporary ban on gatherings of people from different households under a new "safer-at-home order" triggered by a spike in Covid-19 cases, with religious services and protests exempt.
The order affecting the United States' second-largest city will begin on Monday and last at least three weeks, until December 20, the county's public health department said.
"In the new Order that goes into effect on Monday, residents are advised to stay home as much as possible," said a statement."All public and private gatherings with individuals not in your household are prohibited, except for faith based services and protests, which are constitutionally protected rights," it added.
Ventilator tubes are attached a Covid-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles - AP
Urgent plans to prevent Christmas getaway chaos are being prepared by ministers amid fears that huge numbers of people will be unable to join their families during the five-day festive relaxation of restrictions.
Towns and villages near Covid hotspots would be lifted out of the toughest restrictions under plans being drawn up by ministers to quell a growing Tory backlash.
As England's new Covid tier system teetered on the brink of plunging 23 million people into Tier 3 MPs from the Tory shires to the "Red Wall" appeared dangerously close to the edge on Friday.
An analysis by the Telegraph shows that the new rules, which have divided communities down county lines all over the country, are anything but clear.
Many were jubilant at the news of five days of relative freedom, but some Sage scientists have suggested that families should be more reserved than Covid "bubble" guidelines allow.
The public will be told to call NHS 111 to book "urgent" slots in Accident and Emergency departments rather than just turning up in a bid to reduce overcrowding this winter.
