UK

Fully vaccinated people in England will be able to travel to an amber list country without having to quarantine on their return “later this summer”, the government plans. When the new exemption for those who have had two COVID jabs comes into force, the guidance that people should only travel to amber list countries for

The government is due to deliver its latest travel advice on Thursday after Matt Hancock gave fresh hope to the prospect of summer holidays this year. Ministers will reveal which, if any, countries are to move to the quarantine-free green list and those which travelling to continues to be banned or restricted. It comes as

The UK has reported 16,135 new COVID-19 cases and another 19 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. This is the highest number of daily infections since 6 February when 18,262 were announced. The latest figures compare with 11,625 new infections and 27 fatalities recorded yesterday. Some 9,055 cases and nine

COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses could result in a “perfect storm” this winter, ruining plans to deal with the backlog of patients needing NHS care. Some 78% of NHS trust leaders in England are extremely or moderately concerned about the operational pressures their trust faces this winter, according to a survey by NHS Providers. Among the

The UK has reported 11,625 new COVID cases – the highest since mid-February – and 27 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. The figures compare with 10,633 new infections and five fatalities announced on Monday. Another 21,080 people received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine yesterday, while 39,325 people

Quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for people who have been fully vaccinated is “absolutely something” the government is “working on”, the health secretary has told Sky News. “This hasn’t been clinically advised yet, we’re working on it,” Matt Hancock said. “When I’m in a position to be able to say something then we will

The prime minister has said it is “looking good” for 19 July to be the “terminus point” for England’s coronavirus restrictions – but did not rule out the prospect of further lockdowns in the winter. “You can never exclude that there will be some new disease, some new horror that we simply haven’t budgeted for

Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit are involved in a new campaign encouraging more young people to get their coronavirus jab. The social networks have teamed up with the government as it pushes ahead with the final stage of the vaccine rollout. New data shows that one million vaccine appointments were booked in the two days

The UK could open up “sooner rather than later” thanks to the huge numbers of people being vaccinated – and we are not experiencing a third wave of infections, an expert has told Sky News. Brendan Wren, professor of vaccinology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that having more than 81%

Former Conservative MP and Commons Speaker John Bercow has said he has switched allegiances to join the Labour Party. Mr Bercow, who stepped down as Speaker in 2019, said he regards the Tories under Boris Johnson as “reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic”. “I am motivated by support for equality, social justice and internationalism.

People who have had both COVID-19 jabs and come into contact with someone infected may not have to self-isolate for 10 days in the future, a public health expert has suggested. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, says Britain may follow the US which has changed its quarantine guidance for

The UK’s longest-known coronavirus patient has died after choosing to withdraw from treatment, his wife has confirmed. Jason Kelk, 49, had spent more than 13 months in intensive care at St James’ Hospital in Leeds after contracting coronavirus in March last year. He was transferred to a hospice this morning and died surrounded by his

The Delta variant now accounts for almost all of the UK’s coronavirus cases, according to Public Health England. Some 33,630 cases of the strain were recorded in the last week and PHE said “the most recent data show 99% of sequenced and genotyped cases across the country are the Delta variant”. Last week, the Delta

Boris Johnson’s Tories have suffered a humiliating by-election defeat as the Liberal Democrats secured a historic win in Chesham and Amersham. Lib Dem Sarah Green is the country’s newest MP after winning the seat, which has been a Conservative stronghold since its creation in 1974. The contest was triggered by the death of former Cabinet

The government is considering relaxing restrictions surrounding international travel for Britons who have had both coronavirus vaccines. A government spokesperson has told Sky News that it is “working with industry for a safe return to international travel, guided by one overwhelming priority – public health”. They added: “Recognising the strong strategic rationale and success of

Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi should have been identified as a threat on the night of his attack – and it is “highly likely” more lives could have been saved, an inquiry has found. Sir John Saunders, who is chairing the probe into the 2017 terror attack, said “more should have been done” by police