UK

“We just all hope that we will live, and come out of it,” says Tony Brown, a 73-year-old lorry driver, clinging to life in Barnet Hospital. He spoke for every patient in the room – some of them unconscious or wearing CPAP masks, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Nurses describe the high-pressure masks

It is still a “long, long, long way” before coronavirus cases are low enough for lockdown to be lifted, the health secretary has told Sky News. Matt Hancock said “early evidence” shows tough restrictions around the UK are starting to bring the number of new infections down, but he warned the NHS remains under “enormous”

Homes have been flooded and residents left in tears after defence barriers were breached in a town previously devastated by flooding last year. Bewdley in Worcestershire, which was hit by severe flooding last February, saw its temporary flood barrier overwhelmed overnight. Fire and rescue services have been out in boats helping people stuck in their

We’re stood in the same spot, in the same level of dirty flood water, as we were reporting from 11 months ago. Collapsed plastic barriers and rubbish float by, as the one diesel water pump that’s still working struggles in vain against the force of the River Severn in Bewdley. Residents who had their homes

The COVID-19 variant that was first identified in the UK may be more deadly than the original virus, the prime minister has warned. At the Downing Street news conference on Friday, Boris Johnson said: “There is some evidence that the new variant may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.” Mr Johnson added: “All

The percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in England has decreased slightly but remains high, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Around 1 in 55 people who are not in care homes, hospitals or other institutional settings had the virus in the week ending 16 January. In the last

Debbie Mountjoy couldn’t be with her brother Darren as he lay in intensive care with coronavirus. Nurses clutched his hand and stroked his head in the final moments of his life. Debbie had contracted COVID-19 herself and was self-isolating, along with nine other members of her family who had tested positive. The family has been

A new £800 fine for those who flout coronavirus rules by attending house parties will come into force next week. The penalty will apply to all those caught at the gatherings where more than 15 people are present, and double for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £6,400. Home Secretary Priti Patel told

About 2,000 properties in Greater Manchester were being evacuated overnight due to flooding from Storm Christoph – as heavy snow also hit the region. Four severe “danger to life” warnings are in place in the North West, including in West Didsbury, East Disbury and Northenden, and in Maghull in Merseyside. There’s also a severe flood

Parts of the UK could see two months’ worth of average rainfall in just two-and-a-half days as Storm Christoph moves across the country. Heavy rain is set to bring significant flooding, while some areas can also expect high winds and snow. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings of heavy rain for much of the

Boris Johnson has told MPs he will chair a meeting of the COBRA emergency committee in response to Storm Christoph. The prime minister addressed the Commons amid warnings the UK could see two months’ worth of average rainfall in just two-and-a-half days as the storm moves across the country. Heavy rain is set to bring

A further 1,610 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 – the highest number of UK deaths on a single day since the outbreak began. Meanwhile, a further 33,355 confirmed coronavirus cases were also recorded in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England (PHE). That compares with figures released

At least one in eight people in England had had COVID-19 by December last year, new survey data estimates. The figures for private households come from the Office for National Statistic’s COVID-19 Infection Survey in partnership with the University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Public Health England and Wellcome Trust. They are based on the

The youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing could have survived if she had received faster medical treatment from paramedics, the inquiry has heard. Police officers were reduced to shouting over the radio in their desperation for ambulance staff to come and help them at the scene of the bombing, the inquiry was told. Two

Twenty-four hour vaccination sites will be piloted in London before the end of January, the vaccines minister has said. Speaking to Sky News, Nadhim Zahawi said the NHS will be “targeting forensically who we want to protect” to ensure the most vulnerable people can be vaccinated first. He said that as there is “limited supply”

Those aged over 70 and the clinically extremely vulnerable will be invited to receive coronavirus vaccinations starting this week. More than 3.8 million people, including those over 80, care home residents, and NHS staff, have already had the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But from Monday, the programme will be rolled out for the