THE UK has suffered its worst day for coronavirus deaths ever, new data has revealed.
1,610 people died in the UK within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test according to data gathered in the past 24 hours.
The horror figures come as Scotland extended its lockdown with schools to remain closed until at least mid-February.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that transmission of the virus appeared to be declining but was still too high to ease restrictions.
Follow the very latest news, updates and analysis of the coronavirus crisis in our live blog below.
- Debbie White
WHICH! REACTS TO HSBC BANK CLOSURES
HSBC plans to axe 82 branches in Britain this year after a drop in footfall during the Covid pandemic, and a surge in digital banking, the bank said on Tuesday.
The pandemic has dented bank finances, putting pressure on lenders to cut costs, it said.
Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: “Huge swathes of the bank branch network have disappeared in recent years.
"And while coronavirus has accelerated the shift to online banking for some, it’s vulnerable people and those living in rural locations who rely on face-to-face banking that will lose out."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
ASDA STORE TURNED INTO VACCINATION CENTRE
An Asda store in Birmingham is the first of its kind to be turned into a Covid vaccine centre.
The supermarket was selected by NHS England to operate a vaccination centre from an in-store pharmacy in Birmingham.
The NHS will select people to come in for the vaccine through their priority selection process, they will then receive their appointment from the NHS to come the store and then trained Asda pharmacists will deliver the jab.
Asda president Roger Burnley said: “We are incredibly proud to provide this service and are keen to do all we can to help the NHS and Government accelerate the rollout of the vaccination programme.
Credit: SnapperSK - Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
SCOTTISH VACCINE SAGA
More than 400,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have yet to be given to patients despite having arrived in Scotland, the Tories have claimed.
Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson said so far the Scottish Government had received 717,000 doses of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines – but claimed crucially that well over half of these had not yet been used.
She challenged the First Minister on the issue as Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scotland's lockdown would continue until the middle of February at least.
Ms Sturgeon also insisted that Scotland was not behind target in vaccinating people – as she accused the UK Government of "briefing and spinning misleading figures on supply".
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
COST OF CORONAVIRUS
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
13% DIFFERENCE IN VACCINATIONS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND WALES
There is a 13 per cent difference in the amount of people who have been vaccinated in England and Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, health spokesman for Plaid Cymru, told the Senedd that First Minister Mark Drakeford had tried to "brush off" suggestions that Wales was "lagging behind" other parts of the UK in its vaccination programme.
"But whilst the 6.6 per cent of the population vaccinated in England may not sound much bigger than 4.8 per cent vaccinated in Wales or Scotland, that's a 13% difference in the number of people vaccinated, and that needs to be addressed right now," he said.
Mr ap Iorwerth said it was "crucial" that regular updates were provided detailing how much of each of the two vaccines available – Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca – had been given to each UK nation.
"We need to be absolutely sure that we are getting our share of the easier-to-use AstraZeneca vaccine, for example," he said.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
842 MORE HOSPITAL DEATHS IN ENGLAND
A further 842 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 62,295, NHS England said on Tuesday.
Patients were aged between 28 and 104. All except 35, aged between 54 and 94, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between December 4 and January 18, with the majority being on or after January 11.
There were 37 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
ELDERLY COUPLE REUINTED AFTER THREE MONTHS APART
An elderly couple married for 70 years were finally reunited after three months apart due to the pandemic.
Roger Bulley, 93, was hospitalised back in November after he fell at home and broke his hip.
While he was being treated there his wife, Sadie, 91, was put in the Caprera care home in St Austell, Cornwall, as she suffers with dementia.
She was unable to visit Roger in nearby Falmouth due to coronavirus.
But the pair have now finally been reunited after three months apart – the longest time they have ever been away from each other.
- Patrick Knox
SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY
Updating MSPs in Holyrood, First Minister Sturgeon said the risks of community transmission of Covid-19 had forced the Cabinet to delay the opening.
Initially, schools were meant to emerge from Scotland's second lockdown on February 1.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The Cabinet decided today that – except for vulnerable and key worker children – school and nursery premises will remain closed until mid-February."
The situation will be reviewed on February 2, the First Minister said, adding: "If it is at all possible, as I very much hope it will be, to begin even a phased return to in-school learning in mid-February, we will."
Nicola Sturgeon briefing at Scottish Parliament todayCredit: Scottish Parliament TV - Patrick Knox
‘CHINA SHOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER ON COVID’
An independent panel, set up by to investigate the global response to the coronavirus, said Chinese officials should have applied public health measures more forcefully in January to curb the initial Covid-19 outbreak.
It also criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until January 30 — by which time the cat was out of the bag and the virus was spreading across the globe.
- Patrick Knox
VIRUS-HIT DOHERTY: I NEARLY DIED
Paddy Doherty revealed doctors told him he was hours away from dying after falling seriously ill with Covid.
At first the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star, 61, refused to go to hospital but medics warned him he could die.
Paddy explained: "I was getting worse. I had sweats, pains, exhaustion and headaches. I was in a bit of a mess.
"The paramedics arrived and said they needed to take me into hospital but I didn't want to go but they insisted because they were really worried for me.
"They said, 'If you don't go in you may not wake up tomorrow'."
Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty praises NHS Staff after being released from hospital
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
SIGNS PFIZER JAB COULD STOP TRANSMISSION
Early signs show the Pfizer Covid vaccine could curb transmission of the virus, according to an expert.
An Israeli scientist said it was unlikely people who had both shots of the vaccine would carry the virus – a huge boost for cutting cases of Covid.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MORE THAN 100 FINES AND WARNINGS ISSUED OVER WEEKEND
More than 100 fines and warnings have been issued to lockdown flouters over the weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday alone, 31 fines were issued along with 96 warnings.
Assistant Chief Constable Julie Wvendth said: "We continue to see a minority who, despite being aware of the rules, choose to ignore them.
"It is these such cases where people blatantly breach the rules where we will take action.
"Officers will of course use their discretion and take account of individual circumstances.
"But we must all remember these rules are in place to protect us all and only work effectively if we all follow them."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
COVIDIOT FINED FOR 60 MILE FISH AND CHIP RUN
A Covidiot was hit by a fine from police after popping out to buy fish and chips – over 60 MILES away from his hometown.
The man was caught out as he attempted to drive the 130-mile round trip from Mildenhall, Suffolk, to Scratby, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, for the classic tasty seaside meal.
He is one of a whopping 65 people who have been fined by Norfolk Police in the last four days alone, since last Friday (January 15) – with a further 82 people receiving warnings in the same amount of time.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
BEACHGOERS COULD BE MADE TO WEAR MASKS
Visitors to a popular seafront could now be made to wear masks after crowds flocked there at the weekend.
Councillors are considering the new rules after thousands visited the beach at Southsea, Hants, making it difficult to socially distance.
Enforcing one way systems is a another possibility.
Portsmouth City Council had previously hired a drone to monitor footfall on the seafront amid concerns of people flouting lockdown laws.
Aerial footage released last week showed groups of people walking along the promenade and congregating on the beach, which prompted complaints to the council.
In response the council deployed marshals, put up signs urging people to follow government guidelines and removed some benches along the promenade.
Some stretches of road on the seafront have also been closed off, and further closures are being considered.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
LATE XMAS REGISTRATION SAW DEATHS DOUBLE
The number of registered deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales has almost doubled in a week, following delayed registrations over the Christmas period, new figures have shown.
There were 17,751 deaths from all causes registered in the week ending January 8 – a "sharp increase" from the previous seven days, the Office for National Statistics said.
Of these, 6,057 mentioned "novel coronavirus" on the death certificate – up 92.7% from the previous week.
The ONS said the figures should be interpreted with caution as the Boxing Day and New Year's Day bank holidays will have affected numbers previously registered.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
HANCOCK PLAYED RUGBY MATCH BEFORE BEING TOLD TO ISOLATE
Matt Hancock is self-isolating again – days after being spotted in a London park with his family.
He has to stay inside until at least Sunday after being in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
In a tweet Mr Hancock said he would be working from home, adding "we all have a part to play in getting this virus under control" and vowed that together Britain could beat the virus.
He said: "So you must follow these rules like I'm going to.
"I've got to work from home for the next six days, and together, by doing this, by following this, and all the other panoply of rules that we've had to put in place, we can get through this and beat this virus."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
25K COVID CARE HOME DEATHS
The number of deaths involving Covid-19 that have occurred inside UK care homes has passed 25,000, new analysis by the PA news agency shows.
A total of 21,621 Covid-19 deaths in care homes in England and Wales had been registered up to January 8 2021, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics.
Separate figures published last week by the National Records of Scotland showed that 2,768 care home deaths had been registered in Scotland up to January 10.
And in Northern Ireland, 619 care home deaths had been registered up to January 8, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Taken together, these totals mean there have now been 25,008 deaths in care homes in the UK where Covid-19 appeared on the death certificate.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
TWO COPPERS COVID POSITIVE AFTER POLICING LOCKDOWN PROTEST
Two police officers have been struck down with Covid-19 days after they had to deal with protesters at an anti-lockdown demonstration.
The unnamed PCs became ill after the rally in Bournemouth, Dorset, are now self-isolating at home.
The male and female officers, aged 40 and 34 respectively, are said to be "really unwell" having been "knocked for six" by coronavirus.
The news has led to renewed calls for frontline police officers to moved up the vaccination priority list.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
WHICH REGION OF THE UK HAS THE MOST COVID ANTIBODIES?
The percentage testing positive for Covid-19 antibodies in each region was as follows:
- Yorkshire and the Humber 16.8%
- London 16.4%
- North West 15.1%
- West Midlands 14.3%
- East Midlands 12.7%
- North East 12.5%
- South East 8.3%
- East of England 8.1%
- South West 4.9%
REGIONAL APPROACH COULD BE TAKEN TO SCHOOLS RE-OPENING
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries has suggested that a regional approach may be taken when deciding how schools in England reopen.
When asked whether there could be a regional or phased system for reopening schools after the latest lockdown, Dr Harries said: "I think it's likely that we will have some sort of regional separation of interventions."
She added: "So I think on the broad epidemiology it is highly likely that when we come out of this national lockdown we will not have consistent patterns of infection in our communities across the country.
"And therefore, as we had prior to the national lockdown, it may well be possible that we need to have some differential application."
ALDI WORKERS BAG WELL-DESERVED PAY RISE
Discount supermarket chain Aldi has delivered a new year pay rise for its 30,000 store staff and revealed plans to recruit another 4,000 shop workers over the year ahead.
The German-owned retailer said it will increase its national minimum hourly pay rate for store employees to £9.55 from February 1, from £9.40.
Those who work inside the M25 will earn at least £11.07 an hour, up from £10.90.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MORE THAN 6,000 DEATHS IN FIRST WEEK OF JAN
A total of 6,057 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending January 8 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics.
This is up from 3,144 deaths in the week to January 1 and is the highest weekly figure since the week ending April 24.
The ONS said the number of registrations will have been affected by the Boxing Day and New Year's Day bank holidays.
More than a third (34.1%) of all deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to January 8 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
ONE IN EIGHT BATTLED COVID
Around one in eight people in private households in England are estimated to have had coronavirus by December 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics.
This is up from an estimated one in 11 people in November and one in 14 in October.
The figures are the proportion of the population who are likely to have tested positive for antibodies to Covid-19, based on blood test results from a sample of people aged 16 and over.
The ONS also found "substantial variation" between regions in England, with 17% of people in private households in Yorkshire & the Humber estimated to have tested positive for antibodies in December, compared with 5% in south-west England.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
ALMOST 100 INCIDENTS OF COVID-SPREADING THREATS TO COPS
Met Police Chief Dame Cressida Dick said there have been 97 incidents where someone has mentioned or threatened Covid before coughing at an officer, with 48 spitting attacks.
Some 126 people have been charged, with nearly two thirds receiving a custodial sentence.
The commissioner said three colleagues, none of whom were police officers, have died after contracting Covid-19, including a police community support officer last week.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MET CHIEF 'BAFFLED' BY COP VACCINE ROLLOUT
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she was "baffled" why frontline officers are not closer to the front of the queue to receive the vaccine.
She told LBC radio: "In cohort five to nine you have people in what I might call my age group and I am baffled really why, but obviously this is a decision that the Government's made so far on the basis of something called the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), who are experts.
"But in many other countries, police officers and law enforcement colleagues are being prioritised and I want my officers to get the vaccination."
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