UK

More than one coronavirus vaccine will be available in the first quarter of 2021, a government scientific adviser has told Sky News. Sir Jeremy Farrar, who sits on the SAGE committee, said: “I think in the first quarter of next year we will have vaccines – will have more than one vaccine.” It is unlikely

Another 16,171 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the UK, with 150 more people having died. The total number of positive coronavirus cases nationwide now stands at 705,428, according to government figures. The death toll, which only includes people who have passed away within 28 days of testing positive for the virus, has reached

New coronavirus restrictions have come into force in England with roughly half the population facing further curbs on their social lives. Vast swathes of the north, London and parts of the south east are now subject to tougher COVID-19 rules. At 6pm on Friday a ban on visiting Wales from areas of high infection came

A team tasked with monitoring a convicted terrorist who went on to kill two people had “no specific training” in handling terror offenders, a court has heard. Usman Khan, 28, was shot dead by police after he fatally stabbed Cambridge University graduates Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, and injured two other people during

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused the government of treating the region as a “sacrificial lamb” and vowed: “We aren’t going to be pushed around anymore.” Leaders in Greater Manchester have rejected being put into the highest category of the government’s new three-tier system for localised COVID-19 restrictions, amid a bitter political row. A

The UK map will be dramatically redrawn today as new coronavirus measures come into force – changing the way millions of people live their lives. Here is what is happening today: Northern Ireland will enter a four-week “circuit breaker” lockdown from 6pm – with pubs and restaurants closed, overnight stays in other homes banned, and

London will face Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions from Saturday. It means millions in the capital will be banned from meeting people from other households indoors, whether that’s in their home or in a pub. Londoners have also been advised to avoid public transport and reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. Please use

Around three-quarters of medics in urgent and acute care believe hospitals are not prepared to cope over the next six months, a survey has found. In addition, just under three-quarters (70%) believe they will not be able to provide the level of care they want over the same period. The findings come from a snapshot

The mayor of Liverpool says pictures of people partying on the street have “shamed” the city. Joe Anderson posted on Twitter: “These pictures shame our city, attacking our brave police officers is unacceptable. “Our health service is creaking, 300 in Hospital and 30 people dead in week. Ignoring these facts is why we are in

Sir Keir Starmer has called for a two to three week “circuit breaker” lockdown in England as he accused the government of having “lost control” of the coronavirus pandemic. The Labour leader urged the prime minister to “act now” and “break the cycle” of COVID-19 infections, as he warned the country could soon “sleep walk

The government may need to “go even further” and introduce stricter measures to combat a rise in coronavirus cases in high-risk areas, a minister has told Sky News. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Kay Burley there was “a lot of work to do” in the fight against COVID-19 and “we’re going to be living with

Boris Johnson has confirmed a new three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions is going to be introduced in England – with Liverpool’s pubs and bars to close as a result of the city being put under the strictest rules. The country will be divided into three Local COVID Alert Levels – “medium”, “high” and “very high”

The aim of the government’s new three-tier coronavirus lockdown system is to get the virus under control by the new year – and hopefully before Christmas – a minister has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The purpose of doing this is to ensure that we get the virus

Boris Johnson is gathering cabinet ministers for a call as he prepares to unveil a new three-tier lockdown system. The prime minister is briefing his top team this evening and is expected to reveal his plan to impose tougher restrictions on parts of England tomorrow. Under the draft blueprint, pubs and bars could be closed

Millions of people could be banned from mixing inside and outside and thousands of pubs might be forced to close under new coronavirus restrictions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to outline a new three-tiered system of restrictions on Monday, with measures expected to force pubs and restaurants to shut across the north of England.

Ministers are facing a backlash from leaders in the north of England over fresh coronavirus lockdowns, which they say risk “severe redundancies” and business closures in the run-up to Christmas. Their comments come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to outline a new three-tiered system of measures to MPs on Monday with plans expected