More than 10 million download NHS Covid app since launch
More than 10 million people have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app since it launched on Thursday, the Health Secretary has said.
Public Health England
Let university students go home for Christmas, Labour urges Government
University students must be allowed to return home to their families at Christmas, Labour has said, amid fears that coronavirus outbreaks could keep young people in halls when term ends.
Warning over dire consequences of Covid and flu ‘co-infection’
People should “not be complacent” over flu, experts have said as new research has shown dire consequences of co-infection of flu and Covid -19.
Smoking quit rate in 2020 ‘highest in more than a decade’
The proportion of people who have successfully quit smoking this year is at its highest in more than a decade, new figures show.
Johnson urged to act ‘sooner rather than later’ to curb Covid surge
Ministers need to act “sooner rather than later” if they are to prevent a new surge in coronavirus cases leading to more deaths, a scientist has warned.
Ministers consider new Covid controls as cases rise
Ministers are considering tough new coronavirus restrictions as Boris Johnson said the long-feared the second wave of the pandemic has arrived in the UK.
Issue with Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing service hits Covid-19 data
An issue with Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform has sparked system problems for organisations in the UK, including Public Health England’s (PHE) coronavirus case dashboard.
UK must act fast to stop Covid-19 cases growing exponentially – academic
The UK needs to act fast to stop coronavirus cases growing out of control, with a delay of even a few days potentially “dangerous”, according to an academic who advises the Government.
Concerns over rise in coronavirus cases in care homes
Concerns are growing over an increase in Covid-19 cases in care homes, prompting the Government to send an alert to care providers to highlight the rising rates and to call for action.
Virus affecting sugar beet crops could be tackled with banned pesticides
Banned pesticides could be used to tackle an outbreak of a virus spread by aphids that is harming sugar beet crops, Environment Secretary George Eustice has said.
Progress to help 1.4 million obese children ‘slow’, report says
Childhood obesity is rising and progress tackling the issue has been “slow”, according to a new report.
Children who attended school in summer at ‘no greater risk’ of catching Covid-19
Younger children who went to school during lockdown were at no greater risk of contracting Covid-19 than those staying at home, a study suggests.
Teachers more likely to get Covid on a coffee break – Harries
Teachers are more likely to get Covid-19 on their coffee break than in a classroom, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said.
30 Covid-19 outbreaks occurred in schools reopened in June, analysis shows
There were 30 outbreaks of coronavirus in English schools after they reopened, analysis has found.
Population-wide coronavirus testing planned
The Government aims to introduce population-wide testing for coronavirus, the Health Secretary has said.
Flu jab rate ‘needs to improve’
Uptake for the flu jab “needs to improve”, according to official documents.
Public Health England replaced with new body
The Government is to press ahead with controversial plans to scrap Public Health England (PHE), the Health Secretary has announced.
National Institute for Health Protection launched to ‘fight health threats’
The Government is to press ahead with controversial plans to break up Public Health England (PHE), the Health Secretary has announced.
‘Irresponsible’ breaking up of Public Health England expected to be announced
Plans to break up Public Health England in the middle of a pandemic are “irresponsible” and “risky”, Labour has said.
What is Public Health England?
Public Health England is expected to be axed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Covid-19: Future of public health to be revealed
The future of public health in England is set to be announced later by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Boss ‘sorry beyond words’ after details on Public Health England’s future leaked
The head of Public Health England (PHE) has apologised to staff that news of the demise of the organisation was leaked.
Government under fire over plans to ‘axe’ Public Health England
Ministers have been accused of seeking to deflect attention from their own handling of the coronavirus crisis after reports Public Health England (PHE) is to be broken up.
Public Health England ‘facing the axe’ over Covid-19 response
Public Health England (PHE) is to be scrapped and replaced by a new organisation set up specifically to deal with a pandemic, it has been reported.
Why has the Covid-19 daily death toll been revised?
A review of how Covid-19 deaths are calculated in England has reduced the UK death toll by more than 5,000.
Johnson insists it will be safe for England’s schools to reopen
Boris Johnson insisted it will be safe for children to return to school in England in September despite reports a study has found secondary school pupils transmit coronavirus like adults do.
‘Door knocks’ a possibility for Covid-19 contacts as 6,000 staff cut
People who have been in contact with confirmed coronavirus cases may get a knock on their door if tracers are unable to reach them over the phone.
Questions answered on the science behind Covid-19 and schools
Children are said to be “very minor players” in the transmission of coronavirus and opening schools would “add little” to the reproduction rate of infection, a leading expert has said.
Saturday scorcher as summer heatwave continues
Britons are enjoying a scorching Saturday as temperatures surged once again.
Hot and sticky nights on the way as heatwave continues
Parts of the UK could see record-breaking overnight temperatures this weekend as the mini heatwave continues.