The cost of the Covid Inquiry is projected to be over £196 million. The cost per day is estimated to be £136907. Watch to know more.

UK's Covid investigation an 'eye-watering bill' or a lesson?

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that suggestions that he wanted to allow the Covid-19 virus to 'rip through population' were completely wrong. He refuted the portrayal of partying in downing street during the second day of public questioning calling it 'absurd'.

Former UK PM Boris Johnson denies Covid allegations, 'Partygate' horrors for Johnson | WION

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (December 6) gave his most explicit apology for his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at the United Kingdom's public COVID-19 inquiry, he said that his government had been too complacent and "vastly underestimated" the risks posed by the deadly virus.&nbsp;

However, his attempts to apologise were met by heckling from demonstrators, who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<h2>Too little too late?</h2>

UK's PA Media news agency&nbsp;reports that as Johnson began to say his apologies, four people holding signs "the dead can't hear your apologies" stood up.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-deeply-sorry-to-families-of-covid-victims-during-inquiry-into-britains-handling-of-pandemic-666817">Boris Johnson says 'deeply sorry' to families of Covid victims at inquiry into Britain's handling of pandemic</a>

One of them, Kathryn Butcher, who lost her sister-in-law Myrna Saunders to Covid, told the UK news agency: "We didn't want his apology. When he tried to apologise, we stood up. We didn't block anybody. We were told to sit down."

Videos of people heckling him as he left the courtroom are circulating on social media, where people can be heard shouting at him.

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Boris Johnson ducks the media and is heckled by protesters as he leaves his first day at the Covid inquiry. Back tomorrow <a href="https://t.co/EanqcM9QuU">pic.twitter.com/EanqcM9QuU</a>
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<h2>Johnson's emotional apology</h2>

Overcome with emotions as he gave evidence, Johnson described 2020 as a "tragic, tragic year".

He said that at first, COVID-19 appeared as a "cloud on the horizon" and not the "typhoon" that killed more than 230,000 people in Britain.

As per the ex-prime minister, initially, he had trouble believing the forecast of fatalities, especially given previous scares like the swine flu pandemic and mad cow disease.

However, he admitted that he had only read minutes of the government's key scientific advisory groups on multiple occasions.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-cyberattacks-explosive-report-now-highlights-radioactive-leak-from-uks-sellafield-nuclear-site-666857">After cyberattacks, explosive report now highlights radioactive leak from UK’s Sellafield nuclear site</a>

Despite that, he denied that he was indecisive, and said there were constant, conflicting arguments between ministers and officials about Covid response. He also said that senior ministers were more reluctant than him to impose restrictions on public movement.

"Can I say that I understand the feelings of the victims and their families, and I am deeply sorry for the pain and the loss and the suffering," he said.

Dismissing the apologies, Aamer Anwar, the solicitor representing some bereaved families, said that Boris Johnson oversaw "a deadly culture of impunity, incompetence". He also alleged that the former PM treated people like "toxic waste".

(With inputs from agencies)

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (December 6) gave his most explicit apology for his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at the United Kingdom's public COVID-19 inquiry, he said that his government had been too complacent and "vastly underestimated" the risks posed by the deadly virus.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (December 6) gave his most explicit apology for his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at the United Kingdom's public COVID-19 inquiry, he said that his government had been too complacent and "vastly underestimated" the risks posed by the deadly virus. However, his attempts to apologise were met by heckling from demonstrators, who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Too little too late? UK's PA Media news agency reports that as Johnson began to say his apologies, four people holding signs "the dead can't hear your apologies" stood up. Also read | Boris Johnson says 'deeply sorry' to families of Covid victims at inquiry into Britain's handling of pandemic One of them, Kathryn Butcher, who lost her sister-in-law Myrna Saunders to Covid, told the UK news agency: "We didn't want his apology. When he tried to apologise, we stood up. We didn't block anybody. We were told to sit down." Videos of people heckling him as he left the courtroom are circulating on social media, where people can be heard shouting at him. Boris Johnson ducks the media and is heckled by protesters as he leaves his first day at the Covid inquiry. Back tomorrow pic.twitter.com/EanqcM9QuU — Hamish Morrison (@HMorrison97) December 6, 2023 × Johnson's emotional apology Overcome with emotions as he gave evidence, Johnson described 2020 as a "tragic, tragic year". He said that at first, COVID-19 appeared as a "cloud on the horizon" and not the "typhoon" that killed more than 230,000 people in Britain. As per the ex-prime minister, initially, he had trouble believing the forecast of fatalities, especially given previous scares like the swine flu pandemic and mad cow disease. However, he admitted that he had only read minutes of the government's key scientific advisory groups on multiple occasions. Also read | After cyberattacks, explosive report now highlights radioactive leak from UK’s Sellafield nuclear site Despite that, he denied that he was indecisive, and said there were constant, conflicting arguments between ministers and officials about Covid response. He also said that senior ministers were more reluctant than him to impose restrictions on public movement. "Can I say that I understand the feelings of the victims and their families, and I am deeply sorry for the pain and the loss and the suffering," he said. Dismissing the apologies, Aamer Anwar, the solicitor representing some bereaved families, said that Boris Johnson oversaw "a deadly culture of impunity, incompetence". He also alleged that the former PM treated people like "toxic waste". (With inputs from agencies)

Boris Johnson's apologies over COVID-19 pandemic handling met with signs of 'dead can't hear'. Watch!

Retail sales have experienced an unexpected dip, marking the lowest level since the 2021 Covid-19 lockdowns. This downturn echoes a broader narrative, suggesting a shared challenge faced by economies worldwide.

UK retail sales plunge 0.3% amid economic challenges | World Business Watch

Former senior advisors of UK’s then prime minister Boris Johnson have slammed the leader over mishandling of the Covid crisis.

On Tuesday (Oct 31), both were summoned to testify against Johnson in the COVID-19 public inquiry that was set up to examine the government’s response to the pandemic.

The inquiry, which is chaired by retired senior judge Heather Hallett, is examining decision-making and political governance. In the first phase, it focused on the UK's resilience and preparedness.

Dominic Cummings, Johnson's ex-top aide, and Lee Cain, Downing Street's former communications chief, were critical of Johnson’s attitude when the country was facing one of its worst crises, especially during mid-July 2021 when Britain officially recorded nearly 130,000 fatalities.

During the hearing, Cummings was shown a host of disparaging WhatsApp messages in which he called his former colleagues “useless f***pigs, morons and c***s”, reports Independent.

<h2>Johnson was called a trolley&nbsp;</h2>

Cummings also reiterated past descriptions of Johnson as a broken shopping "trolley" that would veer in all directions on issues, most notably Covid.

"Pretty much everyone called him a trolley," Cummings told the inquiry.

The former top aide candidly admitted that the government’s response during the pandemic featured "widespread failure" alongside "pockets of excellent teams doing excellent work within an overall dysfunctional system".

Former communications chief Cain said that Covid was the "wrong crisis" for Johnson's skill set, admitting that he became "exhausted" by his alleged indecision in dealing with the pandemic in early 2020.

<h2>Johnson was indecisive&nbsp;</h2>

"He's somebody who would often delay making decisions, would often seek counsel from multiple sources and change his mind on issues," Cain said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-to-cremate-former-premier-li-keqiang-in-beijing-on-thursday-653612">China to cremate former premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Thursday</a>

He said that can be "a great strength" in politics, but the pandemic response required "quick decisions" and "people to hold the course" and "not constantly unpick things".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/survey-44-of-canadians-say-theres-too-much-immigration-to-country-653599">Survey finds 44% of Canadians say there's too much immigration, reflects criticism of Trudeau govt's policy</a>

When asked about expletive-filled messages from Cummings to Cain in early 2020 criticising Johnson's performance, the former communications chief acknowledged that the prime minister frustrated his senior aides.

"Anyone that's worked with the prime minister for a period of time will become exhausted with him sometimes," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former senior advisors of UK’s then prime minister Boris Johnson have slammed the leader over mishandling of the Covid crisis. On Tuesday (Oct 31), both were summoned to testify against Johnson in the COVID-19 public inquiry that was set up to examine the government’s response to the pandemic.

Former senior advisors of UK’s then prime minister Boris Johnson have slammed the leader over mishandling of the Covid crisis. On Tuesday (Oct 31), both were summoned to testify against Johnson in the COVID-19 public inquiry that was set up to examine the government’s response to the pandemic. The inquiry, which is chaired by retired senior judge Heather Hallett, is examining decision-making and political governance. In the first phase, it focused on the UK's resilience and preparedness. Dominic Cummings, Johnson's ex-top aide, and Lee Cain, Downing Street's former communications chief, were critical of Johnson’s attitude when the country was facing one of its worst crises, especially during mid-July 2021 when Britain officially recorded nearly 130,000 fatalities. During the hearing, Cummings was shown a host of disparaging WhatsApp messages in which he called his former colleagues “useless f***pigs, morons and c***s”, reports Independent. Johnson was called a trolley Cummings also reiterated past descriptions of Johnson as a broken shopping "trolley" that would veer in all directions on issues, most notably Covid. "Pretty much everyone called him a trolley," Cummings told the inquiry. The former top aide candidly admitted that the government’s response during the pandemic featured "widespread failure" alongside "pockets of excellent teams doing excellent work within an overall dysfunctional system". Former communications chief Cain said that Covid was the "wrong crisis" for Johnson's skill set, admitting that he became "exhausted" by his alleged indecision in dealing with the pandemic in early 2020. Johnson was indecisive "He's somebody who would often delay making decisions, would often seek counsel from multiple sources and change his mind on issues," Cain said. Also read | China to cremate former premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Thursday He said that can be "a great strength" in politics, but the pandemic response required "quick decisions" and "people to hold the course" and "not constantly unpick things". Also read | Survey finds 44% of Canadians say there's too much immigration, reflects criticism of Trudeau govt's policy When asked about expletive-filled messages from Cummings to Cain in early 2020 criticising Johnson's performance, the former communications chief acknowledged that the prime minister frustrated his senior aides. "Anyone that's worked with the prime minister for a period of time will become exhausted with him sometimes," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ex-advisors slam Boris Johnson over handling of Covid pandemic during public hearing

If you thought that the Covid-19 pandemic is over then think again. In the month of May, the WHO said that Covid is no longer a 'global emergency', now there is a spike in the infections around the world in just four months and UK is facing the brunt of it with a new Covid variant spreading - Pirola.

UK: New Covid variant 'Pirola' cases jump to at least 37 | Pirola to become next dominant variant

In this global news, COVID-19 pandemic is long gone but it looks like the virus is still continuing to haunt the United Kingdom.

UK: Health agency report shows slight increase in hospital admission

Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. During Hancock's appearance at the Covid Inquiry, King held up posters with pictures of her late husband, actor Vincent Marzello. The posters criticised Hancock for his actions during the pandemic and accused him of blaming everyone but himself for the failings.&nbsp;

<h2>Blame Game</h2>

Outside the Covid enquiry venue, Lorelei King was seen holding two A4 posters for Hancock to see.&nbsp;One of the posters highlighted a photo of Hancock shaking hands with her late husband during a visit to the care home and accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over protecting care homes.&nbsp;"You shook my husband's hand for your photo op," it said.

The other had a picture of her husband's coffin and had the caption "This was my photo op after your 'ring of protection' around care homes."

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Speaking after the hearing, King stated that she did not believe Hancock took responsibility for his failings and accused him of providing misleading information during the inquiry.

As per King, the former UK Health Secretary has been attempting to shift blame onto others, such as blaming systems and the World Health Organization, rather than acknowledging his own mistakes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/profoundly-sorry-for-each-death-says-former-uk-health-secretary-over-covid-pandemic-609297">'Profoundly sorry for each death,' says former UK health secretary over Covid pandemic</a>

She emphasised that his repeated use of phrases like "I was assured" was met with scepticism by the bereaved families present at the inquiry.

"I heard the phrase 'I was assured' or 'I was reassured' so many times that when we heard it again… I mean, among the bereaved families, you could feel people reacting to that.”

<h2>Hancock at the Covid inquiry</h2>

As per the Telegraph, the former UK Health Secretary said he was "profoundly sorry" for every death caused by the coronavirus.

He also claimed to understand why for some it'll be difficult to accept the apology.

"I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me. I understand that, I get it. But it is honest and heartfelt, and I’m not very good at talking about my emotions and how I feel. But that is honest and true."

King and other bereaved families sat through two and a half hours of evidence. Speaking after the hearing, the widow said that she did not accept the apology and alleged that Hancock tried to steer the conversation towards areas where he felt confident, such as the success of vaccines.

However, she praised the Inquiry's counsel, Hugo Keith, for keeping the focus on track.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-in-uk-pandemic-inquiry-set-to-open-today-as-nation-suffers-one-of-the-worst-death-tolls-in-europe-603819">UK Covid inquiry set to open after nation suffered one of the worst death tolls in Europe</a>

"He kept trying to take control of the dialogue, and I thought that's where Hugo Keith, the KC for the Inquiry, was very, very good about keeping them on track."

Talking to the Telegraph, she expressed her lack of respect for Hancock and stated that talk is cheap, and actions matter.&nbsp;

"I have no respect for him. Mr Hancock just seemed to be largely blaming everyone else. He blamed systems. He blamed the WHO. He was simply giving misinformation," said King.

"I don't accept his apology. None of the bereaved that I'm with accept his apology. Talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. I don't have a message to him. I don't believe he's capable of hearing the message. I wouldn't waste my time."

King concluded by saying that her opinion of Hancock had not changed, and she had little respect for him. She maintained that he was not truthful about the supposed ring of protection around care homes.

"My opinion of Mr Hancock has not changed. I don’t have a great deal of respect for him. I don’t believe he was truthful when he talked about a ring of protection around care homes, and I do not forgive him."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
​​​​​​​

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Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. During Hancock's appearance at the Covid Inquiry, King held up posters with pictures of her late husband, actor Vincent Marzello. The posters criticised Hancock for his actions during the pandemic and accused him of blaming everyone but himself for the failings. Blame Game Outside the Covid enquiry venue, Lorelei King was seen holding two A4 posters for Hancock to see. One of the posters highlighted a photo of Hancock shaking hands with her late husband during a visit to the care home and accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over protecting care homes. "You shook my husband's hand for your photo op," it said. The other had a picture of her husband's coffin and had the caption "This was my photo op after your 'ring of protection' around care homes." Speaking after the hearing, King stated that she did not believe Hancock took responsibility for his failings and accused him of providing misleading information during the inquiry. As per King, the former UK Health Secretary has been attempting to shift blame onto others, such as blaming systems and the World Health Organization, rather than acknowledging his own mistakes. Also read | 'Profoundly sorry for each death,' says former UK health secretary over Covid pandemic She emphasised that his repeated use of phrases like "I was assured" was met with scepticism by the bereaved families present at the inquiry. "I heard the phrase 'I was assured' or 'I was reassured' so many times that when we heard it again… I mean, among the bereaved families, you could feel people reacting to that.” Hancock at the Covid inquiry As per the Telegraph, the former UK Health Secretary said he was "profoundly sorry" for every death caused by the coronavirus. He also claimed to understand why for some it'll be difficult to accept the apology. "I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me. I understand that, I get it. But it is honest and heartfelt, and I’m not very good at talking about my emotions and how I feel. But that is honest and true." King and other bereaved families sat through two and a half hours of evidence. Speaking after the hearing, the widow said that she did not accept the apology and alleged that Hancock tried to steer the conversation towards areas where he felt confident, such as the success of vaccines. However, she praised the Inquiry's counsel, Hugo Keith, for keeping the focus on track. Also read | UK Covid inquiry set to open after nation suffered one of the worst death tolls in Europe "He kept trying to take control of the dialogue, and I thought that's where Hugo Keith, the KC for the Inquiry, was very, very good about keeping them on track." Talking to the Telegraph, she expressed her lack of respect for Hancock and stated that talk is cheap, and actions matter. "I have no respect for him. Mr Hancock just seemed to be largely blaming everyone else. He blamed systems. He blamed the WHO. He was simply giving misinformation," said King. "I don't accept his apology. None of the bereaved that I'm with accept his apology. Talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. I don't have a message to him. I don't believe he's capable of hearing the message. I wouldn't waste my time." King concluded by saying that her opinion of Hancock had not changed, and she had little respect for him. She maintained that he was not truthful about the supposed ring of protection around care homes. "My opinion of Mr Hancock has not changed. I don’t have a great deal of respect for him. I don’t believe he was truthful when he talked about a ring of protection around care homes, and I do not forgive him." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Widow of James Bond actor accuses former UK Health Minister of misdirecting Covid inquiry

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for Conservative member on the privileges committee to resign, he claimed the Tory MP Bernard Jenkin himself attended a birthday party in Parliament during Covid restrictions.

Former UK PM Boris Johnson calls for Tory MP on panel to resign, targets Partygate panel member

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims he has provided the UK government with all of the WhatsApp chats and notebooks requested by the Covid-19 investigation. Mr. Johnson is pressing the administration to provide the evidence to the inquiry in its entirety, with no redactions.

UK: Row over Boris Johnson's Covid investigations, former PM says 'have handed over material'

The role revolving around former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is deepening as the inquiry panel investigating the Covid gatherings in Number 10 demands that WhatsApp messages and diary entries should be revealed. The chair of the panel has also threatened to launch legal action against the UK government if they fail to release all the details required.

UK: Boris Johnson's Covid breach inquiry threatens legal action | World News | WION

UK govt says its supplying all relevant material on Boris Johnson's Covid breach inquiry

Starting next year, the UK will stop publishing its regular Covid infection data as the country transitions towards the phase of “living with the virus” while heavily relying on vaccines and medicines.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that from Monday they will start treating Covid like other common viral illnesses such as seasonal flu and stop publishing the data on the reproductive rate, or the R-value, which measures the speed at which the coronavirus infects people.

The R-value of the monitoring data has been published&nbsp;fortnightly as a monitoring tool.

“Now that vaccines and therapeutics have allowed us to move to a phase where we are living with COVID-19, with surveillance scaled down but still closely monitored through a number of different indicators, the publication of this specific data is no longer necessary,” Dr Nick Watkins, chair of the UKHSA Epidemiology Modelling Review Group (EMRG), said in a statement.

After witnessing a long period of ebb in Covid cases, England’s infection rate has been ticking up slightly.

As of Friday, the R range for England was 1-1.2. &nbsp;An R-value of greater than 1 indicates that COVID-19 cases are increasing. An R number of 2, for example, means a person with COVID-19 will infect two other people.

“All data publications are kept under constant review and this modelling data can be reintroduced promptly if needed, for example, if a new Variant of Concern was to be identified,” Watkins added.

UK will continue to publish its weekly flu and COVID-19 surveillance report and infection surveys, he said.

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Starting next year, the UK will stop publishing its regular Covid infection data as the country transitions towards the phase of “living with the virus” while heavily relying on vaccines and medicines.

Starting next year, the UK will stop publishing its regular Covid infection data as the country transitions towards the phase of “living with the virus” while heavily relying on vaccines and medicines. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that from Monday they will start treating Covid like other common viral illnesses such as seasonal flu and stop publishing the data on the reproductive rate, or the R-value, which measures the speed at which the coronavirus infects people. The R-value of the monitoring data has been published fortnightly as a monitoring tool. “Now that vaccines and therapeutics have allowed us to move to a phase where we are living with COVID-19, with surveillance scaled down but still closely monitored through a number of different indicators, the publication of this specific data is no longer necessary,” Dr Nick Watkins, chair of the UKHSA Epidemiology Modelling Review Group (EMRG), said in a statement. After witnessing a long period of ebb in Covid cases, England’s infection rate has been ticking up slightly. As of Friday, the R range for England was 1-1.2. An R-value of greater than 1 indicates that COVID-19 cases are increasing. An R number of 2, for example, means a person with COVID-19 will infect two other people. “All data publications are kept under constant review and this modelling data can be reintroduced promptly if needed, for example, if a new Variant of Concern was to be identified,” Watkins added. UK will continue to publish its weekly flu and COVID-19 surveillance report and infection surveys, he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK to stop publishing Covid infection data from New Year

As winter approaches, the United Kingdom is preparing for a rise in flu infections but what is driving the surge in these infections? Some health experts have linked it to the after-effects of the Covid pandemic.

UK suffers post-pandemic immunity gap; flu cases including Strep A on rise

The coronavirus forced Christopher Riley, a 53-year-old with blood cancer who lives in London, to strike a balance in the pursuit of normalcy. He would grab flowers from the buckets next to the entrance of a supermarket, but keep it quick. He went to Tate Modern, but on an early weekday morning. He would cook for friends, but only a small group who had all taken COVID tests.

Those accommodations allowed Riley to maintain something of a normal life as the virus roared through Britain, even though his condition meant that his immune system was compromised.

But now, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday that he was scrapping the coronavirus restrictions in England, Riley and other vulnerable people are afraid that even scaled-back activities will be too risky, leaving them further isolated even as the country opens up for most people.

“Now I can’t see how we can move forward into a sort of normality,” he said, adding that the new approach will push him more into his house. “There is nothing there to protect us.”

A return to regular life was at the heart of Johnson’s decision to roll back the remainder of England’s legally enforceable coronavirus restrictions, in what has been described as an effort to live with the virus. People who are infected will no longer have to isolate, and most testing will no longer be free.

“We must chart a course back towards normality as rapidly as possible,” Johnson said during a news conference Monday.

For Clare Dawson, that path had just been interrupted.

“If there was someone walking around the streets whom you knew might kill you, would you go out?” said Dawson, 41, who lives in London and has a chronic lung disease that puts her at greater risk of severe consequences from COVID-19.

Gemma Peters, CEO of Blood Cancer U.K., a charity that funds research into blood cancer, said that after the prime minister’s announcement, its hotline was overwhelmed with calls from cancer patients asking what the new rules meant for them and whether it would be safe for them to go out.

“We can’t answer all the calls,” Peters said. “People use language like, ‘Society doesn’t care if I die,’ and I think that is the feeling — that they are kind of collateral damage.”

The British government said in a news conference that it would continue to protect the most vulnerable with targeted vaccinations and treatments and that free tests would still be available for vulnerable people, but it acknowledged that lifting the remaining legal curbs would most likely cause a rise in cases.

“Keeping free testing for the vulnerable? That’s too late,” said Trishna Bharadia, 42, who has multiple sclerosis and has been largely isolating at home in Buckinghamshire, England, for the past two years. “The aim should be to prevent the vulnerable from getting COVID in the first place.”

Bharadia said she and her family watched Johnson’s news conference Monday in the living room from where they have watched virtual weddings, funerals and birthday parties they have not been able to attend for the past two years.

“We can only live with the virus if those protection measures continue,” said Bharadia. “Just because I have a health condition, it doesn’t mean that I matter less.”

Still, the trend for fewer restrictions seems clear. On Tuesday, Scotland — which is part of Britain but sets its own COVID policies — also moved to roll back its legal coronavirus restrictions. Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister there, announced plans to lift mask mandates in March and said the country’s COVID certification scheme, which requires people to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test in order to attend large events, would end this month.

And the British government has also withdrawn its guidance in England for staff and students at most schools and nurseries to test twice a week, even if they do not have symptoms. Infected children, just like the adults, will also no longer be legally required to self-isolate, but will be advised to do so.

Experts warned that this could lead children who have a weak immune system or live with vulnerable family members to be excluded from school.

Ceinwen Giles, 47, who developed an immune deficiency after her cancer treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said that her 12-year-old daughter would continue to go to school but is anxious about the likelihood that she may be sitting next to children who might be infected.

“This is how we have to live,” said Giles, who is also joint CEO of Shine Cancer Support, a charity for young adults with cancer. “And no one seems to care.”

In England and Wales, only 16.8% of people who died of COVID from October to December last year did not have a preexisting health condition, according to the British government. For people who have a weaker immune system because of a disease or a treatment, COVID-19 can be more deadly, and vaccines often offer less protection.

Whether or not their condition forced them to take health precautions even before the pandemic, in the last two years many clinically vulnerable people have been forced into nearly total isolation, and even more so as mandates and restrictions have dropped around them. In the United States, many immunocompromised and higher-risk people have also felt left behind by the flurry of lifted restrictions.

“You feel different again,” said Dawson, adding that the new approach from the government had made her feel more alone in the face of the virus and forced to adopt her own precautions, stripped of the equalizing effect of rules.

Ultimately, people with health conditions understand the desire for life to return to normal and say they are not asking for draconian restrictions.

Instead, they say that modest restrictions — like mask mandates in transportation and supermarkets, and isolation requirements for infected people — would make a big difference for the more vulnerable without causing a major disruption to everyone else.

“The mask is just such a small thing,” said Riley, 53. “I can’t wrap my head around how it’s such an issue for people.”

The coronavirus forced Christopher Riley, a 53-year-old with blood cancer who lives in London, to strike a balance in the pursuit of normalcy. He would grab flowers from the buckets next to the entrance of a supermarket, but keep it quick.

The coronavirus forced Christopher Riley, a 53-year-old with blood cancer who lives in London, to strike a balance in the pursuit of normalcy. He would grab flowers from the buckets next to the entrance of a supermarket, but keep it quick. He went to Tate Modern, but on an early weekday morning. He would cook for friends, but only a small group who had all taken COVID tests. Those accommodations allowed Riley to maintain something of a normal life as the virus roared through Britain, even though his condition meant that his immune system was compromised. But now, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday that he was scrapping the coronavirus restrictions in England, Riley and other vulnerable people are afraid that even scaled-back activities will be too risky, leaving them further isolated even as the country opens up for most people. “Now I can’t see how we can move forward into a sort of normality,” he said, adding that the new approach will push him more into his house. “There is nothing there to protect us.” A return to regular life was at the heart of Johnson’s decision to roll back the remainder of England’s legally enforceable coronavirus restrictions, in what has been described as an effort to live with the virus. People who are infected will no longer have to isolate, and most testing will no longer be free. “We must chart a course back towards normality as rapidly as possible,” Johnson said during a news conference Monday. For Clare Dawson, that path had just been interrupted. “If there was someone walking around the streets whom you knew might kill you, would you go out?” said Dawson, 41, who lives in London and has a chronic lung disease that puts her at greater risk of severe consequences from COVID-19. Gemma Peters, CEO of Blood Cancer U.K., a charity that funds research into blood cancer, said that after the prime minister’s announcement, its hotline was overwhelmed with calls from cancer patients asking what the new rules meant for them and whether it would be safe for them to go out. “We can’t answer all the calls,” Peters said. “People use language like, ‘Society doesn’t care if I die,’ and I think that is the feeling — that they are kind of collateral damage.” The British government said in a news conference that it would continue to protect the most vulnerable with targeted vaccinations and treatments and that free tests would still be available for vulnerable people, but it acknowledged that lifting the remaining legal curbs would most likely cause a rise in cases. “Keeping free testing for the vulnerable? That’s too late,” said Trishna Bharadia, 42, who has multiple sclerosis and has been largely isolating at home in Buckinghamshire, England, for the past two years. “The aim should be to prevent the vulnerable from getting COVID in the first place.” Bharadia said she and her family watched Johnson’s news conference Monday in the living room from where they have watched virtual weddings, funerals and birthday parties they have not been able to attend for the past two years. “We can only live with the virus if those protection measures continue,” said Bharadia. “Just because I have a health condition, it doesn’t mean that I matter less.” Still, the trend for fewer restrictions seems clear. On Tuesday, Scotland — which is part of Britain but sets its own COVID policies — also moved to roll back its legal coronavirus restrictions. Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister there, announced plans to lift mask mandates in March and said the country’s COVID certification scheme, which requires people to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test in order to attend large events, would end this month. And the British government has also withdrawn its guidance in England for staff and students at most schools and nurseries to test twice a week, even if they do not have symptoms. Infected children, just like the adults, will also no longer be legally required to self-isolate, but will be advised to do so. Experts warned that this could lead children who have a weak immune system or live with vulnerable family members to be excluded from school. Ceinwen Giles, 47, who developed an immune deficiency after her cancer treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said that her 12-year-old daughter would continue to go to school but is anxious about the likelihood that she may be sitting next to children who might be infected. “This is how we have to live,” said Giles, who is also joint CEO of Shine Cancer Support, a charity for young adults with cancer. “And no one seems to care.” In England and Wales, only 16.8% of people who died of COVID from October to December last year did not have a preexisting health condition, according to the British government. For people who have a weaker immune system because of a disease or a treatment, COVID-19 can be more deadly, and vaccines often offer less protection. Whether or not their condition forced them to take health precautions even before the pandemic, in the last two years many clinically vulnerable people have been forced into nearly total isolation, and even more so as mandates and restrictions have dropped around them. In the United States, many immunocompromised and higher-risk people have also felt left behind by the flurry of lifted restrictions. “You feel different again,” said Dawson, adding that the new approach from the government had made her feel more alone in the face of the virus and forced to adopt her own precautions, stripped of the equalizing effect of rules. Ultimately, people with health conditions understand the desire for life to return to normal and say they are not asking for draconian restrictions. Instead, they say that modest restrictions — like mask mandates in transportation and supermarkets, and isolation requirements for infected people — would make a big difference for the more vulnerable without causing a major disruption to everyone else. “The mask is just such a small thing,” said Riley, 53. “I can’t wrap my head around how it’s such an issue for people.”

For some in England, end of virus rules threatens more isolation

Admitting to having attended the ‘bring your own booze&nbsp;party’ during the first phase of Covid lockdown, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered an apology while speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

He defended his participation at the controversial 2020 gathering in Downing Street, saying he thought that it was a “work event”—an apology derided by British Labour party’s leader Kier Starmer who deemed it “worthless”.

The prime minister said he understands the British public’s “rage” over the incident, but insisted he thought it could have been technically within the rules.

Johnson told the MPs that he attended the May 20th event to “thank groups of staff”, adding that he left the party in 25 minutes.

“I want to apologise. I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months,” Johnson said as calls for his resignation grew louder among the opposition MPs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/uk-mp-breaks-down-over-death-of-mother-in-law-during-lockdown-party-debate-444066">UK MP breaks down over death of mother-in-law during lockdown party debate</a>

“I believed implicitly that this was a work event…With hindsight I should have sent everyone back inside, I should have found some other way to thank them, and I should have recognised that — even if it could have been said technically to fall within the guidance — there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way,” he said.

Starmer, however, continued to demand his resignation saying that it was “ridiculous” that the prime minister “didn’t realise he was at a party”.

Watch |&nbsp;Under fire for lockdown parties, UK PM Boris Johnson grilled in the British Parliament

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/under-fire-for-lockdown-parties-uk-pm-boris-johnson-grilled-in-the-british-parliament-444295/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Johnson said that senior civil servant Sue Gray is investigating the matter to determine what happened.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-to-face-the-music-over-reports-of-holding-booze-party-during-covid-lockdown-443805">UK PM Johnson to face the music over reports of holding booze party during Covid lockdown</a>

During the session, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon who was questioning Johnson over party row, broke down in tears.

According to reports, Shannon started crying for his mother-in-law who had died alone with COVID during the pandemic.

The reports of PM holding a party for his colleagues in the middle of the deadly pandemic was made public by his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds on Monday who claimed that more than 100 staff were invited for the gathering in May 2020.

The revelation triggered massive public outrage, as pressure mounted on Johnson to make full disclosure on his participation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Admitting to having attended the ‘bring your own booze party’ during the first phase of Covid lockdown, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered an apology while speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Admitting to having attended the ‘bring your own booze party’ during the first phase of Covid lockdown, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered an apology while speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday. He defended his participation at the controversial 2020 gathering in Downing Street, saying he thought that it was a “work event”—an apology derided by British Labour party’s leader Kier Starmer who deemed it “worthless”. The prime minister said he understands the British public’s “rage” over the incident, but insisted he thought it could have been technically within the rules. Johnson told the MPs that he attended the May 20th event to “thank groups of staff”, adding that he left the party in 25 minutes. “I want to apologise. I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months,” Johnson said as calls for his resignation grew louder among the opposition MPs. Also read | UK MP breaks down over death of mother-in-law during lockdown party debate “I believed implicitly that this was a work event…With hindsight I should have sent everyone back inside, I should have found some other way to thank them, and I should have recognised that — even if it could have been said technically to fall within the guidance — there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way,” he said. Starmer, however, continued to demand his resignation saying that it was “ridiculous” that the prime minister “didn’t realise he was at a party”. Watch | Under fire for lockdown parties, UK PM Boris Johnson grilled in the British Parliament Johnson said that senior civil servant Sue Gray is investigating the matter to determine what happened. Also read | UK PM Johnson to face the music over reports of holding booze party during Covid lockdown During the session, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon who was questioning Johnson over party row, broke down in tears. According to reports, Shannon started crying for his mother-in-law who had died alone with COVID during the pandemic. The reports of PM holding a party for his colleagues in the middle of the deadly pandemic was made public by his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds on Monday who claimed that more than 100 staff were invited for the gathering in May 2020. The revelation triggered massive public outrage, as pressure mounted on Johnson to make full disclosure on his participation. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Bring your own booze party’ row: Johnson says sorry as oppn tears into his ‘worthless’ apology

The British government has decided to scale back restrictions on people traveling to England. Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to take a test before their journey to the UK. However, they will still need to take one within two days of arrival.

Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to take a test before their journey to the UK

UK scraps quarantining after arrival if fully jabbed

The United Kingdom continues to report nearly 200,000 cases of Covid 19 infections pretty much on a day-to-day basis. But what is interesting is that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is resisting calls to impose a stringent lockdown.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resists imposing a stringent lockdown

UK’s state-run hospitals will face “considerable pressure” in the coming weeks due to the nationwide spread of Omicron infection, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, as the new variant of Covid surges through the country.

The prime minister’s comments come amid growing calls to tighten restrictions over the festive period in England, unlike in other UK regions where nightclubs have closed and there are limits on social gatherings.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Buckinghamshire, the prime minister said the country was in a “much better position” than this time last year thanks to vaccinations.

Defending his move to impose lighter restrictions, he said, “Mixture of things we're doing at the moment were the correct measures.”

The prime minister stressed continuing with “Plan B”, which includes mask wearing in certain indoor settings and guidance to work from home where possible, ensuring it is taken “seriously” by people.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-levels-of-coronavirus-revealed-in-wastewater-samples-across-united-states-442013">Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US</a>

On Monday, 157,758 new coronavirus cases were reported across England and Scotland, with data from Wales and Northern Ireland to be reported after the holiday weekend.

A further 42 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test were reported in England.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-2700-flights-cancelled-in-united-states-due-to-omicron-related-disruptions-441784" hreflang="en">Over 2,700 flights cancelled in United States due to Omicron-related disruptions</a>

Around 50,000 NHS staff were absent from work Friday because they were ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals in England, told Sky News that “the pressure on hospitals outside London is now growing” after the capital bore the brunt of virus cases earlier.

The number of people in hospital with Covid in England was reported on Sunday as the highest since February at more than 13,000, with 769 of those on ventilators.

(With inputs from agencies)

UK’s state-run hospitals will face “considerable pressure” in the coming weeks due to the nationwide spread of Omicron infection, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, as the new variant of Covid surges through the country.

UK’s state-run hospitals will face “considerable pressure” in the coming weeks due to the nationwide spread of Omicron infection, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, as the new variant of Covid surges through the country. The prime minister’s comments come amid growing calls to tighten restrictions over the festive period in England, unlike in other UK regions where nightclubs have closed and there are limits on social gatherings. Speaking to reporters on a visit to Buckinghamshire, the prime minister said the country was in a “much better position” than this time last year thanks to vaccinations. Defending his move to impose lighter restrictions, he said, “Mixture of things we're doing at the moment were the correct measures.” The prime minister stressed continuing with “Plan B”, which includes mask wearing in certain indoor settings and guidance to work from home where possible, ensuring it is taken “seriously” by people. Also read | Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US On Monday, 157,758 new coronavirus cases were reported across England and Scotland, with data from Wales and Northern Ireland to be reported after the holiday weekend. A further 42 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test were reported in England. Also read | Over 2,700 flights cancelled in United States due to Omicron-related disruptions Around 50,000 NHS staff were absent from work Friday because they were ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals in England, told Sky News that “the pressure on hospitals outside London is now growing” after the capital bore the brunt of virus cases earlier. The number of people in hospital with Covid in England was reported on Sunday as the highest since February at more than 13,000, with 769 of those on ventilators. (With inputs from agencies)

UK hospitals to face ‘considerable pressure’, says PM Johnson amid record Omicron cases

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism amid reports that he failed to self-isolate last year after coming into contact with a member of his team who tested positive for Covid.

According to the Mirror, which cited sources, the prime minister is said to have stood “close” to a videographer while recording his official New Year message on December 31, 2020, when the nation was facing the devastating second wave of Covid.

The videographer, who was not wearing a mask, later informed officials and&nbsp;staff members who were present in the room and they were all asked to self-isolate for ten days —under the official guidance at the time, the Mirror reported.

However, the prime minister was reportedly not asked to isolate.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-levels-of-coronavirus-revealed-in-wastewater-samples-across-united-states-442013">Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US</a>

A Downing Street spokesperson told The Mirror: “The prime minister was socially distanced from the individual who subsequently tested positive and the duration of the filming was shorter than 15 minutes.”

“This has been reaffirmed by those present. He was not advised to isolate as the rules did not require him to do so.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-hospitals-to-face-considerable-pressure-says-pm-johnson-amid-record-omicron-cases-442089">UK hospitals to face ‘considerable pressure’, says PM Johnson amid record Omicron cases</a>

The latest revelations come on the backdrop of UK reporting record Covid cases fuelled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

Over Christmas and New Year, the highly transmissible Omicron variant pushed Britain's daily new caseload rising, with 157,758 infections in England and Scotland on Monday.&nbsp;

Johnson had earlier sounded alarm that the public hospitals are likely to face “considerable” pressure due to rising cases.

Around 50,000 NHS staff were absent from work Friday because they were ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals in England, told Sky News that “the pressure on hospitals outside London is now growing” after the capital bore the brunt of virus cases earlier.

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism amid reports that he failed to self-isolate last year after coming into contact with a member of his team who tested positive for Covid.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism amid reports that he failed to self-isolate last year after coming into contact with a member of his team who tested positive for Covid. According to the Mirror, which cited sources, the prime minister is said to have stood “close” to a videographer while recording his official New Year message on December 31, 2020, when the nation was facing the devastating second wave of Covid. The videographer, who was not wearing a mask, later informed officials and staff members who were present in the room and they were all asked to self-isolate for ten days —under the official guidance at the time, the Mirror reported. However, the prime minister was reportedly not asked to isolate. Also read | Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US A Downing Street spokesperson told The Mirror: “The prime minister was socially distanced from the individual who subsequently tested positive and the duration of the filming was shorter than 15 minutes.” “This has been reaffirmed by those present. He was not advised to isolate as the rules did not require him to do so.” Also read | UK hospitals to face ‘considerable pressure’, says PM Johnson amid record Omicron cases The latest revelations come on the backdrop of UK reporting record Covid cases fuelled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Over Christmas and New Year, the highly transmissible Omicron variant pushed Britain's daily new caseload rising, with 157,758 infections in England and Scotland on Monday. Johnson had earlier sounded alarm that the public hospitals are likely to face “considerable” pressure due to rising cases. Around 50,000 NHS staff were absent from work Friday because they were ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals in England, told Sky News that “the pressure on hospitals outside London is now growing” after the capital bore the brunt of virus cases earlier. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Johnson in soup for not self-isolating after contact with Covid positive colleague

For the second consecutive day, the UK registered a record&nbsp;88,376 Covid infections in 24 hours on Thursday, the highest daily since the pandemic began.&nbsp;

According to the latest data from the government’s coronavirus&nbsp;dashboard, the total number of deaths soared to&nbsp;147,000, with 146&nbsp;people succumbing to the virus.

Thursday's figures broke the previous day's (Wednesday) record when Britain&nbsp;reported 78,610 Covid cases.

The previous highest daily spike was on January 8 this year, when 68,053 cases were recorded.

It is also higher than last week&nbsp;when the country reported 51,342 coronavirus cases on December 8.

The UK&nbsp;is becoming a new focus for the Omicron outbreak&nbsp;ever since the country first detected on November 27.

More than 11 million people have now tested positive for the disease in the UK, which has a total population of around 67 million, according to the government's figures.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-one-patient-confirmed-dead-due-to-omicron-says-uk-pm-boris-johnson-436575">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-one-patient-confirmed-dead-due-to-omicron-says-uk-pm-boris-johnson-436575">At least one patient confirmed dead due to Omicron, says UK PM Boris Johnson</a>

Of these 146,791 patients have died, 9,617,941 have been discharged and the active cases stand at 1,245,554.

Warning of a “tidal wave” of infections, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed strict restrictions on the backdrop of rapidly spreading Omicron variant.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-vaccines-likely-to-be-less-effective-against-omicron-variant-who-437383">Covid vaccines likely to be less effective against Omicron variant: WHO</a>

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the British prime minister said the doubling rate of omicron in some regions is now down to less than two days.

&nbsp;“I’m afraid we’re also seeing the inevitable increase in hospitalizations up by 10 per cent nationally week on week and up by almost a third in London,” he added.

Watch |&nbsp;UK records highest-ever daily numbers of COVID-19 cases amid Omicron scare

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-records-highest-ever-daily-numbers-of-covid-19-cases-amid-omicron-scare-437397/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“But we are also seeing signs of hope,” said Johnson, referring to people’s response to an emergency omicron appeal launched on Sunday.

“I want to say that each and every one of you who rolls up your sleeve to get jabbed is helping this national effort, and I want to thank everyone who has come forward,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

For the second consecutive day, the UK registered a record 88,376 Covid infections in 24 hours on Thursday, the highest daily since the pandemic began. According to the latest data from the government’s coronavirus dashboard, the total number of deaths soared to 147,000, with 146 people succumbing to the virus.

For the second consecutive day, the UK registered a record 88,376 Covid infections in 24 hours on Thursday, the highest daily since the pandemic began. According to the latest data from the government’s coronavirus dashboard, the total number of deaths soared to 147,000, with 146 people succumbing to the virus. Thursday's figures broke the previous day's (Wednesday) record when Britain reported 78,610 Covid cases. The previous highest daily spike was on January 8 this year, when 68,053 cases were recorded. It is also higher than last week when the country reported 51,342 coronavirus cases on December 8. The UK is becoming a new focus for the Omicron outbreak ever since the country first detected on November 27. More than 11 million people have now tested positive for the disease in the UK, which has a total population of around 67 million, according to the government's figures. Also read | At least one patient confirmed dead due to Omicron, says UK PM Boris Johnson Of these 146,791 patients have died, 9,617,941 have been discharged and the active cases stand at 1,245,554. Warning of a “tidal wave” of infections, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed strict restrictions on the backdrop of rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Also read | Covid vaccines likely to be less effective against Omicron variant: WHO Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the British prime minister said the doubling rate of omicron in some regions is now down to less than two days. “I’m afraid we’re also seeing the inevitable increase in hospitalizations up by 10 per cent nationally week on week and up by almost a third in London,” he added. Watch | UK records highest-ever daily numbers of COVID-19 cases amid Omicron scare “But we are also seeing signs of hope,” said Johnson, referring to people’s response to an emergency omicron appeal launched on Sunday. “I want to say that each and every one of you who rolls up your sleeve to get jabbed is helping this national effort, and I want to thank everyone who has come forward,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron: UK reports over 88,000 Covid cases, highest daily since pandemic began

The UK government has launched an investigation after reports emerged that oximeter—which measure blood oxygen levels and are key to assessing COVID-19 patients—works properly only on people with lighter skin.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said he had commissioned a review of the issue after learning that oximeters give less accurate readings for patients with darker skin.

He claimed that there was a racial bias in some medical instruments, saying, “It’s unintentional but it exists.”

“And the reason is that a lot of these medical devices, even some of the drugs, some of the procedures, some of the textbooks, most of them are put together in majority white countries and I think this is a systemic issue around this,” he added.

Asked whether people may have died of COVID-19 as a result of the error, Javid said, “I think possibly yes. I don’t have the full facts.”\

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-stole-millions-of-covid-vaccines-from-uk-in-an-act-of-war-report-418646">&nbsp;France 'stole' millions of Covid vaccines from UK in an 'act of war': Report</a>

Javid assertions come after NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that the pulse oximeters can overestimate the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Britain’s statistics office has found that in the first year of the pandemic, up to March 2021, Black and South Asian people in the UK had higher death rates than their white compatriots, even after factors like occupation and underlying health conditions were taken into account.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virus-cases-continue-to-surge-in-britain-428095">Virus cases continue to surge in Britain</a>

But Javid, believes that the issue is not confined to Britain alone, and many similar cases can be discovered in other parts of the world.

"I want to make sure that we do something about it but not just in the UK. This is an international issue so I'm going to work with my counterparts across the world to change this," said Javid.

He said he had already spoken about the issue to his US counterpart, who was as interested in it as he was.

(With inputs from agencies)

The UK government has launched an investigation after reports emerged that oximeter—which measure blood oxygen levels and are key to assessing COVID-19 patients—works properly only on people with lighter skin.

The UK government has launched an investigation after reports emerged that oximeter—which measure blood oxygen levels and are key to assessing COVID-19 patients—works properly only on people with lighter skin. Health secretary Sajid Javid said he had commissioned a review of the issue after learning that oximeters give less accurate readings for patients with darker skin. He claimed that there was a racial bias in some medical instruments, saying, “It’s unintentional but it exists.” “And the reason is that a lot of these medical devices, even some of the drugs, some of the procedures, some of the textbooks, most of them are put together in majority white countries and I think this is a systemic issue around this,” he added. Asked whether people may have died of COVID-19 as a result of the error, Javid said, “I think possibly yes. I don’t have the full facts.”\ Also read | France 'stole' millions of Covid vaccines from UK in an 'act of war': Report Javid assertions come after NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that the pulse oximeters can overestimate the amount of oxygen in the blood. Britain’s statistics office has found that in the first year of the pandemic, up to March 2021, Black and South Asian people in the UK had higher death rates than their white compatriots, even after factors like occupation and underlying health conditions were taken into account. Also read | Virus cases continue to surge in Britain But Javid, believes that the issue is not confined to Britain alone, and many similar cases can be discovered in other parts of the world. "I want to make sure that we do something about it but not just in the UK. This is an international issue so I'm going to work with my counterparts across the world to change this," said Javid. He said he had already spoken about the issue to his US counterpart, who was as interested in it as he was. (With inputs from agencies)

Racial bias in oximeter? UK government launches probe whether device works only on white people

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said there must be no return to "significant economic restrictions" despite a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, The Times newspaper quoted him as saying.

"I think we're just in a very different place to where we were a year ago because of the vaccine," he said in an interview. "There's this enormous wave of protection, and that changes things. That`s our first line of defence." Adding that&nbsp;the economy was the priority.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-in-uk-starting-next-week-vaccination-centres-in-england-will-accept-bookings-for-children-422487">Coronavirus in UK: Starting next week, vaccination centres in England will accept bookings for children</a>

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a new COVID-19 lockdown was not on the cards after advisers warned that early action through lighter measures would reduce the need for tougher restrictions later.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-cases-witness-stubborn-high-in-uk-daily-cases-above-40000-for-a-week-now-422362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

COVID-19 cases in Britain are the highest in Europe and hit their most elevated levels in three months earlier this week. However, the rollout of vaccines has meant that deaths from the disease remain far below their levels at the start of this year.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said there must be no return to "significant economic restrictions" despite a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, The Times newspaper quoted him as saying.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said there must be no return to "significant economic restrictions" despite a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, The Times newspaper quoted him as saying. "I think we're just in a very different place to where we were a year ago because of the vaccine," he said in an interview. "There's this enormous wave of protection, and that changes things. That`s our first line of defence." Adding that the economy was the priority. Also Read | Coronavirus in UK: Starting next week, vaccination centres in England will accept bookings for children Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a new COVID-19 lockdown was not on the cards after advisers warned that early action through lighter measures would reduce the need for tougher restrictions later. Watch COVID-19 cases in Britain are the highest in Europe and hit their most elevated levels in three months earlier this week. However, the rollout of vaccines has meant that deaths from the disease remain far below their levels at the start of this year.

British finance minister rules out return to major Covid restrictions

Despite mass vaccination program against covid 19, the infection rate remains stubbornly high. Contrasting sharply with its European neighbors.

United Kingdom: Covid infection rates remain stubbornly high

Britain's fast-paced vaccination programme has seen nearly 89 percent of adults given at least one dose, while close to two-thirds are now fully jabbed.

UK to offer COVID vaccine to 16 and 17 year-olds

A Norovirus outbreak has been reported in the UK. This virus can be contracted multiple times & mutates rapidly making it tough to be identified by testing kits. What is this virus?

Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence

The country is celebrating the end of Covid restrictions - while new cases are rising, the country's Health Minister has tested positive, and PM Boris Johnson is forced to self-isolate.

Gravitas: UK drops all Covid restrictions

By the end of September, full vaccination will be required in order to enter nightclubs, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said on Tuesday.

'Only double-jabbed will be allowed into nightclubs': Boris Johnson

Sunak tweeted: “Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restrictive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren’t the same for everyone is wrong. To that end I’ll be self-isolating as normal and not taking part in the pilot.”

UK PM Boris Johnson, FM Rishi Sunak exposed to COVID

Days after the G7 summit ended in Cornwall, the county is reporting a 2,500% rise in COVID cases. Did the world leaders & their entourage trigger the outbreak? Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas | G7 aftermath: 2,500% rise in COVID cases

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