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COVID-19 UPDATE
SCOTTISH VACCINATION PROGRAMME KICKS OFF
THE FIRST COVID VACCINATIONS IN SCOTLAND WERE GIVEN THISWEEK WITH A 90-YEAR-OLD FORMER CARER THE FIRST TO RECEIVEA DOSE.
Scotland kicked-off its coronavirus vaccination programme this week, beginning in care homes. A 90-yearold former carer received the first dose of the new vaccine.
Annie Innes worked as a carer for over 14 years and has been living at the Abercorn House care home in Hamilton for six months.
Staff from NHS Lanarkshire administered vaccines to 52 residents as the roll-out of the vaccination programme continued. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “It has been a challenge to get the Pfizer vaccine into care homes because of transport and storage requirements but I am delighted to see Mrs Innes become the first care home resident to receive her vaccine and I wish her many more years of good health.
“Vaccines give us a vital additional layer of protection we haven’t had until now. As more vaccines become available over the coming months we will be able to continue to extend the roll-out, but initially we are focussing on residents in care homes.”
LONDON ENTERS TIER 3
THE CAPITAL, ALONG WITH MOST OF ESSEX AND PARTS OFHERTFORDSHIRE, MOVE INTO ENGLAND’S HIGH TIER AS INFECTIONSRISE.
London, most of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire moved into Tier 3 at just after midnight last night, putting around 34 million people into the highest tier in England.
A new variant of coronavirus has been identified that “may be associated” with the faster spread in southern England, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Pubs and restaurants in tier three must close except for takeaway and delivery, and sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums. Indoor entertainment venues must remain shut.
Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that action had to be taken immediately, before the next scheduled review of England’s three-tier system today, to slow “sharp, exponential rises” in infection, adding that in some areas the virus was doubling around every seven days.
TOUGHER GUIDANCE ISSUED FOR SCOTLAND
The Scottish government is stiffening up its Christmas guidance with people being urged to not stay overnight in another house unless it is unavoidable. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the safest way to spend Christmas was “unequivocally” to stay within your own household and your own home.
Any interaction with other households should be outdoors but those who feel it is essential to visit another household indoors should limit the time they spend together.
The current limit on no more than eight people from three households meeting indoors in Scotland will remain in place with coronavirus rates lower in Scotland than other parts of the UK.
Those forming a ‘bubble’ have also been advised to only meet people in it for one day, if possible, and Sturgeon also recommended against travel from areas with a high prevalence of coronavirus to parts of the country with a lower prevalence.
BUSINESSES FACE COVID SPOT CHECKS
A technology-driven field services company called Engage Services is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to carry out Covidsecure spot check visits to business premises across England, Wales and Scotland. Agents will carry out the checks to establish that businesses have taken the necessary steps to make their premises Covid-secure and implemented measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus to protect workers, visitors and customers.
Engage Services spot check support officers will assist the HSE by speaking with the responsible person in each business to check the Covid-secure measures they have in place. Using HSE’s comprehensive guidelines they will also provide businesses with basic guidance and advice.
NE’ER DAY PRESSURE
The Scottish Government isbeing urged by trade unionUsdaw to make progress ona Ne’er Day shop closuresconsultation. The unionwelcomed calls from theScottish Parliament’s PetitionsCommittee today to advancethe consultation on large storesclosing on New Year’s Day.
WEETABIX MEAL DEAL
Weetabix has partneredwith Food4Heroes to ensurethat 1,000 people in need inNorthamptonshire can tuckinto a three-course meal onChristmas Day. The companyhas donated the money to helpFood4Heroes deliver meals tothose in need this Christmas.
FOOTFALL GROWS
New figures from retailspecialist Springboard haveshown that retail footfall acrossall UK retail destinationsclimbed by 19.5% last weekfrom the previous sevenday period. The data showsthere were respective upliftsof 26.3%, 21.1% and 9% inshopping centres, high streetsand retail parks.
MASKED CHRISTMAS?
The World Health Organisationhas urged Europeans to wearmasks during family gatheringsat Christmas. It said Europewas at “high risk” of a newwave of coronavirus infectionsin the early part of 2021,as transmission of the virusremained high.
MCCOLL’S GOES UBER
McColl’s has announced apartnership with Uber Eats tooffer home delivery from over400 stores across the UK. Arange of 500 daily essentialswill be available on-demand viathe Uber Eats app. McColl’sexpects to have 135 stores onthe app before Christmas, with400 live by the end of March.
DEPOSITS CRASH
England’s lockdown hascaused a 22% drop in businessdeposits, says the Post Office.Personal cash depositsremained relatively stableat Post Offices in Novembercompared with October, butbusiness cash deposits fell22%, largely because ofEngland’s lockdown, accordingto the latest Post Office CashTracker.
