Day: 16 June 2021

Answering the call from Lockdown Sceptics for news from the reopened states in America with which to shame our own glacial reopening in the U.K., here is the first of the stories of freedom from the U.S.

In a House of Commons vote this evening, 60 MPs voted against the extension of the restrictions, the largest rebellion Boris has faced yet in connection with his lockdown policies.

France is bringing forward by 10 days the lifting of a nationwide curfew amid falling numbers of daily positive Covid tests. Face mask guidelines are also expected to be eased sooner than expected.

The GMB Union has hit back against the prospect of care home workers being forced to take Covid vaccines, warning that more than a third of its members in social care would consider quitting if vaccination is mandated.

Dominic Cummings has published a trove of confidential material on his Twitter and Substack accounts, including a WhatsApp exchange between him and the PM in which Boris describes Matt Hancock as "Totally f***ing hopeless"

The Government has been urged to ban the use of perspex screens in pubs, restaurants and offices. Not only is it reported that they don’t stop the spread of Covid – they may actually increase transmission.

Many countries have imposed night curfews in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. How successful have these measures been? According to a recent study, they may have actually increased transmission.

A new "NHS Covid Pass", showing a user's vaccine and testing status, will be piloted at upcoming Euro 2020 and Wimbledon matches and is likely to later be introduced at a range of other sports and entertainment events.

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about the virus in the past 24 hours – not just in Britain, but around the world.

With topsy-turvy results for doses 1 and 2 and confidence intervals wide enough to drive a bus through, PHE's latest vaccine study leaves a lot to be desired.