Brief. Me - November 21, 2024 11:14 pm
In today’s briefing update, we look into the fears the NHS is overwhelmed, speak to a nurse on the front line and the news the Queen and Duke have been vaccinated.
In our special feature, we look into the headlines around when the pandemic will end in the UK.
Also featured: The latest Covid-19 figures, Sports, business and entertainment news.
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The recurring message in Sunday’s papers is around the need to follow Covid guidelines and the warning that the NHS is on the brink.
In what the Sunday Times describes as an intervention “designed to shock”, England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty tells the paper that emergency patients will be turned away from hospitals unless people begin to obey the rules.
“When will they realise what’s really going on?” asks an intensive care nurse, expressing her anger at anti-lockdown protesters in the Sunday People.
Ameera Sheikh says demonstrators – who will never have to zip up a body bag – need to realise the “world doesn’t revolve around them”.
Several of the tabloids lead on the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh receiving their coronavirus vaccinations at Windsor Castle.
“A shot in the ma’am,” is the Sunday Mirror’s main headline.
What the Mail on Sunday described as “well-placed sources” tell the paper it is “reasonable” to assume that the royals were given the Oxford AstraZeneca jab, rather than the Pfizer vaccine.
The paper says they waited until the vaccine was being rolled out across Berkshire to avoid any suggestion of special treatment.
The Sunday Express says their decision to go public will likely lead to many more people wanting to get inoculated.
Below are our top picks of the Sunday Papers.
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Doctor raise alarm as Covid strikes down workforce
The Observer cites a letter from the chair of the British Medical Association, which has warned there are more than 46,000 hospital staff off-sick with Covid. The staff absences are “heaping additional pressure on an already overstretched workforce struggling to manage even current critical care demand,” Chaand Nagpaul said.
Due to staff sickness, the vaccination programme is being impacted. Dr Nagpaul said doctors and other health care workers need to be vaccinated as soon as possible. – The Guardian
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Hospitals face ‘worst crisis in living memory’
The Sunday Times says Prof Chris Whitty has written in the paper to warn that emergency patients will be turned away from hospitals if people do not follow Covid restrictions. “Every unnecessary interaction you have could be the link in a chain of transmission which has a vulnerable person at the end,” he has written. The NHS is at risk of becoming overwhelmed within two weeks, he added. – Times
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Police to issue fines after one warning
The Sunday Telegraph reports police officers have been told to fine people breaching Covid rules £200 if they refuse to go home after the first time of asking. The paper says new guidance given to all chief constables marks a “significant hardening” in policing England’s third national lockdown.
A Home Office insider is quoted as telling the paper: “If there was a gunman who killed 1,000 people yesterday running around the country and the government said ‘stay at home’, everyone would say, ‘OK I’ll do that, I won’t go for a coffee with some friends and walk around the park.’” – Daily Telegraph
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Death is all around us … so follow the rules
The Sunday People carries a plea from NHS nurse Ameera Sheikh who has urged people to follow the rules. “Death is all around us” is the headline.
In a moving account, Ameera, 28, tells of being haunted by the sick and dying, saying: “We are on our feet for 13 or 14 hours a day, running around.
“I don’t sleep anymore because the nightmares are too much.” – Mirror
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Queen and Duke lead the way
Dominating the front of the Sunday Express is a photo of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh who have received their Covid-19 vaccinations. They were vaccinated at Windsor Castle. More than 1.5 million Britons have been given the vaccine, the paper adds. – Daily Express
UK Weather Forecast
Sunday 10 January 2021
Sunrise 08:06
Today
Much of the country will remain fine and mostly dry with patchy cloud, and an early mist or fog in places. The northern half of the country will remain cloudy with spells of rain in western Scotland.
Tonight
Tonight, rain will persist for much of Scotland with snow in the northern mountains. Dry with patchy cloud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Patches of fog in south Wales and southern England.
Tweet of the Day
#Marr asks Physicist Professor Brian Cox if the coronavirus pandemic will cause people to study more science and STEM subjects?https://t.co/1Y6dN4EgUU pic.twitter.com/D9Mg43V9oN
Treat of the week
https://wtxnews.com/2021/01/08/2021-stressful-how-to-cope-news/
https://wtxnews.com/2021/01/04/tesla-cars-2020-are-they-really-worth-it/
Renaissance
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” CASABLANCA (1942)
A bit of Nostalgia from our entertainment people
Featured Story
The end of the pandemic in Review
What are the papers saying?
When will coronavirus end in the UK?
The WHO hopes the coronavirus pandemic will last less than two years.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reckons the Covid-19 pandemic will be over by the end of 2021.
Boris Johnson warned in his speech on September 22, 2020, that extra coronavirus rules could be in place for SIX months.
But there is some positive news about the virus from experts. They say the pandemic will eventually die down – but the bug itself is unlikely to be wiped out.
Former White House coronavirus adviser Dr Anthony Fauci says three things have to happen to stem the pandemic. – Read on
Lockdown 3 & the end of Covid
Michael Gove Tells London’s Restaurants Not to Expect Much Until March – Eater
Coronavirus: Lockdown rules are too lax, government scientific advisors warn – The Independent
There will be no spring recovery. Sunak must prepare for a double-dip recession – The Guardian
TRIPLE WHAMMY When will lockdown 3 end? – The Sun
FactCheck Q&A: how much coronavirus vaccine do we have? – FactCheck
Aviation bosses demand end to quarantine after introduction of mandatory testing – CityAM
The end of the pandemic?
Prof Chris Whitty: coronavirus vaccines don’t mean an end to social distancing – The Telegraph
COVID-19 vaccines: the pandemic will not end overnight – The Lancet
The great vaccine roll out may take until the end of 2021: when will you get it and how soon will life return to normal – Wales Online
Ambitious hopes UK could vaccinate 24million people against Covid by Easter may STILL not be enough to end the pandemic – Daily Mail
Covid: How close is the light at the end of the tunnel? – BBC News
Global Covid-19 updates
GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY
CORONAVIRUS CASES: 90,156,025
DEATHS: 1,936,317
RECOVERED: 64,554,864
Business news
Mass testing for asymptomatic Covid to be rolled out across England – FT News
Motorhomes ‘missing’ after rental firm collapsed – BBC Business
City Index-owner StoneX backs Saracens in wake of pandemic and salary cap scandal – Sky Business
COVID 19: UK has vaccinated around two million people, Health Secretary Hancock says – Reuters
Sports News
Australia v India: Tourists face tough task to avoid defeat in third Test – BBC Sport
Justin Thomas apologises after using homophobic slur at Sentry Tournament of Champions – Sky Sport
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer delivers verdict on Manchester United’s narrow win over Watford – The Independent
CULTURA
Ent
The Suspects Wore Louboutins: In 2008, A Group of LA Kids Became the Most Audacious Burglary Gang in Hollywood History – WTX News
