Coronavirus report warned of impact on UK four years before pandemic

Exclusive: Report from planning exercise in 2016 alerted government of need to stockpile PPE and set up contact tracing systemCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSenior health officials who war-gamed the impact of a coronavirus …

England needs to ditch its ‘vaccine just’ strategy for ‘vaccine plus’ instead | Christina Pagel and Martin McKee

Not for the first time, England is Europe’s odd one out – which may be why its neighbours are achieving better Covid outcomesOnly two months after being forced at the last minute to “cancel Christmas” in 2020, Boris Johnson committed to a “cautious and…

Coronavirus live: 1.1m in UK estimated to have long Covid; Finland to pause Moderna jab for men under 30

Official figures suggest 1.7% of the population have long-Covid symptoms, Finnish decision comes after similar moves in Sweden and DenmarkEnglish pupils may have to wear masks again if Covid cases riseHow Covid strained bonds between Nordic neighbours‘…

IMF cuts global economic forecast as pandemic ‘hobbles’ growth

Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva says most serious obstacle to full recovery remains Covid vaccine divide between rich and poor statesThe head of the International Monetary Fund has warned the world economy remains “hobbled” by the Covid-19 pandemic as …

Global vaccine rollout vital to securing deal for nature, warns UN biodiversity chief

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema says access to Covid jabs for developing world will be critical to the success of in-person Kunming Cop15 summitGovernments hoping for a global agreement to halt biodiversity loss must put more effort into access to Covid-19 vacc…

Shapps criticised for remarks on wearing masks in enclosed spaces

Covid experts warn against complacency after transport secretary hails lack of face coverings at Tory conference eventCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageVaccinations have made people more confident to sit in enclosed spaces wit…