UK

The government unlawfully failed to publish details of coronavirus-related contracts worth billions, the High Court has ruled. The Good Law Project launched a judicial review against the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over its “wholesale failure” to disclose details of the COVID-19-related contracts. Under law, the government has to publish a “contract award

At least 10,000 children in care were placed in potentially unsafe accommodation including caravans, tents and barges, a Sky News investigation has found.  Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that local councils used unregulated accommodation to house vulnerable children – even though these settings were not subject to inspection or regulation by Ofsted. Between January 2019 and December

Surge testing is to begin in an area of Leeds to try to control the potential spread of the South African variant of COVID-19 after more cases were found. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said people living in the postcode LS8 are encouraged to take a test when offered, whether they are

One of the largest and most authoritative coronavirus surveys has found that infections are falling in England, confirming that lockdown is working to suppress the virus. Imperial College London’s REACT study found that infections had fallen by more than two-thirds since the last time it reported in mid-January. Last time, REACT found that 1 in

Boris Johnson has said he will be focusing on data and not dates when it comes to the easing of England’s coronavirus lockdown. The prime minister said Professor Dame Angela McLean was “absolutely right” to tell a committee of MPs earlier that the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions should hinge upon “data, not dates”. Latest coronavirus

Another 799 COVID-related deaths and 10,625 more cases have been reported in the UK in the last 24 hours, government data shows. This is down from the 1,052 deaths and 12,364 cases recorded this time last week. That’s a fall since last Tuesday of 253 deaths and 1,739 cases respectively. Yesterday, a total 230 fatalities

It’s a Friday evening on Oldham’s Eldon Street Estate, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in town. A car pulls into the car park. Some women are chatting in one of the stairwells in the flats opposite and they suddenly stop to look at the car. A few other residents emerge from their flats and peer over

Government scientists want to keep social distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future in a move that would hit shops, pubs, cinemas and theatres, Sky News has learnt. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear he would not allow the coronavirus to let rip through younger generations, suggesting he has embraced the

Boris Johnson has said his plan for lifting England’s coronavirus lockdown is for there to be “cautious but irreversible” progress in easing restrictions. “We’ve got to be very prudent and what we want to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible,” the prime minister said on his plan for easing COVID-19 measures. “I think

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are expecting their second child. A spokesperson for the couple said: “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.” The pair have shared a black and white picture

The government will not be setting an “arbitrary target” for when lockdown can be lifted despite pressure from some MPs to scrap all restrictions by the end of April, the foreign secretary has told Sky News. Dominic Raab said the plan was to “ease the lockdown” with the return of schools, which Prime Minister Boris

Surge testing is being introduced in more areas of England after cases of the coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa were detected. The testing be deployed in: Middlesbrough within the TS7 postcode Areas in Walsall Specific areas in the RG26 postcode in Hampshire People in these areas are strongly encouraged to take a COVID

The families of those with substance abuse issues have spoken of the immense pressure and danger this lockdown is putting on their lives.  The isolation of lockdown is heightening the trauma and mental health issues associated with addiction. Naomi’s dad is alcohol and drug dependent. He has lived with numerous substance disorders his whole life,

The UK’s coronavirus reproduction number – or ‘R’ number – has fallen to below one for the first time since July. The figure is now between 0.7 and 0.9, according to the latest estimate. The R refers to the number of people an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, and when the figure is

A lack of planning could affect the next phase of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, MPs have warned. The Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) praised the “world-beating” effort to get the jab to the most vulnerable, but said there is “much to be done” if the UK government is to hit its next target. Ministers are

Scientists advising the World Health Organisation have recommended the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in adults of all ages. The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation has issued interim recommendations on the vaccine, saying that the jab could be given to people aged 18 and above “without an upper age limit”. “That