People who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive. From today, people in England who have had both doses or are under 18 will not have to spend 10 days in quarantine if they are a contact of a positive case.
UK
A “very young girl” was among those shot dead by a gunman who killed four other people in Plymouth before shooting himself, police have said. Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said the girl was shot dead by 22-year-old Jake Davison, while two people remain in hospital with “significant injuries”. Speaking at a
The 22 year old Plymouth shooting suspect was a loner, with a fascination for guns, who regularly used social media to bemoan his inability to find love. In a series of recent video posts on his YouTube channel, Jake Davison said that his life “amounted to nothing”. Follow Plymouth shooting live updates here He named
The number of alerts sent to users of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales has fallen by 20%. A total of 317,132 alerts were sent to users in the week to 4 August telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus – a drop of
The government needs to stop “dragging their heels” and address pension disparity for some Gurkha veterans, Labour has said. Speaking to Kay Burley, shadow armed forces minister Stephen Morgan said it was “outrageous the inequality continues”. A group of Gurkhas is staging a hunger strike opposite Downing Street, with their demonstration having now entered its
The UK has recorded 23,510 new COVID-19 cases and 146 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. The figures compare with 25,161 infections and 37 fatalities reported on Monday, while last Tuesday 29,703 cases and 62 deaths were announced. The number deaths reported today is the highest daily total since
More than three quarters of adults in the UK have now received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine, the government has announced. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said a total of 86,780,455 jabs have now been administered, with 89% of people having received a first dose and 75% two doses. Prime Minister
A-level students have received more A and A* grades this year than ever before after exams were cancelled for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic. A-level, AS-level and GSCE exams were cancelled in January due to the ongoing disruption caused by COVID-19. Instead teachers used mock results, coursework and in-class assessments to determine
Scotland has removed most of its remaining coronavirus restrictions, but people must continue to wear face masks on public transport and inside public places. The country has moved to Level 0 from today, meaning all legal requirements for physical distancing – except in health care settings – and gatherings have been removed and all venues,
The health secretary has asked the competition watchdog to investigate the market for PCR tests amid concerns of “exploitative practices” and vastly different costs. Sajid Javid wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a “rapid high-level” review to protect travellers. PCR tests, which use a swab to detect coronavirus on the tonsils and
Another 27,429 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the UK, according to the government’s latest daily figures. They also show a further 39 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, taking the total figure to 130,320 since the start of the pandemic. On Saturday, 28,612 new infections and 103 deaths were
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared a new picture of Princess Charlotte as she takes part in the Big Butterfly Count. The royal couple wrote on Twitter: “We wanted to share these beautiful Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies as part of Big #ButterflyCount initiative taking place across the UK. “Butterfly Conservation are encouraging
Further lockdowns are “unlikely” to be required to control the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, one of the government’s top scientific advisers has said. It comes as the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has fallen, and the average rate of infection has decreased. COVID infections are widely expected to rise again in September,
Team GB’s Galal Yafai has won the gold medal in the men’s flyweight final after beating the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam at the Tokyo Olympics. The Birmingham boxer took down his opponent in the opening round with a straight left and edged a high-octane contest to secure the verdict. It concluded a stunning run of form
Team GB has won historic gold medals in cycling and the modern pentathlon, taking Britain’s total to 18. Laura Kenny, 29, and Katie Archibald, 27, won gold in the first ever Olympic women’s cycling madison – giving Kenny her fifth Olympic title and making her the first British woman to win gold at three consecutive
A man has been charged with the murder of five-year-old Logan Mwangi in South Wales. Logan, who was also known as Logan Williamson, from Sarn in Bridgend, was found dead in the Ogmore River near Pandy Park in the early hours of Saturday morning. South Wales Police have charged John Cole, 39, of Sarn, Bridgend,
People who have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine are half as likely to be infected with COVID-19, according to a new study. The React trial was based on more than 98,000 randomly-selected people in England and found that if a double-jabbed person came into contact with a person who had COVID-19, only one
Updated advice on coronavirus vaccines for 16 and 17-year-olds across the UK is set to be issued in the coming days, Nicola Sturgeon has said. The first minister revealed the news as she delivered her latest COVID-19 update to the Scottish Parliament. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome
There is no prospect of an amber watchlist being introduced at the latest travel review this week, Sky News understands. Government sources have confirmed that Boris Johnson has rejected the idea. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player ‘We have to have
Team GB have won gold in team eventing at the Tokyo Olympics. Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend secured what is Team GB’s 11th gold at this year’s Games – the team’s 33rd medal in total. All three riders were making Games debuts, but delivered high-class displays to end a 49-year wait for team