As covid infections rise across the UK for the first time in two months, many want to know the symptoms of Omicron and how long you're contagious with it.

Omicron - it's officially the most infectious strain of the virus we've ever seen. And as much as we'd like it to, signs show it's not completely going away any time soon. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed in the week ending June 10 that covid cases in England were up 1.46% - with Omicron variants behind these increased infections. 

Medical professionals have claimed that symptoms differ from the Delta variant covid symptoms. Making it even more important for people to recognise and understand what Omicron symptoms are. Whilst the UK government's new Living with Covid plan has scrapped self-isolation rules, healthcare experts are encouraging people to still isolate as a duty of care for others. This means not sending your kid to school if they have Covid and working from home to prevent passing it on.

What are the symptoms of Omicron covid variant?

Patients who have tested positive for Omicron have reported symptoms of fatigue, a scratchy throat, runny nose, headache, and sneezing. According to the ZOE symptom tracker app, people have also reported symptoms which aren't usually associated with coronavirus, including diarrhoea, loss of appetite and nausea.

Dr Tim Spector - who has headed up the ZOE study - stated that people should look out for "most cold symptoms" which are likely to be Omicron symptoms. This was based on data recently logged in March 2022. It showed that 300,000 covid cases were being registered each day - most of them of the Omicron strain.

Omicron was first recognised as a strain in November 2021. And Dr Angelique Coetzee, a GP and chair of the South African Medical Association was the first to detect it. She told BBC's Andrew Marr that cases examined felt "extremely tired" and had "body aches and pains with a bit of a headache".

She also noted how symptoms of Omicron differed from previous recognisable covid symptoms. With subjects reporting "not really a sore throat, more of a scratchy type of description and no cough or no loss of smell and taste."

This certainly supports data from the Office of National Statistics recorded throughout December 2021. The found that those presenting with Omicron symptoms were less likely to report loss of taste and smell than patients with Delta symptons.

Dr Coetzee added that cases presented "very very mild symptoms". And this certainly supports what Peter McGinn described to CNN. He was the first American to test positive with the Omicron variant: "It honestly felt like a mild cold for about a day," he said. "I had light fatigue, a runny nose and a sore throat. And after a day those symptoms went away."

Here's more details on what Omicron symptoms you should look out for:

1. Headache

A study in the Journal of Headaches and Pains looked into Covid-related headaches. And researchers found they tended to last for three days plus, with moderate to severe pain reported on both sides of the head. Participants said their headaches had a "pulsing" "pressing" or "stabbing" quality to them. And that the headache did not clear up when painkillers were taken.

As for headaches being a Covid symptom, health professionals of the ZOE COVID Symptom Study gave a few possible reasonings:

"It may be the virus directly affecting the brain. Or it could be related to being ill, such as dehydration or hunger caused by not eating and drinking normally."

Read our advice on how to get rid of a headache fast if you are currently suffering.

2. Fatigue

A Netherlands study determined fatigue is "highly prevalent" in long Covid cases. Researchers described it as severe with patients showing "both physical and mental fatigue".

Mental fatigue is a medical condition that is defined as when someone feels tired and emotionally exhausted. They may find themselves less productive and experiencing poor cognitive function like not being able to concentrate or stay focused on tasks.

Meanwhile, physical fatigue affects the general body. "A person with physical fatigue may find it physically hard to do the things they usually do, such as climbing the stairs," says Medical News Today. "Symptoms include muscle weakness, and diagnosis may involve completing a strength test.

3. Other body aches and pains

Various complaints of pain were reported in one Indonesian study looking into Covid patients. Researchers cited muscular pain, in addition to "joint pain, stomach pain, and testicular pain".

Indeed those using the Zoe Covid app reported aches and pains especially in their shoulders and legs. "This muscle pain stops them from doing day-to-day tasks," they added.

4. Sore or 'Scratchy' throat

Figures from an Egyptian study suggest a sore throat as a common byproduct of the covid infection. Researchers examined 120 people with COVID-19 and reported that 30% of them reported a sore throat.

Data from the Zoe COVID app also found that sore throats were commonly reported in adults aged between 18-65, rather than elderly patients. It tended to be a mild symptom that tended not to last more than 5 days.

Another study - published April 2022 - additionally deemed that a sore throat was a more common symptom with the Omicron strain than with Delta.

South African Dr Angelique Coetzee, who discovered the Omicron variant has spoken a lot about patients with this strain experiencing more of "a scratchy throat". This is likely to be irritable and painful when you swallow.

Check out our sore throat remedies if you are currently experiencing pain.

5. Runny nose

A runny nose is considered a covid symptom when you experience it alongside other identified covid symptoms.

For example, the Zoe COVID Study reports that "nearly 60% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 with loss of smell also reported having a runny nose."

A runny nose is also a common factor associated with allergies like Hay fever plus colds and the seasonal flu.

"A runny nose and headache are symptoms of many infections, but may also be the first symptoms – and only symptoms – of Covid," explains Professor Irene Petersen, an epidemiology and health professor at University College London. "Therefore, if you have these symptoms, I’d encourage you to use lateral flow tests for a couple of days."

6. Sneezing

The scientists at ZOE Covid study have stated that whilst "sneezing is not normally a symptom of COVID-19," they have seen data to suggest that increased sneezing in vaccinated people can be a sign you're infected.

"Interestingly, our data shows that people who had been vaccinated and then tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to report sneezing as a symptom compared with those without a jab," they said. "This suggests that sneezing a lot with no explanation after you’ve been vaccinated could be a sign of COVID-19."

Whilst they have found a connection between the two they are careful to remind people that "the link between sneezing and COVID-19 isn’t very strong." If sneezing is your only symptom, be sure to do a lateral test to rule anything out. Though in most cases it is likely to be a cold or allergy instead.

Is sickness a symptom of Omicron?

Yes sickness could be a symptom of Omicron. Several medical professionals have shared that nausea has been reported by Covid positive patients. Though vomiting on it's own is not likely to be a covid symptom. But rather something like food poisoning. If worried, it's always good to do a lateral flow test to rule out the possibility.

Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London stated that those who were double vaxxed and had Covid registered feeling sick alongside other more known Omicron symptoms.

"Quite a few of them had nausea, slight temperature, sore throats and headaches," he said. And in some cases this nausea turned to vomiting."

"It’s true that nausea and vomiting are potential symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2," adds Tufts Medical Centre, in a statement on their blog.

This is further supported by The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). They observed that some Covid-positive patients developed gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. And these were often before the more familiar symptoms of cough, high fever and shortness of breath.

If you are experiencing vomiting or nausea alongside Omicron symptoms like fatigue, coughing, headache sore throat and a runny nose then do a lateral flow immediately. However, if you're just feeling sick, it's more likely to be nothign to do with Covid. And more likely a bug or side effects of poor food consumption or pregnancy.

How long are you contagious with Omicron?

The UK government have stated that people with Covid - including the Omicron strain - can be infectious for up to 12 days. And during this time it's likely you'll still show up as positive on lateral flow tests.

"People who have COVID-19 can infect others from around 2 days before symptoms start, and for up to 10 days after," reads the government website. "They can pass the infection to others, even if they have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, which is why they must stay at home."

It's worth noting that this 12-day infectious period is a general pre-caution as everyone's experience with the virus is different. Self-isolation rules changed in December to reflect this, as those who test negative on lateral flow tests after 7 days are no longer considered infectious.

Furthermore, new data reveals that the Omicron variant may carry a shorter infectious period than other strains.

"Recent analysis from the UK Health Security Agency suggests that the window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter for the Omicron variant than the Delta variant," UK health secretary Sajid Javid told MPs on 6 December.

This certainly supports a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which found that it took just three 3 days for people to show symptoms after being infected with Omicron. And according to scientists, it makes sense for the incubation period of Omicron infections to be shorter seeing as it's more contagious.

"That's why the spread is occurring at a much faster pace," said Dr. Anita Gupta, an anesthesiologist and critical care physician at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Whilst the government has since scrapped all official Covid rules, people are still choosing to isolate for at least a week if still positive with Omicron. Just to be safe.

Does Omicron show up on lateral flow and PCR tests?

Yes those who have the Omicron variant will test positive on both lateral flow and PCR tests. It is important to know that unlike PCR tests, lateral flow tests will not be able to tell you if you specifically have Omicron. They simply show whether you have a Covid infection or not.

"PCR tests can detect those infected with the Omicron variant," reads a statement on the UK Parliament website. "It is likely that lateral flow tests will detect infections caused by Omicron; research is underway to verify this."

Indeed, scientists at Goethe University’s Institute of Medical Virology in Frankfurt have said that lateral flow tests produced by three major companies have detected Omicron in samples. And this includes ACON's Flowflex test - the main provider of NHS Test and Trace's nose-only lateral flow tests.

This, according to Professor Christina Pagel, director of University College London’s Clinical Operational Research Unit is "good news".

The reason PCR tests can detect Omicron is to do with a mutated gene in their biological make-up.

"As Omicron has a mutation here, that means that this part of the PCR test will fail. This is called S-gene drop-out or target failure," continues the statement on Parliament.uk. "While not 100 percent accurate, it can be used as a proxy method for tracking the variant, especially if other dominant circulating variants are S-gene positive, as the Delta variant is."

If you are experiencing symptoms and are in doubt, always take a PCR test.

Can you get Omicron twice?

Yes it's certainly possible to get Omicron twice. And there have been cases worldwide where patients have tested positive with covid twice from this strain. One study also reported that Omicron reinfection is more likely than with the Delta variant.

Stanley Weiss, M.D., is a professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Department of Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health. He told Yahoo: "Yes, you can get Omicron twice." This was based on his recent visit to a lecture with a top virologist in South Africa. And here it was reported that doctors had found cases where several people had been reinfected with Omicron.

A December 2021 study from Imperial College London additionally supports the stance that you can get Omicron twice. With researchers finding that "the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than that of the Delta variant."

There is some good news though, courtesy of Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme.

In a live Q&A broadcast he explained that covid infection is diagnosed from the nose, essentially making it an infection of the mucus lining. And this is significant:

"You can have a re-infection and you can probably find the virus in your nose," he said. "But you're not sick because your immune system inside your body, in effect, is mounting an immune response and able to cope with that infection. So reinfection does not automatically mean severe disease."

What's more, America's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that those who have had Covid previously have a "low risk of subsequent infection" for at least six months. This means it would be rare for someone whose recently tested positive to get Omicron again within six months.

Can I get Omicron if I've had Covid before?

Yes, research suggests that those who tested positive with Covid of a different strain can still catch the Omicron variant. Households with children in school and healthcare workers are amongst the two groups most likely for this to occur.

The findings were reported by React - a UK-wide study by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI. And it reported that as many as two thirds of people recelty infected with Omicron had Covid previously.

Further analysis unveiled that groups who were susceptible to this tended to be households with kids. Plus people that have a lot of family members. NHS workers were also highlighted as at risk of reinfection.

Is Omicron milder than Delta?

Yes, current research has reported that Omicron is milder than the Delta variant. And these studies suggest that hospitalisation is less likely with Omicron compared to previous strains of the virus. Nevertheless Omicron related deaths have been reported globally and so it shouldn't be underestimated even though it's 'milder'.

A report by the UK Health Security Agency found that those who tested positive with the Omicron variant were about 50% less likely to be hospitalised than those with the Delta variant. This was based on an analysis of both Omicron and Delta cases between 22 November and 26 December.

This report re-affirms a Scottish study which also evaluated the severity of Omicron based on national data. Scientists at Edinburgh and Strathclyde Universities concluded that "Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation when compared to Delta."

A similar verdict was recorded in Imperial College London's Omicron report released in December. Researchers involved confirmed that those with Omicron symptoms where 11% less likely to turn up at A&E - compared to those infected with the Delta variant.

There's further good news too - with research suggesting that Omicron symptoms clear up faster than Delta symptoms. In a new study published by The Lancet, participants with the Omicron strain reported their symptoms as lasting two days shorter than those with the Delta variant.

Has anyone died from the Omicron variant?

The UK Health Security Agency have reported a total of 75 Omicron related deaths in the United Kingdom. These fatalities were recorded in the government agency's last recorded Omicron daily overview report on 30 December 2021. They have since seized to report on Omicron related deaths. And are now instead returning to reporting the daily coronavirus death count.

Elsewhere in the world, there has been Omicron-related deaths in Germany and India. And America reported their first Omicron death in late December - an unvaccinated man in the state of Texas.

The first UK recorded Omicron related death was reported by the Prime Minister on 13 December 2021.

Boris Johnson shared the sad news during a visit to a vaccination clinic in West London:

"Sadly yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron."

This was based on data from the UK Health Security Agency. Who said the individual who died from Omicron was diagnosed in hospital.

Britain's Omicron deaths have contributed to the UK's total Coronavirus death count which now exceeds 160,000. According to figures from Our World in Data, this rate is 7% higher than the European Union average.

Death from Omicron seems less likely than previous strains according to new data. A South African study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases found that patient deaths from Omicron averaged 4.5% during the country's recent surge. And this is much lower than the 21.3% recorded from previous strains.

Video of the Week:

Many are wondering if they can now go to work with Covid after the British government scrapped all legal covid requirements.

It began in February 2022, when Downing Street put into place their Living with Covid plan. This effectively ended all covid rules on face masks and isolation. But whilst government legislation stopped, Covid didn't - and hasn't - with Omicron symptomsand a spike in people getting covid twice still prevalent in the UK.

A lack of rules has led to widespread confusion on how to navigate life when that positive line appears. However, much like deciding whether your kid can go to school with Covid, there are public health guidelines out there that should be followed if you're covid positive but able to work.

Can you go to work with Covid?

In England, legally there is nothing to stop you from going to work with Covid. However current government and NHS advice asks you to prioritise working from home instead. Staying away from your workplace can help prevent passing Covid onto others - especially those who are potentially vulnerable.

The NHS website clearly states that those testing positive, showing Covid symptoms, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell should "try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people".

This message is supported by the government. They've stated that those who fall under one of these categories should "try to work from home if you can". "If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you," continues the statement on the government website.

Scottish legislation changed on May 1, 2022, ending the need to legally self isolate. Like England, they ask people to practice caution by working from home and staying away from others.

As for elsewhere in the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland covid legislation remains in place. This means those that think they have Covid symptoms should get a lateral flow test and self-isolate whilst waiting for the result. If positive, self-isolation continues until at least day 6 or a negative test result appears.

When can I return to work after Covid?

Current government guidance in England states that those with Covid can go back to work once they've tested negative or "until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell."

In a letter shared with healthcare staff in late February, NHS England bosses clarified protocol on when they can return to work after testing positive with Covid. They state that workers should not attend work until they've had "two negative LFD test results taken 24 hours apart".

"The first test should not be taken before day 5 after their initial positive test," the letter adds. "These tests need to be 24 hours apart. And providing they are medically fit, they can return to work on the morning of day 6 providing they tested negative 24 hours earlier."

Public health advice from the NHS also supports this 5 day isolation period from when symptoms start. This is because this time period is when people with Covid are considered to be the most infectuous.

The NHS adds that positive individuals should also try "avoiding meeting people at higher risk from COVID-19 for 10 days, especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, even if they’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine."

For best practice follow public health advice and talk to your employer. You can then both agree on an appropriate return to work date together.

Will I get paid if I call in sick with Covid?

According to solicitors Landau Law, employees off sick from work with Covid will receive their usual sick pay entitlements. "This would include Statutory Sick Pay (‘SSP’), and any contractual sick pay that your employer offers," they state.

Trade Union UNISON agrees that SSP will cover individuals off work with Covid-19: "From the 25 March, the normal SSP rules will apply to Covid-related absence, which means that SSP will only be paid from the fourth qualifying day you are off work regardless of the reason for your sickness absence."

During the peak of the pandemic, legislation on Statutory Sick Pay changed slightly. So that workers received this state pay from the first day of absence. However, ending the legal requirement to self-isolate meant SSP has reverted back to normal. This means payment applies after the fourth day of absence.

Can you go to work if a household member has Covid?

There is now no legal requirement to self isolate if you come into contact with a positive Covid case. So it's up to the individual on whether they go to work if a fellow household member has Covid. This being said, if you start to develop symptoms it's recommended you carry out testing. And take the necessary precautions if the result is positive.

From a pay perspective, employers are no longer obliged to pay staff who are off work isolating. And this includes Statutory Sick Pay. Self isolation and the legislation around it officially ended on 25 March 2022.

"Staff are no longer entitled to SSP for self-isolation, unless they are not well and off sick," reads a statement on the government's Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) website.

Video of the Week:

The UK's dropping of Covid rules has left many confused about isolation and whether a child can go to school if a parent has Covid. We cut through the jargon to give you the need-to-know information.

The government's Living with Covid plan has brought about an end to previous rules on self-isolation and testing in England. But whilst no longer legally valid, health officials are still asking the public to maintain precaution when it comes to the virus - especially with the recent spike in Omicron symptoms and possibility of people getting covid twice.

Though Covid can be mild for most, the infection can still be dangerous for those that are vulnerable. Which is why many want to do the right thing and isolate when a positive Covid situation occurs. For those living with children of school age, it's a case of continuing to follow the current public health advice. This can help prevent other kids from contracting it and taking Covid home to their families.

Can kids go to school with Covid?

No, any child with symptoms or testing positive with Covid-19 must not attend school and should self-isolate at home instead. They should get tested, isolate for at least five days and only return to school once they have had two negative lateral flow tests.

"If a child has any of the main symptoms or a positive test result, the public health advice remains unchanged and is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people," reads a statement by the Department of Education.

This advice is also supported by the UK Health Security Agency who state that "children and young people with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious".

The same self-isolation practice applies in that kids should do a lateral flow test on days 5 and 6. If both of these show up as negative they can return to school. However, if still positive, they should continue to isolate and test until they receive two negative test results.

Can my child go to school if I have Covid?

Yes, children who do not have Covid-19 can still go to school even if a parent is positive. The UK Health Security Agency state that they should continue to attend their education setting "as normal". So long as they are testing negative and are displaying no Covid-19 symptoms.

"Children and young people who usually attend an education or childcare setting and who live with someone who has COVID-19 should continue to attend the setting as normal," reads a statement on the government website.

If your child starts presenting with a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loses their sense of taste and smell, then they should perform a lateral flow test to rule out Covid. And this should be done before being sent to school.

According to Health Service Ireland (HSE), if they have "tested negative and have not had any new symptoms for 48 hours" they are fit to attend school.

Diarrhoea

Whilst it's important to look out for the usual Covid-19 symptoms, health officials are also warning of another symptom. HSE advise keeping a child at home if they have diarrhoea and are aged 12 and under. This is based on new research which suggests this to be a sign of Covid-19 in kids.

One 2021 study in the Journal of Medical Case Reports stated that "dysentery may be the only presentation" of Covid-19 in children. Whilst another published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea is prevalent in kids who are testing positive with Covid-19.

"We are finding that diarrhoea and vomiting is a symptom reported by some children and I think adding it to the list of known symptoms is worth considering," said Dr Thomas Waterfield, lead author of the study.

Nevertheless, if you're confident your child has none of the above symptoms, then sending them to school is the right course of action.

Can a child to go to school if I am self-isolating?

Yes, you can send your child to school if they are testing negative and have no symptoms whilst you are self-isolating with Covid-19. During your isolation period, you should minimise contact with your child and take steps to prevent the spread of Covid in your household.

The government recommends these measures when self-isolating to reduce the risk of spreading Covid in your household:

• Avoid or spend as little time possible in shared areas like kitchens and living rooms. If you do need to be in the same room as negative-testing people then wear a surgical face mask and open windows and doors to aid ventilation.
• If possible, try to use a separate bathroom to everyone else in the household.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to catch particles. Then dispose of the tissue in a rubbish bin.
• Wash hands frequently - especially before and after food.
• Regularly clean surfaces like door handles and remote controls. Also wipe down surfaces in shared areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

"Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days," states the government website on self-isolation practices. They advise people to do a lateral flow test five days after your symptoms start. And another test the day after.

"If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine," they add. You should record your lateral flow test results online after taking each test.

Meanwhile, if you child starts developing Covid symptoms whilst your are self-isolating you should order a PCR test. They should also self-isolate whilst waiting to find out if the test is positive or negative. And if negative, they may return to school.

Can a child go to nursery if I am self-isolating?

Yes, toddlers can still go to nursery if a parent is self-isolating - so long as they are not showing any Covid-19 symptoms. The same rules apply as if it were a child going to school. During this time, the positive parent should refrain from dropping or picking their kid up from nursery. And additionally maintain minimal contact to avoid passing it onto their child and others.

Video of the Week:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government's living with Covid plan on February 21, just days before scrapping the isolation requirement for those who test positive for the virus. 

Speaking to the House of Commons, he explained that the Queen's positive Covid-19 test was "a reminder that this virus has not gone away but because of the efforts we have made as a country over the past two years we can now deal with it in a very different way, moving from government restrictions to personal responsibility."

The living with Covid plan may be an exciting prospect for those able to look beyond the pandemic. But not all countries in the UK are ending coronavirus restrictions at the same time.

What is the living with Covid plan?

No need to self isolate with Covid-19

If you test positive for Covid via a lateral flow test or a PCR from Thursday February 24, you do not legally need to isolate under the living with Covid plan. Until April 1, however, the government are still advising those who test positive to stay at home.

"But after that," the PM said, "We will encourage people with Covid-19 symptoms to exercise personal responsibility, just as we encourage people who may have flu to be considerate to others."

Routine contact tracing, i.e. the NHS Track and Trace system, will no longer be in operation. Those who are fully vaccinated close contacts of someone who has tested positive won't have to test daily for seven days. This also applies to anyone under the age of 18 and also to those who are not fully vaccinated.

Naturally, not having to isolate means that self-isolate support payments will end. This gives businesses reliant on them through the pandemic no choice but to welcome in staff who are testing positive - or pay out of pocket. Similarly, Covid provisions for Statutory Sick Pay will end next month.

There's already been a wave of backlash from MPs, charities, unions and scientists against the decision. Many have pointed out that new variants mean you can get Covid twice, for instance, to varying degrees of severity. Many have also accused Boris Johnson of trying to distract from the controversy around the Downing Street parties, following the publication of the Sue Gray report earlier this year.

Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News, Professor Devi Sridhar of Edinburgh University Medical School said, “I don’t think it’ll be a welcome surprise to most people. To release isolation…isolation is about stopping someone who’s infectious passing that on to someone else… it’s, I think, too early right now.

But the prime minister has said that the move is justified because "levels of immunity are so high. And deaths are now, if anything, below where you would normally expect for this time of year."

He continued, "And it only because we know Omicron is less severe, that testing for Omicron on the colossal scale we have been doing is much less important, and much less valuable in preventing serious illness."

No more testing for schoolchildren or the general population

From February 21, the government removed the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to take twice-a-week asymptomatic Covid-19 tests. Initially, this was put in place to try and reduce the spread of the virus from educational settings to the wider community.

And then from April 1, both lateral flow and PCR testing for the general public will no longer be free of charge. Boris Johnson has said that in line with many other countries, they are working "to ensure that everyone who wants to can buy a test."

Under the living with Covid plan, free symptomatic tests (PCR tests, for example) will still be available for those in older age groups and those most vulnerable to Covid-19.

No more compulsory face masks

When can we stop wearing face masks? It's been the question on everyone's mind since the beginning of the pandemic, with rules changing amid every spike of the virus. But now, following the scrapping of all Covid restrictions in England, face coverings won't be a legal requirement - anywhere.

Instead, businesses will have to dictate whether they want employees and customers to wear masks. And members of the public will be able to make their own decision on masks in public places. This includes public transport.

On February 21, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that masks were no longer compulsory on the Tube. Up until now, they were optional in other public areas. But Transport for London personally made them a condition of travel.

He said, "Following the government dropping all legal Covid restrictions, and in light of falling infection levels in London, it is expected that wearing a face covering will no longer be a condition of carriage on the TfL network."

No more vaccine passports

The requirement to offer proof of a double vaccination was only really put into place around Christmas last year, when the Omicron wave hit but the government confirmed that we were not going back into lockdown.

From April 1, they will no longer be a requirement anywhere in England - for domestic use or international travel. However, anyone who requires a vaccine passport will be able to access their certification on the NHS app.

Spring booster jabs for those vulnerable and/or over 75

The Covid booster jab has been attributed as the primary reason for being able to lift these restrictions. In his speech to the Commons, the prime minister said, "It is because of the extraordinary success of this vaccination programme, that we have been able to lift our restrictions earlier than other comparable countries, opening up last summer, while others remained closed, and keeping things open this winter, when others shut down again."

According to the most recent data available, over 71% of all adults have now had a third jab, including 93% of those over the age of 70.

And so to continue the programme, Mr Johnson announced that the government was taking further action to "guard against a possible resurgence of the virus". They will do this by following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and offer a new Spring booster jab to those over 75, older care home residents and those over 12 who are also immunosuppressed.

The Coronavirus Act expires

The Coronavirus Act 2020 became law in March 2020, just before the first lockdown, to allow the government emergency powers. It gave officials the ability to limit or suspend public gatherings and detain individuals suspected to be infected with Covid-19. Along with easing the burden on the public health service, assisting healthcare workers and those economically affected, and relaxing regulations when they saw fit.

While the government had the power to prolong the act by six months at ministerial discretion, it had a two-year time limit. This means that the act expires in March this year and the only way it could continue would be with votes by ministers.

On February 21, Boris Johnson announced that all provisions of the Coronavirus Act will now expire. "Of the original 40, 20 have already expired. 16 will expire on 24 March and the last 4 relating to innovations in public service will expire six months later. After we have made those improvements permanent via other means," he said.

New surveillance system to avoid future pandemics

The prime minister set out a strategy to try and 'future-proof' the country against any possible future pandemics. Among the plans was:

• More protection against laboratory leaks
• A refresh to the UK Biosecurity Strategy to protect the country against natural and accidental virus spillovers. Along with biological threats from other countries or terrorists.
• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey will remain in place to monitor the virus
• Laboratories will ramp up testing to combat any new possible Covid-19 variants

But ultimately, the prime minister said that Covid-19 will be a routine public health issue - much like the flu."In all circumstances, our aim will be to manage and respond to future risks through more routine public health interventions, with pharmaceutical interventions as the first line of defence," he said.

When can you come out of Covid isolation in England?

Self-isolation is due to end on February 24 2022 in England as part of the PM's plan to bring society "towards a return to normality". The rules were due to end on March 24, following an announcement by the PM in January.

But the PM hinted that if there was positive data, the plan would come earlier. Mr Johnson explained, “Providing the current encouraging tends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early.”

Prior to February 24, you could come out of isolation in England 5 full days after testing positive for Covid. As long as you have a negative lateral flow test on day 5 and day 6. Anyone who still tests positive after two lateral flow tests days apart should continue to isolate. As the two lateral flow tests will confirm whether you're still infectious with the virus, the need for them to both be negative before exiting isolation is "crucial", government guidance says. 

Sajid Javid said, “After reviewing all of the evidence, we’ve made the decision to reduce the minimum self-isolation period to 5 full days in England. These 2 tests are critical to these balanced and proportionate plans. I’d urge everyone to take advance of the capacity we’ve built up in tests so we can restore more freedom to this country, whilst we are keeping everyone safe.” 

Both the health secretary and the PM have stressed the need for two jabs for freedoms that the change brings. This includes the Covid booster jab, which is still available at many walk-in clinics and GP surgeries. 

However when it comes to coronavirus restrictions, not all the devolved nations in the UK are on the same page.

When is isolation ending in Scotland?

Scotland has powers to keep those testing positive in isolation until September 24 2022. Up until the new year, much like England, the quarantine period was 10 days without exception. But as of January 6, self-isolation ends for those who don't have a fever and test negative on day 6. And then again at least 24 hours later.

Those with three doses of the vaccine don't need to isolate if they are a close contact of someone who tests positive. So long as they can produce a negative test every day for seven days and don't have a fever. This rule applies even to those who they share a household with and those under the age of 18.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said of the new rules, "These changes are significant, but we believe they are also justified. They balance the importance of self-isolation – in slowing the virus’s spread and reducing the harm it can cause – with the wider harms to the economy that broader self-isolation rules can cause."

When do Covid rules change in Wales?

Self-isolation rules in Wales could revert to guidance as early as March, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said. It follows a statement from the government that confirmed rates were falling. This meant that some rules - such as the need for a Covid passport - could be axed from February 18. However, for the moment, all other restrictions are in place.

Mr Gething said that the prime minister's decision to end isolation on February 24 was not based on scientific evidence.

If you have symptoms of Covid-19 and are living in Wales, you should self-isolate immediately. And take a PCR test as soon as possible. Following five days of isolation, you can take a lateral flow test on day five and a second one the following day to end the quarantine. As long as you test negative. Guidance from the Welsh government says, "You should not take a LFT before day 5 of your self-isolation. The risk of remaining infectious and therefore passing the infection onto others before this period is significantly higher."

Those who are still testing positive on day 5 should stay in isolation. At least until they can offer 2 consecutive negative lateral flow tests. If day 10 of isolation comes sooner than this, they can leave on this day. This is without the need to produce a negative lateral flow test result, unless they still have a temperature. In this rarer case, they should continue to isolate until this goes away.

When can you stop isolating in Northern Ireland?

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has "no plans" to scrap Covid-19 testing or isolation. All other restrictions, including the need for a Covid passport, became guidance on February 15. But Health Minister Robin Swann has stressed that there aren't any plans to cut arrangements for quarantine. So for the moment, there's no date for when Wales' plan for living with Covid will begin.  

The minimum self-isolation period for those testing positive became 5 days, down from 7, on January 21.

Are the rules for travelling changing?

Yes, along with the rules on when can you come out of Covid isolation, these are changing too. Rules for those looking to go on holiday from the UK are being relaxed on Friday February 11 2022. Anyone coming into the country with two jabs will not have to take any Covid tests. Unvaccinated passengers will not have to isolate either - but they will have to take tests. 

Everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, will have to fill in a passenger locator form.

It’s important to note, however, that the living with Covid plan applies to those entering the UK. Every country has the right to refuse entry based on vaccination, testing or other requirements. Spain, for example, has recently announced that they will not admit anyone over 12 without proof of a double vaccination. Ahead of the school half-term, it’s caused chaos for many families looking for a splash of February sunshine. 

When do Covid rules change? Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his plans for "living with Covid" in the foreseeable future, one of which includes scrappig the legal necessity to self-isolate while infected.

The plan to lift Covid-19 regulations has been in place since January, when Mr Johnson announced that rules could be over by April. However, following a recent "positive trend" that shows cases declining, he revealed that the plans would move forward earlier. Speaking to the House of Commons, the PM said that he planned to move the date forward due to the "hard work of the British people" paying off in controlling the virus. But with scientists confirming that you can get Covid twice, if not more, experts have warned that lifting restrictions sends a message that the pandemic is "over" too soon.

And with discussions about whether we will go back into lockdown this year still going on in some circles, the decision to end isolation early for millions is certainly a controversial one. So what are the rules right now?

When can you come out of Covid isolation in England?

Self-isolation is due to end on February 24 2022 in England as part of the PM's plan to bring society "towards a return to normality" following "current encouraging trends in the data". The rules were due to end on March 24 this year, following an announcement by the PM in January. But he hinted that if there was positive data, the restrictions would end earlier. Mr Johnson explained, “Providing the current encouraging tends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early.”

He did stress there would still be guidance though. And added that going to work while testing positive would still be off the cards. “That would not be what we are recommending,” he said. “What we would simply be doing is removing the domestic regulations which relate to isolation.“But obviously in the same way that someone with fly, we wouldn’t recommend they go to work, we would never recommend anyone goes to work when they have an infectious disease.” 

However, there's already been a wave of backlash from charities, unions and scientists against the decision. Many have accused Boris Johnson of trying to distract from the controversy around the Downing Street parties, following the publication of the Sue Gray report. Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News, Professor Devi Sridhar of Edinburgh University Medical School said, “I don’t think it’ll be a welcome surprise to most people. To release isolation…isolation is about stopping someone who’s infectious passing that on to someone else… it’s, I think, too early right now.

“We have great lateral flow tests," she continued. "They identify if someone has a high viral load if they’re infectious. We have a system where if you test negative on day five or day six you can get out of isolation. I don’t know why you’d change that right now when we still have over 200 deaths a day to Covid. If you look at the timing, it’s really clearly to make headlines today and distract from the problems the Prime Minister is facing. Which is that…he seems to have broken lockdown rules.”

At the moment, you can come out of isolation in England 5 full days after testing positive for Covid. As long as you have a negative lateral flow test on day 5 and day 6. Anyone who still tests positive after two lateral flow tests days apart should continue to isolate, as stated by the UK's Health Security Agency. As the two lateral flow tests will confirm whether you're still infectious with the virus, the need for them to both be negative before exiting isolation is "crucial", government guidance says. 

The second of the two tests must be taken no earlier than the fifth day of isolation. The second one has to be taken the following day. If you are positive on day 5, a negative test is a requirement on day 6 and day 7. This has been the rule since January 17, when the guidelines changed the isolation period from 7 days. It was around the same time that the government's Plan B, a response to new symptoms of the Omicron variant, was scrapped as well.

The default isolation period is 10 days. If you are still testing positive on day 6 and 7 then you should quarantine until you reach 10 days. 

During the isolation period as it is now, you must not leave your home for any reason. The current government guidance stipulates that you can exercise with Covid inside your home if you're feeling well enough, but you can't go outside for anything other than an emergency. This includes trips to buy food or medicines. And you also should not allow people inside your home during this period either.

Anyone who is able to leave quarantine on or before day 6 is “strongly advised” to wear a mask. It’s also suggested that those leaving isolation avoid close contact and stay away from poorly ventilated spaces, working from home if they can, to avoid any chance of spreading the virus as lateral flow tests can be false negative.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said, “After reviewing all of the evidence, we’ve made the decision to reduce the minimum self-isolation period to 5 full days in England. These 2 tests are critical to these balanced and proportionate plans and I’d urge everyone to take advance of the capacity we’ve built up in tests so we can restore more freedom to this country, whilst we are keeping everyone safe.” 

Both the health secretary and the PM have stressed the need for two jabs for freedoms that the change brings. This includes the Covid booster jab, which is still available at many walk-in clinics and GP surgeries. Last year, the Mr Javid told BBC Radio 4 that the booster programme was the country's "new national mission". "In terms of the public health of this country, there is nothing more important than this booster programme," he said. 

When is isolation ending in Scotland?

Scotland has powers to keep those testing positive in isolation until September 24 2022. Up until the new year, much like England, the quarantine period was 10 days without exception. But as of January 6, self-isolation ends for those who don't have a fever and test negative on day 6. And then again at least 24 hours later.

Those who have had three doses of the vaccine do not need to isolate if they are a close contact of someone who tests positive. So long as they can produce a negative test every day for seven days and don't have a fever. This rule applies even to those who they share a household with and those under the age of 18.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said of the new rules, "These changes are significant, but we believe they are also justified at this phase of the pandemic. They balance the importance of self-isolation – in slowing the virus’s spread and reducing the harm it can cause – with the wider harms to the economy that broader self-isolation rules can cause."

When do Covid rules change in Wales?

Self-isolation rules in Wales could revert to guidance as early as March, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said. It follows a statement from the government that confirmed rates were falling. This meant that some rules - such as the need for a Covid passport - could be axed from February 18. However, for the moment, all other restrictions are in place.

Mr Gething said that the prime minister's decision to end isolation on February 24 was not based on scientific evidence.

If you have symptoms of Covid-19 and are living in Wales, you should self-isolate immediately. And take a PCR test as soon as possible. Following five days of isolation, you can take a lateral flow test on day five and a second one the following day to end the quarantine. As long as you test negative. Guidance from the Welsh government says, "You should not take a LFT before day 5 of your self-isolation because the risk of remaining infectious and therefore passing the infection onto others before this period is significantly higher."

Those who are still testing positive on day 5 should stay in isolation. At least until they can offer 2 consecutive negative lateral flow tests. If day 10 of isolation comes sooner than this, they can leave on this day. This is without the need to produce a negative lateral flow test result, unless they still have a temperature. In this rarer case, they should continue to isolate until this goes away.

When can you stop isolating in Northern Ireland?

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has "no plans" to scrap Covid-19 testing or isolation. All other restrictions, including the need for a Covid passport, were replaced with guidance from February 15. But Health Minister Robin Swann has stressed that there aren't any plans to cut arrangements for quarantine. So for the moment, there's no date for when Covid rules will change.

The minimum self-isolation period for those testing positive was reduced from 7 days to 5 days on January 21.

Are the rules for travelling changing?

Yes, along with the rules on when can you come out of Covid isolation, these are changing too. Rules for those looking to go on holiday from the UK are being relaxed on Friday February 11 2022. Anyone coming into the country with two jabs will not have to take any Covid tests. Unvaccinated passengers will not have to isolate either - but they will have to take tests. 

Everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, will have to fill in a passenger locator form.

It’s important to note, however, that these rules apply to those entering the UK only. Every country has the right to refuse entry based on vaccination, testing or other requirements. Spain, for example, has recently announced that they will not admit anyone over 12 without proof of a double vaccination. Ahead of the school half-term, it’s caused chaos for many families looking for a splash of February sunshine. 

Can lateral flow tests be false positive or negative? With isolation still mandatory for those who test positive until the end of February at least, it's the question everyone is asking. 

Throughout the pandemic, lateral flow tests - otherwise known as LFTs or lateral flow devices (LFDs) have been one of the quickest and easiest ways to check for Covid-19. They take just 30 minutes to develop, a significantly shorter wait time than the 24-hour turnaround of a PCR test. And while they're mainly supposed to be for those without symptoms, the warnings around cold-like Omicron symptoms have people using them more often.

So, as the rules on when you can come out of Covid isolation have changed in England, can a lateral flow test give out a false positive or negative? And following the latest change in the guidance around testing, when should you opt for a PCR test instead?

Can you get a false positive lateral flow?

It’s unlikely that lateral flow tests (LFTs) will give out a false positive, research indicates. A Cochrane review from March 2021 assessed over 60 studies, all of which looked at the accuracy of various lateral flow tests. They found that the specificity of the tests was high, meaning they had a strong ability to accurately diagnose those who were not infected with the virus. 

This means that if you get two red lines on your lateral flow test, you’re almost certainly positive for Covid-19. In those who did not have Covid-19, the lateral flow tests correctly gave a negative result to 99.5% of people with symptoms and to 98.9% of people without symptoms. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), an executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, also says that the chances of a false positive result are low - especially when there’s a high number of cases in the population. “The LFDs that we are using have a high specificity, that means the number of false positives are extremely low - less than 1 in 1000 tests conducted from our studies,” they say. “However, as the prevalence of Covid-19 reduces to low levels in the population, the chance of a false positive result increases - though still remains unlikely.” 

During these periods where the virus presence is low in the community, the UKHSA have urged people to confirm a positive lateral flow test with a PCR test. These are more accurate - by up t0 100% according to this Nature study. This is because the sample goes to a lab, rather than being tested at home. Here, it goes through a process that turns the virus' RNA into DNA and makes of copies of the DNA. This in turn allows for the better identification of the virus.

There is naturally a very small chance that the lateral flow tests can be false positive - as with any test. But when the virus is highly present in the community, it’s highly likely that a positive lateral flow test is a real positive. 

You can also get Covid twice in a month, according to health experts, as the variants of Delta and Omicron differ and two jabs is no longer enough to ensure protection. So if you get a positive result but you've already had it, don't just assume it's a false result.

Can lateral flow tests be false negative?

It’s significantly more likely that lateral flow tests will give out a false negative result, however. The same Cochrane review found that in people with confirmed Covid-19, lateral flow tests correctly gave a positive test to an average of 72% of people with symptoms. They correctly gave a positive test to 58% of people without symptoms as well. 

This means that 28% of people with symptoms who have a negative result have an incorrect reading. While 42% of people without symptoms have an incorrect reading with a negative lateral flow test. Although, the research suggests that when you take the test has a big impact on your result. Tests were most accurate when they were used in the first week after symptoms first developed. This is likely because people have the highest viral load in their system in the first few days after infection. 

When should you have a PCR test?

You should only take a PCR test if you have classic symptoms of Covid-19. These include (a cough, fever or a loss of taste or smell). And you should isolate while you wait for the result. If you don't have symptoms and you test positive via a lateral flow test, you must isolate. But you don't have to confirm the result with a PCR test.

In England, the self-isolation period can end five full days after the date of your first positive test. However, you must have two negative lateral flow results, 24 hours apart. In the rest of the UK, the self-isolation requirement is seven days with two negative results, 24 hours apart.

The government have suspended the advice to follow up a lateral flow test with a confirmatory PCR. This is because Covid levels are high in the UK at the moment. While this is the case, most people who test positive are likely to have coronavirus.

It comes at the same time as the reintroduction of Plan A restrictions. Cases of Omicron declined in January following a few weeks of increased restrictions under Plan B. As part of the new guidance, the government have advised on when the work from home rule will end and when we can stop wear face masks in public places.

How long are you contagious with Covid-19?

If you’re confirmed to have Covid-19, you’re likely to be contagious for between four to eight days after infection. This is why the isolation period for those testing positive is 10 days in the UK, just to make sure. 

The incubation period for Covid-19 lasts for between one and fourteen days. This is according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). While average time to develop symptoms is between five and six days. And 97.5% of those who do develop symptoms experience them within 12 days of infection. 

Video of the week:

Boris Johnson's easing of restrictions in England has the public wondering when can we stop wearing face masks?

They've become a staple of pandemic life, with the British public adhering to face mask rules in shops, supermarkets, hospitality venues and even face masks in cinemas. All in an effort to reduce the transmission of the virus to prevent us from going back into lockdown.

Face masks were made mandatory again in December, under Plan B measures brought in following the spread of the Omicron variant. However, the government have re-evaluated the situation this January and have shared an update on face covering use that comes into effect soon.

When can we stop wearing face masks?

People in England no longer have to wear face masks by law. An end to mandatory face masks came into effect on Thursday 27 January, with the rule being scrapped alongside other plan B restrictions. This means that it's now a matter of personal choice to wear a face covering or not.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed an end to face masks in his House of Commons address on 19 January:

"Having looked at the data carefully the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse, the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks," he said.

Though no longer mandatory, Boris added that he "suggests" people to continue to wear face coverings. Especially in "enclosed or crowded spaces". But he was quick to highlight that this was a recommendation and not a rule.

"We will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one," he said.

Despite the government's new stance on masks, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has shared that they will remain mandatory on Transport for London (TfL) services. This means that those in the capital using the tube, buses, trains and other public transport must wear a mask.

"If we have learnt anything from this pandemic, it is that we must not get complacent and undo all our hard work and sacrifices," he said. "That’s why face coverings will remain a condition of carriage on Transport for London services.

"I’m asking everyone in our capital to do the right thing and continue to wear a face covering when travelling on TfL services to keep us all protected and to prevent further restrictions from being necessary later down the line."

Anyone not wearing a mask on public transport in London could face a £200 fine. Both TfL officers and the police are being deployed to deliver these fines.

Also under the Plan A measures, when the work from home rule will end in the UK has also been announced.

Face masks in Wales

At present, those in Wales still have to wear a face covering by law. This is despite the rule change in England.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said that a review on Welsh covid restrictions - including face masks - will next take place on 10 February 2022. Despite this, Mr Drakeford shared that he hopes the Welsh people will continue to wear them, whatever the outcome after this date:

"I think there will be lots of people who will choose to go on wearing masks because it gives them confidence that they're keeping themselves safe," he said. "I would certainly consider that myself."

Until this review date, maks remain mandatory:

"Face coverings must be worn in all indoor public places, and public transport, including taxis," reads a statement on the Welsh government website. "You may remove your face covering in the part of the premises for eating or drinking, but only when you are seated to eat or drink. You must replace your face covering when you are no longer seated."

Face masks in Scotland

Scotland will continue to wear face masks in most indoor public spaces. This applies to all individuals aged 12 and over (unless exempt for medical reasons).

The Scottish government website have defined indoor public spaces as:

• Shops, supermarkets and department stores
• Public transport, taxis and hire vehicles
• Bars, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and takeaways
• hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo studios
• Churches and other places of worship
• Gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools and indoor fitness studios
• Libraries, museums and galleries
• Casinos, amusement arcades, soft play centres, indoor funfairs, among others

Diners in pubs and restaurants will be able to remove their mask when seated and eating. But will have to put them on again when in communal areas.

Face masks in Northern Ireland

Face masks continue to be mandatory on public transport, in shops and hospitality venues in Northern Ireland. However citizens are not required to wear coverings in gyms and other exercise facilities.

"Generally you must wear a face covering indoors in any premises that are accessible to the public," says the Northern Ireland governement website. "This includes when shopping, in a bank, in a restaurant or cafe unless seated at a table, and in some government buildings. If you are in any doubt, you should wear a face covering."

Those exempt from mandatory face masks in N Ireland include children aged under 13. And anyone who is unable to for medical reasons.

When can we stop wearing masks in schools?

Schoolchildren in secondary schools across England no longer have to wear masks in classrooms or indoor communal areas. The Department of England have confirmed an end to mandatory face coverings, which came into effect on 27 January 2022.

Masks in schools were reintroduced during mid December. When a spike in covid cases due to the spreading of Omicron symptoms led the Prime Minister to introduce Plan B measures.

Face masks in classrooms were the first to be scrapped. With this rule change coming into effect as of 2o January. The Department of Education explained that this move came about "because the national data shows the prevalence of Covid to be on a downward trajectory."

Whilst some have welcomed the move, others have criticised the government's decision:

"No one wants facemasks for any longer than they have to be on," says Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union. "Teachers and pupils much prefer education without facemasks. But I think this is premature — pupils have been back in full-time education for about ten days."

She feels that whilst covid cases are still prevalent, masks should remain in place. And that without them cases could rise again in schools causing "huge disruption".

“This will result in more education disruption which is extremely worrying particularly for pupils taking national exams this year whose education has been so badly disrupted already."

According to the Telegraph, headteachers at over 100 schools in England have written to parents saying that they will keep masks in the classroom until further notice.

An example is Uckfield College in East Sussex, who said they were keeping masks in force "for now" because the "last thing students want at the moment is more staff absence".

The Independent reports that those chosing not to follow the government's new rules will have to gain permission from the Department of Education.

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi reportedly told regional health chiefs that schools going against new national guidance on face masks would need to consult him.

Elsewhere in the UK, secondary school students in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will continue to wear face masks in schools. Both in the classroom and communal spaces.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asked for patience from pupils in Scottish Parliament this week on the matter:

"I know young people want to see the back of them as soon as possible," she said. "But I also know that many young people understand and agree - especially when cases in the younger age group are rising - that face coverings do provide important protection. So this is a matter that requires and will receive careful consideration."

Should I continue to wear a face mask after the rule changes?

Though face masks will cease to be mandatory after 27 January, the government "recommends" they still be worn in enclosed or crowded spaces. This is because mask-wearing is an effective way of preventing the spread of Covid-19.

The face mask or covering works as a barrier between the wearer’s nose and mouth and the space around them. If they have the infection and wear a mask, they can’t expel any droplets of infection from their respiratory system. This means they can’t transmit the virus onto people, surfaces or into the air when breathing or speaking.

Extensive research has confirmed that masks do work to prevent the spreading of the virus. With one 2021 study concluding that widespread use can reduce community transmission.

"The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of nonmedical masks when out in public, in combination with complementary public health measures, could successfully reduce R number (rate of infection) to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained," said the study's researchers.

The World Health Organisation's advice on masks also advocates for continued wearing:

"Masks are a key measure to suppress transmission and save lives,” guidance on the website reads. "Depending on the type, masks can be for either protection of healthy persons or to prevent onward transmission."

Several health charities in the UK have also asked for face mask use to continue to help protect those medically vulnerable.

"The more people who wear masks and keep their distance in crowded places, the more that immunocompromised people will be able to live normal lives," says Helen Rowntree, director of research, services and engagement for Blood Cancer UK. "We welcome the fact in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, people are still being required to wear masks in shops and other indoor public places.”

Though several agencies advocate for mask use to continue, it's ultimately up to the individual if they want to keep wearing them now they're no longer mandatory.

Face masks and face coverings: know the difference

There is a difference between the words ‘face mask’ and ‘face covering’. The latter is the one the government previously mandated as a must-have for the general public. This is because it’s effective at preventing the spread of Covid-19 by the wearer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esM_ePHn0aw

It’s simply something that covers your mouth and nose. This could be a scarf, a cloth face mask, a handmade face mask, or a piece of cloth.

A face mask is a surgical-grade mask that’s only required for medical staff.

Where to buy a mask online

You can still buy a mask at many local high-street stores. These include…

• Lloyds Pharmacy: Cloth and disposable face masks/coverings available to buy for adults and children, starting at £4.99.
• Aldi: Packs of three printed cloth face coverings for £3.49.
• Tesco: Pack of 10 disposable facemasks for £5.
• Waitrose: Re-usable masks from designers such as Mulberry. £15 for pack of three (available in store only).
• Next: Packs of three re-useable masks from a variety of brands from £25.
• Halfords: Re-useable face covering, pack of one, for £5.

Face masks are also available to buy online from marketplaces such as Amazon.

Effective masks have at least two layers of fabric. They also completely cover your mouth and nose, have a snug fit against the sides of your face. They also have a nose wire or piece of elastic to prevent hair escaping from the top of the mask.

How to make a face mask

It's possible to make a face mask using simple fabric and everyday materials. To find out how to make your own face mask at home without the need for any sewing, follow our handy online tutorial.

Throughout the pandemic, many people decided to make their own face masks. This is so they are customisable for their own style and comfortable for their own needs.

Will we go back into lockdown again this year? It may be a new year but concern around the new Omicron variant and its high transmissibility has many people wondering about further measures in 2022. 

Despite emerging symptoms of Omicron just before the festive period, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that there wouldn't be any restrictions over Christmas - even going so far as to say that Christmas parties weren't cancelled. It was a decision that meant a repeat of 2020's last-minute celebration cancellation, when the PM introduced new measures on December 19, could be avoided.

Following this, the pandemic reached new heights in the UK as almost 219,000 people tested positive on January 4, according to the UK Health Security Agency. But with cases now appearing to be levelling off, will the prime minister be putting the country back into lockdown?

Will we go back into lockdown this year?

While we're still in the early days of 2022, the prime minister has confirmed that England won't go back into lockdown for the time being.

Speaking during a recent visit to a vaccination centre, Boris Johnson said that the country was in a "much better position" than last year thanks to the vaccines.

However, following the spike in Omicron cases over Christmas and New Year, he also warned it would be "folly" to think the pandemic was over and said that pressure on hospitals would be "considerable" in the upcoming weeks. For this reason, he kept Plan B restrictions in place following a review on January 5.

Now at the end of January, the Plan B restrictions are reaching their expiry date. If the PM wanted to continue with the measures, which include face masks in all public spaces and working from home guidance, he would have to pass them through Parliament again.

Boris Johnson has announced that he will not be continuing the restrictions and will commence with Plan A from January 20. This suggests above all that there is no plan to put England back into lockdown at the moment.

Moving from Plan B to Plan A measures includes:

• An end to the work from home rule in the UK - with advice that people speak to their employer about returning to the office.
• Pupils don't have to wear face masks in the classroom
• People can stop wearing face masks in indoor public spaces
• An end to mandatory Covid passes for some venues in England
• Easing of care home restrictions

It comes as the most recent data shows the number of people with Covid-19 has fallen in England significantly since the beginning of the Omicron wave. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around 3.5 million people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus in the week ending January 15. While still significant, this is much less than the 4.3 million who tested positive the week before.

This now works out to be roughly one in 20 people infected with the virus or an estimated 5.3% of the population.

Boris Johnson has previously warned, however, that people should be "sensible" about their social interactions and take a lateral flow test before meeting people they don't normally see. This is especially important, health experts suggest, as the symptoms of Omicron resemble more of a common cold than previous strains. He also added that getting a first, second or a booster jab was imperative to stay safe.

"We've got to remain cautious, we've got to stick with plan B, we've got to get boosted," the prime minister said.

While many believed we were set for another Covid-themed Christmas, with restrictions limiting gatherings of family and friends, the prime minister opted for a "normality" of sorts with Plan B.

"The situation remains extremely difficult, but I also recognise that people have been waiting to hear about whether their Christmas plans, your Christmas plans, are going to be affected," he said at the time.

"What I can say tonight is that naturally we can't rule out any further measures after Christmas, and we're going to keep a constant eye on the date - we will do whatever it takes to protect public health.

"But, in the view of the continuing uncertainty about several things - the severity of Omicron, the uncertainty about the hospitalisation rates or the impact of the vaccine rollout and the boosters - we don't think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas."

This announcement came just days before the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced that the rules on when you can come out of Covid isolation have changed in England. Those who tested negative on day six and seven of their quarantine didn't have to isolate for the full 10 days. This has now, at the time of writing, been reduced to five days in isolation following a negative test on day five and six.

Both the health secretary and the prime minister have encouraged people to take up their booster jab when it is available to them, saying it was "more vital than ever". The jab is now available to anyone over 16 years old, following updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI).

Health officials have also urged people to continue taking tests for the virus, which are now available again after a temporary shortage in December. Lateral flow tests can be false positive, however, this is highly unlikely to be the case according to new research. So, anyone without symptoms should also use these to test where possible.

The change in the rules came around the same time that reports emerged of gatherings taking place at 10 Downing Street over lockdown. Now being investigated by Sue Gray, who is a senior civil servant, the inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

But while it looks like England won't be going back into lockdown at the moment, experts have wanted that a tighter clampdown could be on the way if people don't take to the measures.

Professor Greg Towers, Division of Infection and Immunity at University College London, said that if people treat the pandemic like "it's all over" then there will be higher infection rates - and more chance of a lockdown.

He told Times Radio, "If we don't wear masks and if we ignore social distancing rules, and if we pretend it's all over, then what's going to happen is we'll get another big wave of infection and we'll get put into lockdown again. So, if we don't want lockdown, we've got to try and stop the spread by easier means like mask-wearing and social distancing."

Plan A and B were announced earlier in the summer by the government as the way the country would handle Covid-19 in the winter.

Plan A prevented the NHS from experiencing serious pressure through vaccines for more age groups and more testing. As part of the plan, Track and Trace continued and the government encouraged businesses to consider using the NHS Covid Pass to check whether customers had a double vaccination.

Plan B was put into place by officials as they believed the NHS was coming under "unsustainable pressure" due to the Omicron variant over winter last year.

Earlier in October, following a rise to up to 40,000 cases for eight days in a row, doctors from The British Medical Association said ministers should begin their Plan B. They also accused the government of being "wilfully negligent" for refusing to reimpose Covid rules, such as compulsory face masks, before this date.

However, Health Minister Edward Argar said at the time that the NHS was not under the "unsustainable pressure" required to justify new restrictions. "We know how those numbers can rise swiftly, which is why we're looking at that day by day, hour by hour," he said. "But at the moment we do have the ability to manage."

On announcing the end of lockdown earlier this year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that when the measures did lift, it would be "irreversible". But there would also be "trade offs" involved.

He said, "We can begin safely to restart our lives and do it with confidence. But I want to be frank about exactly what that means and the trade-offs involved. The vaccines reduce the danger of Covid: they save lives and they keep people out of hospital.

"But no vaccine against any disease has ever been 100 per cent effective," he continued. "So whenever we ease the lockdown, whether it is today or in six or nine months, we’ve got to be realistic and accept that there will be more infections, more hospitalisations and therefore – sadly - more deaths, just as there are every year with flu. Even if we sustained the lockdown indefinitely, which would itself cost lives and do immeasurable harm to our children, we would not be able to eradicate this disease."

"And that is why it is so crucial that this roadmap should be cautious but also irreversible. We are setting out on what I hope and believe is a one way road to freedom."

Even when the government delayed the end of lockdown on June 21 2021 by four weeks, the message stayed the same. The prime minister continued to stress that England's approach was "cautious but irreversible". He also repeatedly referred to July 19 as the "terminus date" for restrictions. Following this, the public dubbed July 19 as "Freedom Day".

Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said earlier in the summer that there would be no further lockdowns after July 19. He told news outlets that he wanted the restrictions to lift "as quickly as possible". He added it was "going to be irreversible, there's no going back. That's why we want to be careful during that process."

On July 5, however, the PM did reveal that the government would keep some "contingency measures" in place. These would be "to help manage the virus during higher risk periods, such as the winter".

He said, "We will place emphasis on strengthened guidance and do everything possible to avoid reimposing restrictions with all the costs that they bring."

Announcing plans for how the country would "live with Covid", the government said that they intended to:

• Reduce the vaccine dose interval for under 40s from 12 weeks to 8
• Move away from legal restrictions to allow people to make their own decisions about managing the virus
• Continue with a "proportionate" test, trace and isolate system
• Maintain tough border controls (with the requirement to prove a double vaccination before travel)

In late July, experts were still cautioning the public that the situation could worsen in the winter. They didn't confirm whether we will go back into lockdown this year but said that if cases do rise substantially, the government may have no choice but to enforce restrictions.

Is Scotland going back into lockdown?

No, the most recent restrictions in Scotland came to an end on January 17 2022.

Previously, only 100 people could attend indoor standing events, with up to 200 people at indoor seated events and up to 500 people - either seated or standing - at outdoor events. This restriction is no longer in place in Scotland as of January 17.

Then from January 24, all rules on indoor events and venues will be lifted - including the need for table service in hospitality locations. Nightclubs will also be able to open from this date.

The change to the rules before the new year meant that various larger scale Hogmanay events were cancelled.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that over the first week of January, everyone should "stay at home right now more than normal" and reduce social contact with people from outside of their household.

"The new protective measures relating to hospitality, public indoor places and live events that I set out last week are now in force," she said.

"We will review these on an ongoing basis - however, at this stage, our expectation is that they will be in force until 17 January.

Some social distancing measures were also re-introduced before Christmas, with Deputy First Minister John Swinney urging people to take "the greatest of care" when mixing households.

This included the guidance to only mix in groups of up to three households at a time and social distancing measures for shops and hospitality venues.

"We hope that we have done enough in the announcements that were made yesterday and we hope that members of the public and businesses will work with us in a cooperative spirit to make sure that we can take these provisions forward," Mr Swinney told Good Morning Scotland at the time.

Nicola Sturgeon had previously warned that she was prepared to enforce Covid restrictions in Scotland where necessary.

Speaking about the new restrictions, she said,  "Even if you feel angry with a politician just now, please remember just how important compliance is for the health and safety of you, your loved ones and the country."

Scotland was also the first to float the idea of a circuit breaker lockdown over the end of the summer. It was a potential option to stem the rise in cases before kids went back to school for the new year. However, it didn't happen and Scotland have retained their Level Zero Covid status since restrictions were lifted in August.

However, the FM used the SNP Conference in November - which occurred just hours after the diagnosis of the Omicron variant in Scotland - to double down on the fight against the virus.

"In recent weeks, we have had much in Scotland to feel thankful for. Compared to many countries across Europe, Covid cases here have been stable - indeed they have been declining slightly. To be frank, that’s a much better position that I had dared hope for a couple of months ago."

But she said, "There are big and very real challenges ahead over the winter months. Cases are rising in countries all around us. We know that colder weather, forcing us indoors, coupled with festive socialising will create increased opportunities for the virus to spread. And, most seriously of all, the Omicron variant is causing profound concern here and across the world.

"So we must not drop our guard. This is a time to be more vigilant, not less."

Ms Sturgeon said that a number of countries had been added to Scotland's travel red list and anyone arriving from these places must now go into a managed quarantine facility. Travellers also have to isolate until they get a negative result from the PCR test that they do on day 2 of their arrival, regardless of where they've come from.

"We are also asking close contact of any confirmed cases of Omicron to isolate," she said, " That none of this was even contemplated just a few days ago, is a reminder of how fast this virus can move and change. We must, all of us, therefore redouble our efforts to stop it in its tracks."

However, other ministers have previously noted that there would be issues with financially supporting another lockdown in Scotland. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes claimed earlier this year that the country doesn't have the money for further intense restrictions and would only be able to enforce them if the UK government was willing to fund a complete shutdown.

Ms Forbes said that there wouldn't be any money available for furlough if Scotland was forced to go into lockdown again, leaving people unable to work without financial aid.

Speaking a Holyrood's Finance Committee, she said, "One of the biggest challenges right now from a financial perspective is the fact that there hasn’t been that much additional consequential funding from the UK Government in the last few months.

"Right now we are trying to remobilise the health service, remobilise the justice system, remobilise a whole host of different public services, as well as deal with the ongoing covid impact from a budget that has not been supplemented by additional consequentials coming from the UK Government in the way that it was last year.

"That’s not what we’re discussing at the moment. We’re talking about trying to maximise the impact of the baseline measures. But if we were to, then we have no certainty that furlough will be in place. We have no certainty that self employed income support will be in place. And I have no certainty that there will be any additional funding in place.

She added, "I am not sitting on funds right now that I could deploy to support businesses. We would need additional help from the UK Government."

Is Wales going back into lockdown?

First Minister Mark Drakeford warned that some of the scrapped Covid-19 restrictions could come back and similarly to Scotland, enforced new measures before Christmas.

However, Mr Drakeford has now set out a plan for Wales to return to alert level zero on January 28 if cases continue to fall as they are.

The measures, put into place on Boxing Day 2021, included advice to limit social contact with others outside of the household - especially if seeing older or more vulnerable people. There were also changes so it is an offence to not work from home if you're able to. Only groups of up to 6 people are allowed to gather in hospitality venues with the requirement for table service, compulsory face masks and contact tracing in place.

Nightclubs also closed from December 27.

Anyone going to the cinema, theatre, or a concert in Wales from November 15 has to prove a double vaccination with a Covid pass. Pubs, cafes and restaurants also may require the passes as well.

Will Northern Ireland have another lockdown?

Northern Ireland has had one of the slower journeys out of lockdown in the UK. After only reopening nightclubs on October 31, executive ministers have reinforced some restrictions.

These included closing nightclubs again on December 26 and banning all indoor standing events. There also also now restrictions on hospitality venues and pubs, cafes and restaurants must provide table service only. Similar to Wales, only six people are allowed to sit together at a table - but this rule does not allow to wedding celebrations.

Proof of a double Covid vaccine is also required to gain access to some hospitality premises and indoor settings. But this rule has been in place in Northern Ireland since December 13.

In mid-November 2021, infection rates in Northern Ireland were the highest in the UK - above Wales.

While working from home is not compulsory in England, Health Minister Robin Swann said he believes anyone in Northern Ireland who was working from home during the height of the pandemic last year should do so again.

The rules on face masks were never dropped in Northern Ireland either. They remain mandatory on public transport, in shops and in all indoor attractions unless you are exempt.

Following a change in the guidance, the number of people who can get the Covid booster jab has dramatically increased again.

While initially only available to those over 50-years-old, a decision to widen the booster programme was made following data which showed that two doses of the Pfizer, Oxford or Moderna vaccine were not enough to stop people becoming unwell. The study, published by the UK Health Security Agency, suggests that a booster is necessary to maintain protection against the virus, preventing 3 in 4 people from developing any symptoms.

Anyone over the age of 18 became eligible for a jab late last year, after the emergence of new Omicron symptoms, but now another age group is being invited to have their booster jabs.

Who can get the Covid booster jab?

Those eligible for a third dose of the vaccine are:

• All adults (those over 18) living in the UK
• All teenagers aged between 16 and 17 years old

Those between 16 and 17 can book their booster jabs or go to a walk-in site from Monday January 17, NHS England has said. The NHS will send an invite to around 40,000 teens who had their second vaccine dose at least three months ago.

Appointments have been available for this younger age group since August last year but the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) only recommended that 16 and 17-year-olds who were clinically vulnerable have the vaccine at this time. Now, it's open to anyone aged 16 or over.

However, the wait time between the second and third dose of the jab remains at three months.

Children aged between 12 and 15 can also now have a second dose of the vaccine, with the NHS also making appointments now. While anyone who is immunosuppressed can have a fourth jab as well as the booster.

Anyone eligible for a booster jab will have either the Pfizer vaccine or a half-dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam urged people to take up their booster jab in December. Following the arrival of the new variant, he said it "has never been more vital than at this point in time."

"We are asking everyone to play their part in the urgency now of the booster programme."

The urgency came as data from the UK Health Security Agency found that two weeks after receiving a booster dose of the vaccine, protection against symptomatic infections in adults 50 years and over who had the Oxford vaccine was at 93.1%. For those who had the Pfizer vaccine, protection levels were a little higher at 94%.

Professor Van Tam also reassured the public that the situation wasn't all "doom and gloom" quite yet. "I want to be clear that this is not all doom and gloom at this stage. I do not want people to panic at this stage," he said.

"If vaccine effectiveness is reduced as seems pretty likely to some extent, the biggest effects are likely to be in preventing infections. And hopefully there will be smaller effects on preventing severe disease.

"But that is something that is there for scientists to work out in the next few weeks."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid also confirmed that the country was not going back into lockdown this year - at least for the moment as the government was enabling Plan A restrictions. This means that face masks are no longer compulsory in many public indoor spaces and the work from home rule has ended.

Can I have the booster vaccine with a cold?

If you have a cold, you should not go to your vaccine appointment. According to guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, it's better to wait and have your vaccine at a later date if you feel unwell before your appointment.

But if you just have a mild cold, and have a negative Covid-19 test, you should go to your vaccine appointment.

If you do test positive for Covid-19, you have to wait four weeks (28 days) before getting your booster jab. This time starts from the day you had symptoms or the day of the positive test if you were asymptomatic.

It is vital that you rebook the jab after your recovery time as although there is evidence that having the virus can boost immunity, the extent of this is not fully understood.

Following updated guidance from the UKHSA, the self isolation rules have changed for England. Now, those who test negative on day five and six don't have to quarantine for the full 10-day period.

Which vaccine will they use?

Most people will have the Pfizer vaccine or the Moderna vaccine, the NHS says.

Some people might have a booster dose from the Oxford vaccine. However, this will only be in cases where they cannot have the other two jabs.

If the booster dose is a different vaccine from the first and second one, that's completely normal.

How long will it take for the booster to be effective?

It takes one to two weeks for the booster jab to be effective, according to recent studies.

A new trial by Pfizer found that from seven days onwards, a booster Pfizer jab is very effective at preventing symptomatic illness from Covid-19.

Another study, the first real-world research on the booster, looked at the Pfizer vaccine as well. They found that those who had the Pfizer booster were 10 times less likely to be infectious with the virus. And they were also nearly 18 times less likely to suffer with a severe infection.

They only began to measure protection levels against illness from two weeks after the booster. But, they found that protection levels were at a great level after this inoculation period.

Experts have also backed up the two-week theory. Dr Dan Barouch is the director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He told ABC News that the body begins to increase its antibodies against the virus within a few days. However, the best response happens after a fortnight.

He said, "There is a meaningful increase in antibody titers by one week. And peak responses at two weeks following mRNA boosting."

This is one of the reasons why health officials have continued to urge people to test for Covid-19. While lateral flow tests can be false positive or negative, this is not very likely according to new data. So, the government has urged those without symptoms to use the LFT for testing over the festive season.

There haven't been any trials of a similar scale looking at the Moderna vaccine. This is the other jab in the UK's booster programme. However, we know that the vaccines work in similar ways so the results are likely to be comparable.

Are Christmas parties cancelled? It's the question everyone is asking as Plan B restrictions come into place from Friday December 10. 

Last year, Christmas was effectively cancelled just days before celebrations were set to begin and we were going back into lockdown in time for the new year. So, it's fair that we'd be looking to make up for lost time in 2021. However, along with early excitement, there have been concerns that the new variant - named Omicron - could scupper plans before they've even begun. At a press conference earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England would be taking on Plan B measures, which includes guidance to work from home, compulsory face masks in many public indoor spaces, and the requirement to show proof of a double vaccination in some venues.

But many events have still been given the green light to go ahead despite the new rules. So will you be able to celebrate with friends, family and even get to have an office party this year? Here's what government and health officials have said about the upcoming festive season.

Are Christmas parties cancelled?

No, Christmas parties can still go ahead for 2021. 

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that there are no plans to prevent Christmas gatherings this year. 

Speaking to Sky News earlier this week, he said, “I think people should continue to behave in the way they were planning to behave over Christmas.

“I don’t think there is any need to change those plans.” 

The prime minister has also said that other in-person events can happen over the festive period, including school nativity plays.

But the health secretary has urged people to remain vigilant and take “sensible precautions” against spreading the virus to others, especially in light of the new variant. 

“I think that we can go ahead with whatever we planned for Christmas. I think that’s absolutely fine,” Mr Javid said. “But what I will add to that is that we have always said even before this variant came along, that as we get into the colder, darker days of winter, Covid likes that and that flu viruses like that.” 

“So...it’s just a sensible time for everyone just to remember that and take whatever cautious measures that they can.”

For similar reasons, health experts have been giving advice on whether you should go to work with a cold during the Covid-19 pandemic.

An official from SAGE has warned that the Omicron variant is spreading "very fast" and the UK faces a "very large peak" of cases soon. Professor Andrew Hayward from University College London said, "It's a bit like if you think of a month's worth of rain falling in a few days. That leads to flooding and it's a similar type of scenario."

It may take several weeks before scientists really know the true impact of the new variant, however.

Before heading out to a Christmas party, Mr Javid said that he would advise taking a Covid-19 test. Lateral flow testing kits, for example, are still available for free from the government's website. While lateral flow tests can be false positive or negative, this is highly unlikely according to new research. So people should use them, along with sticking to the host of new measures, to help to combat the spread of the virus. 

The new measures Covid-19 measures introduced from December 10 2021 include: 

• Compulsory face coverings in most public indoor venues, including cinemas, theatres and places of worship.
• Anyone who can work from home should do so, as of December 13.
• From December 15, the NHS Covid Pass will become mandatory for entry into many indoor spaces. This includes nightclubs and settings where there are more than 500 attendees. As well as events where there are 4,000 or more people unseated outdoors. And events where there are more than 10,000 people indoors or outside.

There is no requirement to wear a face mask in hospitality venues, however. As the PM said in a statement, "There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear [a face mask], such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising. For that reason, face masks will not be required in hospitality settings."

A Covid Pass is also not a requirement in hospitality venues with a capacity lower than 500 people. However, a venue can request customers show a Covid Pass.

As well as this, the government has announced a huge extension of the Covid booster jab roll-out and are now encouraging everyone over the age of 18 to get the vaccination.

The decision to carry on ahead as 'normal' comes just days after allegations of parties held at Downing Street over Christmas and spring 2020, through to 2021. Now being investigated by Sue Gray, who is a senior civil servant, the report is expected in the new year.

Are you more likely to get Covid-19 at a party?

Unfortunately, you are more likely to get Covid-19 at a party than elsewhere in your daily life.

As the government ads on television suggest, people can easily spread Covid-19 indoors. Especially where there is little ventilation and everyone is in close proximity to each other.

Recent research from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London found that in badly ventilated spaces, Covid-19 spreads faster through talking than it does coughing. Working out to more than two metres in just seconds. This is because when we speak, we produce small droplets which spread very quickly around an enclosed room. They can accumulate if there isn't any way for the droplets to escape. While coughing does expel droplets too, these are likely to be much larger. They settle on surfaces rather than travel through air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQdh0WpeFA

Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A, they also show that social distancing measures alone won't be enough protection.

As well as face masks and Covid-19 vaccinations, research has highlighted the need for thorough ventilation - even if it's a bit nippy outside.

If you want to see how fast Covid-19 can travel, you can use the same tool in the study's research. Airborne.cam allows you to input the environment, including whether anyone is wearing a face mask, and it will give you a percentage of how likely infection is.

Should I cancel my Christmas party?

If you're worrying about going to a Christmas party this year, here are some things to consider:

• Does the space have good ventilation with open doors, windows and outside space?
• How many people will there be at the party? And is there the requirement to proof a negative Covid test before entry?
• What date is the party? I.e. if you tested positive following the event, do you have 10 days to isolate before Christmas - even after the self isolation rules have changed?
• Are you (or someone you're seeing within days of the party) clinically vulnerable?

Government officials - including Boris Johnson - have urged people not to change their plans ahead of the festive season. But some health officials have warned otherwise.

Dr Jenny Harries is the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency and head of NHS Test and Trace. She told the that people could prevent the spread by reducing their social contacts.

She said that the "vaccines appear to be effective" against the new variant but if "we find that the variant is more highly transmissible, [it] could still be a significant impact on our hospitals."

Urging caution, she said, “So I think being careful. Not socialising when we don’t particularly need to and particularly going and getting those booster jobs. Which, of course, people will now be able to have at a three-month interval from their primary course.”

The powerful combination of colder weather and flu season means that many of us will definitely be feeling the sniffles before the Christmas break - so, should you go to work with a cold?

While we’ve done just about everything over the last two years to avoid Covid-19 infection, we’ve simultaneously managed to ward off any other infection too. Coming out of lockdown with a lower immune system, this means we’re much more likely to pick up a lurgy. 

It’s why there have already been discussions about whether Christmas parties are cancelled this year and even chat about whether schools are closing early like last year.

Should you go to work with a cold?

No, you shouldn’t go into work if you have a cold.

Originally, the three main symptoms of Covid-19 were a continuous cough, high temperature and a loss of taste/smell. However, new research on the Delta variant symptoms from the Zoe Symptom Study shows that infections are now more likely to present as similar to a cold. I.e. the classic sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and headache. 

So if you’re feeling under the weather, the first thing to do is take a PCR test. You also must self-isolate while waiting for the result to come through, advice from the NHS reads. While you may be convinced it’s just a cold, you’re still likely to be displaying symptoms resembling Covid-19. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry and find out if you actually have the virus.

Much like the rules on sending a child to school with a cold, if you test negative for Covid-19 then legally you can still go into the office. However, it’s unlikely that your colleagues would thank you for passing on a nasty cold just before the Christmas season. 

And with our immune systems lowered thanks to the long periods of lockdown, GP and Olbas expert Dr Roger Henderson says colds really are inevitable this year. 

“Colds and flu are caused by viruses that usually affect the nose, throat, ears and sinuses. The infections are contagious, transferable by tiny droplets and hand contact. And [they] are much more common during the winter months. This is partly because central heating dries out the normally moist nasal mucosa which defends against invading viruses.” 

Because there are “hundreds of different viruses that can cause a cold”, he says, it’s not possible to have a cure for them all. Normally, exposure wards off the common ones. 

“However, as many of us have not had as much exposure to normal colds and flu, there appears to be a spike in tougher, more aggressive forms of cold and flu-like viruses. These are so-called ‘super cold’ symptoms and include an extremely sore throat, a hacking cough and headaches.” 

If you feel you’re well enough to work, you may just work from home for the day. Especially if that's what you were doing over lockdown anyway. However, if you’re feeling really under the weather or can’t work from home, you’ll have to call in sick.

Who should work from home?

Everyone should work from home as of December 10, latest government guidance says.

Boris Johnson has approved Plan B for England. This includes:

• People being asked to work from home if they can.
• Face coverings are compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship.
• The NHS Covid Pass will become mandatory in some spaces, such as nightclubs.

Boris Johnson also said, "Everyone should test using a lateral flow device, particularly before entering a high-risk setting involving people you wouldn’t normally come into contact with, or when visiting a vulnerable person. Lateral flow devices remain free of charge and can be collected from local pharmacies."

Although lateral flow tests can be false positive or negative, this is very highly unlikely according to research from earlier this year. If you have symptoms, always get a PCR test instead.

How to call in sick for work

The first step to calling in sick is notifying your employer before the usual start time for work on the day you’re unwell, says Pranav Bhanot, litigation solicitor at Meaby & Co Solicitors. 

“If your employer has a sickness absence policy, the employee should follow this in terms of notification,” he adds. 

The process is normally as simple as emailing or messaging your manager, letting them know that you’re too unwell to work. It’s also best to give an estimate as to when you’ll be back to work. Plus, any other information that they’ll need to know for when you’re back.

But there’s no need to stress about providing evidence, Pranav says. “In terms of evidence, employees generally do not have to be bed bound to be off sick. Therefore, if an employee has a cold this may be sufficient reason to call in sick. Especially given the current pandemic." 

It’s only when you’ve taken a full week off work that you may have to worry. Legally, “an employee must provide an employer with a doctor’s ‘fit note’ if they are sick for more than 7 days. This is non-working days taken in a row,” our expert explains. 

Vaccines Minister Nadim Zahawi has now confirmed when 12 to 15 year olds will get the Covid vaccine. It comes following new advice from the UK's chief medical officers (CMOs). 

While most children themselves only experience mild or asymptomatic coronavirus, certain factors tipped the scales this week and led health officials to approve the vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 as soon as possible. Professor Chris Witty, the head CMO for the UK, said it was a "difficult decision" to make.

While there are still concerns over whether all children should get the Covid vaccine, Professor Witty said that it would be "an important and useful tool" for reducing disruption to schooling in the coming months. Combined with the added health benefit of the vaccine in reducing illness and infection, it made sense to start vaccinating younger teens.

When will 12 to 15 year olds get the Covid vaccine?

The NHS will offer those between 12 and 15 years old one dose by September 22 2021.

Currently, the plan is to only offer the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to children in this age group - rather than the two doses offered to all those over 16 years old old. According to data published in December 2020, just one jab is still 52% effective at preventing serious illness and infection.

Mr Zahawi said that the School Age Immunisation Service would offer "the bulk" of the programme. Separate vaccination sites will also be available for schools where this isn't available.

He said that all vaccinations delivered by the service would be subject to parental consent. However, he also noted that medical professionals would discuss the vaccine with parents. If there was a difference of opinion between parent and child, they would bring them together to try and reach an agreement.

If no such agreement can be reached, the clinician will decide whether the child is capable enough to make their own decision about whether or not to have the jab.

The new guidance to offer vaccinations to 12 to 15 year olds only applies to England. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments have yet to confirm they will also offer the vaccine to the same age group.

Previously, only those aged 12 to 15 who were at serious risk from the virus were eligible for vaccination. This included children who had:

• A severe neurodisability
• Down Syndrome
• A severely weakened immune system, including some children with cancer
• Profound and multiple learning disabilities

Some healthy children over 12 who live with vulnerable people could also have the vaccine if they chose to. As could those "on the cusp" of turning 18. Anyone aged 16 or over is now eligible for both doses.

The NHS began offering the jab to all 16 and 17 year olds in August, on the basis that they would have built up 2 weeks worth of immunity before they returned to school in early September.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has since resigned, followed up the announcement from the vaccines minister, saying, "I have accepted the unanimous recommendation from the UK Chief Medical Officers to offer vaccination to those aged 12 to 15. This will protect young people from catching Covid-19, reduce transmission in schools and help keep pupils in the classroom."

He has also urged anyone eligible for a vaccine, who has not come forward yet, to book in for their jab among warnings of a virus spike in the winter months.

No 10 has reportedly not ruled out the idea of a circuit breaker lockdown as a last resort in the coming months, if the NHS become overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases in England. They denied, however, that there was one happening over October half-term.

At the same time as 12 to 15 year olds are having their first dose, the government will announce how to book a booster jab for those eligible.

Will all 12 to 15 year olds get the Covid vaccine?

Yes, all those 12 to 15 years old will be offered just one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Those with underlying health conditions in this age group will be offered both doses of the vaccine.

This move by the British government to offer the vaccine to young teens falls in line with many other countries. This includes the US and Canada as both countries have started vaccinating all those over 12 years old.

However, the rollout of the vaccination programme to 12 to 17 year olds will be carefully monitored. In the initial rollout to those aged 18 and over, many attempted to get their second Covid vaccine early. Those who can prove a double coronavirus vaccination are allowed to travel to amber list countries without quarantining of their way home, increasing the demand of a speedy second jab.

When did the MHRA approve the vaccine for this age group?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds in June 2021. Following advice from the JCVI, the government have now confirmed that they will offer the vaccine to this age group.

In December, the regulatory body approved the Pfizer vaccine for those 16 and 17 years old. At the time, the JCVI advised that 16 to 18 year olds in the Phase 1 group have a vaccination. Those living in a household with someone who has a suppressed immune system were also eligible.

The regulatory body said the vaccine was safe to use in these age groups. They also said the benefits outweighed any risks when it came to vulnerable teenagers.

This statement followed a "rigorous review" of the safety and quality of the jab in those under 16 years old by the MHRA and the government's own independent advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).

"No extension to an authorisation would be approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been met," Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said in a statement at the time.

In March, Pfizer published their own research on the effects of the vaccine on those in the 12 to 15 age group. They also suggested that the vaccine was highly effective (up to 100%) and produced "robust antibody responses".

These results were better than those of a trial of 16-15 year old participants in an earlier analysis". Young people in this age group also "tolerated" the vaccine well.

When will 16 to 17 year olds have the vaccine?

All 16 to 17 year olds are now eligible to have both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccinations predominantly took place at walk-in clinics and GP surgeries for this age group, just the same as others. However, thousands of young people took up the chance to have the jab in August at Grab-A-Jab sites. Two of these were Reading and Leeds Festival.

As of September 2, the NHS reported that 50% of 16 to 17 year olds had taken up the offer. Only four weeks later, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the programme was a huge achievement.

"It is fantastic to see the enthusiasm of young people to get the jab. And great news that more than half of 16 to 17s in England are now vaccinated with a first dose as they return to colleges and sixth forms," he said.

"Thank you for playing your part in helping us live safely with this virus. So we can continue to enjoy the freedoms we missed like seeing friends and family.

"Jab by jab we are building a wall of defence that has already saved more than 105,000 lives and prevented 143,000 hospitalisations in England alone. Do not delay – please come forward and get both of your vaccines as soon as you can."

What is a circuit breaker lockdown? It's the question everyone is asking as Scotland's ministers are reviewing potential changes to the lockdown rules. 

Despite an incredible uptake of the Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford vaccines, and attempts even by younger people to get the second vaccine early, Covid-19 cases are still rising in the UK. While this isn't surprising, as no jab is 100% effective, it's causing concern among health experts and government ministers. Especially since, along with infections, hospital admissions and deaths are also going up.

One of the measures ministers have employed before is a circuit-breaker lockdown, otherwise known as a firebreak lockdown. These lockdowns help to prevent infections, giving the NHS time to recover from the surge.

What is a circuit breaker lockdown?

A circuit breaker lockdown is a short, sharp lockdown that lasts just a couple of weeks. It's a short-term solution to reverse the tide of infections and bring case numbers down.

While the rules feel very similar to when we go back into lockdown, a circuit-breaker is only for a set period of time. After this period is over, people can go about their lives as before.

The idea is that circuit breaker lockdowns are less damaging to the economy, education and people's mental health as they allow people to plan ahead for restrictions.

However, it's debatable as to how effective they really are. Whether these lockdowns work or not entirely depends on how severe the rules are and how much people stick to them during the time that they're enforced.

What is a firebreak lockdown?

A firebreak and circuit breaker lockdown are the same thing.

In electronics, a circuit breaker is an automatic electrical switch that is designed to protect an electrical circuit from excess surges of current. While a firebreak is similar, its name comes from the fire prevention method of having a strip of land in a wood or forest where the trees are removed to prevent a fire from spreading.

While Wales called their short lockdown in October 2020 a 'firebreak' lockdown, Northern Ireland called their one in November a 'circuit breaker' lockdown.

Will there be a circuit breaker lockdown in Scotland?

A circuit breaker lockdown is one of the options that health experts are presenting to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The country is currently experiencing a rapid rise in cases of coronavirus, following the end of restrictions. However as of August 26, there's been no confirmation that Scotland will be in a circuit breaker lockdown.

Other options include new social distancing rules and vaccine passports, which allow people to prove a double vaccination before entering public events and travelling internationally.

It's likely that freedoms of the summer months will be locked down as we approach winter, according to sources in The Times. During the winter months, health experts are expecting a surge in Covid-19 cases anyway, as there's less chance for ventilation in indoor spaces and the cold weather wears down the body's immune defence.

The changes in restrictions are likely to begin again with some of the most preventative measures. Scottish government guidance already says that face masks will be mandatory in crowded spaces until next year.

“There are two options: You could either put in a circuit breaker, you could shut down completely for a short period. Or you could move back through the stages and say we are going to limit indoors gatherings, we are going to reintroduce distancing,” the source told the paper.

Will there be a circuit breaker lockdown in England?

According to Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi, there's the potential for England to go into a firebreak lockdown before the end of the year.

Mr Zahawi did not deny that a circuit breaker lockdown could be implemented if Covid-19 hospitalisations remain high. But, he said it depends on if people book a booster jab and the booster programme for the elderly and most vulnerable.

He said that the booster programme was his "absolute priority". This is because it would "absolutely help us to transition the virus from pandemic to endemic status". He did warn, though, that the "one-way road towards sustaining the opening of the economy" would only happen "if we do that well".

One idea is to extend the October half-term to two weeks. This would keep children away from school and allow room for the NHS to recover after an expected peak in early October.

But questions over whether we will go into lockdown again have been coming up since March earlier this year. There has been nothing concrete since then to suggest that more restrictions are on the way.

The PM has promised to keep "contingency measures" in place to "help manage the virus during higher risk periods, such as winter". But he also assured the public that the government would do "everything possible" to avoid restrictions.

England's short, sharp lockdown in November last year was to manage the surge of cases before Christmas. And as we know, it really wasn't all that effective. The government had to ditch plans to allow those in upper tiers to mix households over the holiday. They then put the country in a long lockdown in the new year, which only fully ended on July 19.

Importantly though, in November last year there weren't any vaccines available to the general public. We're in a very different situation now compared to even earlier this year. According to the latest government data, 47 million people in the UK have had a first vaccine dose. This works out to be 87% of those over 16-years old. Nearly 41 million people - 75% of those over this age - have also had both doses. This in turn gives 75% of the population a significant chance of avoiding seriously illness and death, shown by the dramatically reduced levels of hospital admissions during this ongoing third wave.

Although it's still important to bear conditions such as long-Covid in mind, it's hospital admissions and deaths that the government value when making decisions about restrictions.

With a circuit breaker lockdown being discussed, many are concerned about whether schools are going to close again before the winter holidays. And further along the line, whether Christmas parties are cancelled for another year.

Will there be one in Wales?

Similarly to England, there are no reports that Wales is going back into a circuit breaker lockdown.

Although, cases are rising in the country since ministers lifted restrictions earlier this month. Wales latest infection rate was 321.7 cases per 100,000 people - based on the seven days leading up to August 20.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said that he's monitoring the situation and deciding whether to enforce restrictions again.

"We have never said in Wales a move away from restrictions is a one-way street and there was never any turning back," he said at a press conference recently.

However, the country has seen an incredible in coronavirus vaccines in newly-eligible age groups. Across the UK, some 12 to 15 year olds can have the vaccine and 50% of 16 to 17-year olds in Wales have now had their first jab.

The country had a firebreak lockdown starting from October 23 last year. It ended on November 9 and included a ban on all non-essential activity, except if you were a key worker.

Will Northern Ireland go into a circuit breaker lockdown?

There's no confirmation that Northern Ireland will go into a circuit breaker lockdown.

However, Northern Ireland recorded their highest number of coronavirus cases - ever - earlier this month. On Friday August 13, the Department of Health recorded 2,397 more cases and a further nine deaths from the virus.

Doctors are now warning ministers that people may lose their lives to other conditions.

Much like England, Northern Ireland's Stormont ministers announced a firebreak lockdown in October last year.

What would a circuit-breaker lockdown mean?

While it might sound like a good idea in theory, the circuit-breaker lockdown would involve the strictest measures.

In Northern Ireland last year, the hospitality sector closed - apart from takeaways and deliveries. Off-licenses and supermarkets couldn't sell alcohol after 8pm and there was no indoor sport other than at elite level. Close-contact services had to close too, as did mobile hairdressers and make-up artists. However, gyms could remain open for solo training - without any classes.

First Minister Mark Drakeford issued the Welsh firebreak lockdown last year. He told a press conference that all non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses had to close. This meant that everyone had to work from home wherever possible and stay inside, except for very limited reasons. People could also not meet anyone outside of their households with exceptions for those who live alone.

The FM said at the time, "This fire break is the shortest we can make it. But that means that it will have to be sharp and deep in order to have the impact we need it to have on the virus."

Do circuit-breaker lockdowns work?

England has taken on a short, sharp lockdown before - with mixed results. In November, the government announced another lockdown temporarily to try and curb the virus.

According to research from the Zoe Covid symptom study, in association with Kings College London, the results of the lockdown varied across the country. Cases went down in areas of the north of England which had the highest infection rate. But they rose in the Midlands and continued to rise through the lockdown. Experts believed that this was due to reduced compliance, a result of months worth of restrictions, or a last-minute burst of socialising as the highest rates were in those aged between 20 to 39 years old. People in this age group are also most exposed. They are the most common age group working public-facing jobs, such as in restaurants and bars.

Also, schools didn't close during England's circuit breaker lockdown. This meant the levels of infection in children and young people under 19 at school and university stayed stable.

Can I get my second Covid vaccine early? It’s the question many are asking this week as more people become eligible for the jab. 

Throughout the pandemic, both the government and health officials have stressed the importance of a double Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford vaccine dosage. As well as helping to encourage herd immunity and cut transmission, all evidence points to a double vaccination as the best way to avoid serious illness and death. Data from this year shows that a double jab can reduce the risk of death by up to 80% in those over 80-years old.

It's more important than ever before, some experts say, as the government have now scrapped restrictions in England. This includes the requirement to wear a face covering, despite not all o the population actually being double jabbed yet.

Can I get my second Covid vaccine early?

Unfortunately, advice from NHS England and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says that second doses of the vaccine have to be at least eight weeks after the first. 

Studies show that shorter intervals between doses offer a high level of protection - but "eight weeks is the sweet spot". Having the second dose earlier than this could even result in less protection from the vaccine.

Oxford University's Pitch study compared the immune responses of 503 NHS staff who had had their two doses at different intervals in late 2020 and early 2021. This was when the Alpha variant was the dominant one in the UK.

After one month and their second vaccine dose, they measured the staff members' antibodies. Researchers found that both short and long dosing intervals of the Pfizer vaccine created a strong immune response overall. However, they discovered that a three week wait between doses created fewer of the antibodies that bind the virus and stop it infecting cells than a 10 week wait.

Those who had the vaccine with less time between doses still developed high levels of T-cells, which are a different type of immune cell. Those with a longer amount of time between doses had fewer T-cells but a higher amount of "helper T-cells". These support overall immune memory according to the researchers.

Prof Susanna Dunachie, the joint chief investigator in the study, said that given the UK's current situation, "Eight weeks is about the sweet spot...because people do want to get the two vaccine [doses] and there is a lot of Delta out there right now."

"Unfortunately, I can't see this virus disappearing. So you want to balance that against getting the best protection that you can," she added.

Professor Anthony Harnden is the deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). He told The i paper that people receiving their second doses may have "less protection against infections in a potential fourth wave". And if you have the second jab early, "you're definitely less protected against asymptomatic disease if you have a shorter dose interval”. 

Another study published in May 2021 by the University of Birmingham found that older people (80 to 99 years old) who waited longer between doses (12 weeks) had an antibody response 3.5 times greater than those who only waited three weeks between doses. 

The research project was the very first one to compare the effect of short and longer waiting times between doses.

“Our study demonstrates that peak antibody responses after the second Pfizer vaccine are markedly enhanced in older people when this is delayed to 12 weeks,” Helen Parry, author of the study, said. 

A similar study published in June 2021 by Oxford University showed that a longer waiting time of 45 weeks between the first and second doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine produced a better immune response as well. 

The research on the vaccine also indicated that a third booster jab would continue to create antibodies against Covid-19.

Having the vaccine a few days early is fine if it avoids wastage, Professor Harnden said recently. However, shorter intervals between doses were “not in the person’s best interest or in the population’s best interest”. 

He added, “Our policy is eight weeks so they shouldn’t be having [the second dose] early and if they’re having it early to get off on their holidays, it’s not a sensible idea really.” 

However, despite NHS guidance being clear on the subject, some people have managed to get their second vaccine early. With growing concerns over the transmissibility of the new Delta variant amid lockdown ending, some centres defied the rules and offered second vaccinations as early as 21 days after the first. 

Over the government's "Grab a Jab" weekend in June, many pop-up vaccination sites offered early second doses. Evidence on social media also suggests that walk-in clinics in England were offering second jabs. Some were providing vaccines with a gap of only three weeks between the first and second doses.

An NHS England spokesperson has now confirmed that they are contacting vaccination centres to ensure this doesn't happen again. They said that "every site should vaccinate in line with JVCI guidance". This means that "second doses should take place eight weeks after the first".

Can I choose which Covid vaccine I get?

No, you cannot normally choose your Covid-19 vaccine. 

When you book an appointment online, the NHS will only offer appointments for vaccines that you can have. If you're pregnant or under 40, then you will have the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine. And following the approval of the Pfizer vaccine, if you're under 18, the service will only offer the Pfizer vaccine. The Oxford and Moderna jabs haven't been approved for this age group yet.

Will the government shorten the waiting time between jabs?

Getting the second Covid vaccine early could become a common practice, though. The government may halve the waiting time to four weeks anyway.  

Number 10 officials have reportedly asked the JCVI to offer urgent advice on reducing the time between doses from eight weeks down to four, in order to speed up the administration of second doses. It comes amid a general rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, which has led to some politicians to consider a circuit breaker lockdown. 

If the government approves the decision, it will be younger people who primarily benefit. If they are eligible under strict criteria, 12 to 15 year olds can get the Covid vaccine in the UK and so can those aged 16 and 17 years old, following changes to the guidance. 

Most of those aged 40 and over have now been offered both doses of the vaccine. So as well as providing better immunity for those who could be at risk of illness and conditions such as long Covid, it opens up the idea of quarantine-free international travel for more people. 

According to an ONS report, 62% of adults between 16 to 29 years old were looking forwards to booking a holiday abroad when the legal restrictions ended. Currently, anyone going abroad to a country that isn’t on the green list has to quarantine if they are not able to prove a double vaccination.

Those who can prove that they have had both doses of the vaccine will be able to travel to country on the amber list without having to quarantine on their return to the UK. 

The government has also urged many venues to consider using the NHS Covid Pass scheme as a condition for entry. If they do, only those who have had both doses (or proof of a negative test instead) can enter.

How long should you wait between vaccines?

The JCVI and other medical experts recommend that you wait 8 weeks between your first and second doses.

As Professor Anthony Harnden has said, “There is very good immunological and vaccine effectiveness evidence that the longer you leave that second dose the better for Pfizer and eight weeks seems to be a reasonable compromise.” 

At the start of the vaccine roll-out, health officials said a 12 week gap between doses is ideal for maximum protection. However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, explained that the changing nature of the new Delta variant led to the government decreasing the gap from 12 weeks to 8 weeks. 

“In the absence of any growing variant, the UK would have stuck to its plans to vaccinate with a 12-week interval."

“However, we now know that two doses of the vaccine are very much better than one dose for protection against infection with the Delta variant," he said. "We now find ourselves in a straight race between finishing the vaccination programme and how quickly the Delta variant will continue to grow.” 

He added, “That is why JCVI has now shortened the dosing interval back to 8 weeks as a response to an ever-changing situation.”

Those eligible for a third vaccine must book a Covid booster jab a minimum of six months after their second dose.

How to find a walk in centre

There are walk in centres around the country where you can get your second dose. You can go to one of these even if you have an appointment booked in the future.

Go to the NHS website and type in your postcode. This will give you a drop-down selection of sites where you can get your first or second doses.

Some sites are only vaccinating with one type of jab (Pfizer, Oxford or Moderna). So, you'll have to go to a different one to get the second dose of the jab you had before. Others are only offering walk-in vaccinations to those in higher priority age groups, such as people over 40.

Advice from NHS reads, "If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine from a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site without an appointment.

"You do not need to be registered with a GP or bring any ID. It might help to bring your NHS number, if you know it.

"If you've already had your 1st dose, you need to wait 8 weeks before having your 2nd dose."

Can I mix and match my covid vaccine?

The government have not made a final decision as to whether people can mix and match Covid jabs. You must have the same vaccine for both, unless you had a serious allergic reaction to the first jab.

The effect of mixing Covid-19 vaccine is still being explored.

Mixing and matching Covid jabs means having different vaccines for your first and second dose. This might be a Pfizer vaccine for your first dose. Then, eight weeks later, a shot of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine for your second dose.

At the moment, there are several ongoing studies looking into the impact of mixing and matching Covid-19 vaccines. Data has been released from trials in Spain and at Oxford University in the UK. Both suggest that mixing vaccines leads to a good immune response. Occasionally, mixing the vaccines produced a higher immune response than two does of the same jab as well.

A German study found that mixing jabs produced a better immune response than two doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine. They also found that mixing vaccines was just as good as having two shots of the Pfizer vaccine.

Many countries are already mixing vaccines, due to unstable supplies of one type in many cases. These include:

• Thailand
• The United Arab Emirates
• South Korea
• Italy
• Canada
• Bhutan
• Bahrain

Public Health England quietly approved the method in January when there were questions over supplies in the UK. This could be an option in the future, especially for those eligible for a third jab.

Over in the States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowed mixing "in exceptional circumstances".

However, experts say there isn't enough clinical data to confirm mixing the vaccines is completely effective. Both the Spanish and English studies suggest that side effects from the vaccine are more severe when mixing jabs too.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)'s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan also confirmed that people should wait for more information before going ahead and mixing vaccines.

She said, "Individuals should not decide for themselves, public health agencies can, based on available data. Data from mix and match studies are awaited - immunogenicity and safety both need to be evaluated".

So for now, it looks as though mixing and matching vaccines is not an option in the UK.

Will there be a third dose?

The government is currently creating the vaccine programme for "booster" third doses. These will be available to those particularly at risk from Covid-19 at the moment. This includes those in more vulnerable age groups and those who are more likely to be affected by the virus.

There are no plans to offer a third dose to anyone who had their second jab early, though. Responding to the question on BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Professor Harnden said that the programme is "designed to prevent hospitalisations and deaths." 

Therefore, he added, "targeting boosters with the most vulnerable first is clearly the right strategy."

To increase uptake among younger people, the government are launching incentives - such as free Uber Eats deliveries - for those having the Covid-19 vaccine. 

It's not the first scheme of its kind, with Uber offering free rides to vaccination centres to help encourage people to have the vaccine and ease any travel difficulties. However, with concerns remaining over the new Delta variant and a drop in testing over the last few weeks, the government have reignited the incentive scheme to encourage anyone who hasn't already had the jab to book one in.

But with a large proportion of young people already vaccinated, some have criticised the scheme for coming too late.

Can you get free Uber Eats for having the vaccine?

Yes! The government have confirmed that Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo are just some of the companies who will offer discounts and incentives to customers who opt to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Uber will remind all users in August to get the jab and in turn, will offer discounted Uber rides and meals on the Uber Eats app to young adults.

When the offer begins,  students will be the first ones to luck out as they'll be able to claim £10 in credit from the company to have either a free trip or a meal delivered to them.

The government will also give Uber-provided awards to people who post a selfie outside a vaccination centre, the company have confirmed.

Bolt, another ride company, will similarly offer free ride credit to any vaccination centre. Much like Uber, the company gave £250,000 in free ride credit to Londoners earlier this year to help the vaccine rollout.

These are just the offers on the table at the moment. The government have confirmed that other incentives may be up for grabs, including vouchers for entertainment centres such as Vue Cinemas. Discount codes will also be available for those getting the vaccine at pop-up sites and booking through the NHS. Social media competitions and promotional offers for restaurants - including McDonald's - are being discussed too.

Founder of Pizza Pilgrims, Thom Elliot, hinted that his restaurant chain would also be getting involved with the scheme. He said, "We are excited to do our bit in the push to get every adult in the UK vaccinated against Covid-19.

"By making getting your jab as easy as grabbing a pizza, hopefully we can help our teams and our customers get both their first and second doses as easily and quickly as possible. Watch this space for more details."

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said, "It is great to see the strong enthusiasm among young people so far to get their vaccines. Getting both doses of the jab is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and avoid unknowingly passing the virus on to someone who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

"Thank you to the businesses who have backed this mission – please get your jabs as soon as you can and grab a bargain."

Do you have to show proof of vaccination to get the deals?

It's not known how - or even if - people have to show proof of their vaccinations to get access the deals.

However as concerns remain over the so-called 'vaccine passport' and the need to prove a double vaccination in some venue spaces, the government have stressed that companies "won't ask for, or hold any health data for the incentive scheme."

It's not clear whether those looking to access discounts and deals would have to prove that they'd just been vaccinated. Or, whether they have been vaccinated at all.

There is further criticism of the scheme already as well. Almost 90% of adults under 30 have already had the vaccine. Up to 70% of those aged 18-29, thought to be the age group most at risk for spreading the virus, have also already had the jabs. With the scheme rolling out soon, some people could be irked that by taking up the vaccine when they were called has meant they've missed out on financial incentives.

Lockdown weight gain is an issue that has affected most of us, with research revealing that over 40% of adults in England gained weight during the pandemic. 

It's safe to say that food was a comfort to many during the numerous UK lockdowns - with fancy home-cooked meals, banana-bread baking and the joy of FINALLY being able to order a takeaway again, being things the British public all indulged in during a difficult year. All this comfort eating however has had quite the universal impact on the population though. As one Public Health England survey found that adults across the country experienced an average weight gain of 3kg (or half a stone) during lockdown.

As a return to normalcy begins, many are seeking ways to remedy the effects from staying indoors. With lockdown ageing and quarantine weight gain two things many are keen to reverse. With this in mind, we asked the experts about diets that work fast, how to up our fitness and lose fat from our bellies and bodies post lockdown.

How to reverse lockdown weight gain and lose quarantine weight

Personal trainer Daniel Carpenter from Common Purpose Club says that while it's easy to get tempted "by quick fixes and rapid weight loss programs", it’s not worth it in the long run. If you want to reverse lockdown weight gain for the long-term, you should avoid "a yo-yo pattern with diet and exercise."   

Instead, he suggests thinking of weight loss “in months and years, as opposed to days and weeks.”

Here's what to do to reverse lockdown weight gain:

Make sure you’re in a calorie deficit

Being in a calorie deficit is the first step of weight loss and it basically means consuming fewer calories than your body needs to stay at its current weight. 

“Ways to do this are monitoring food intake and ensuring you are eating in a calorie deficit.” Personal trainer Martin Hamer from The Training Room explains, “Include resistance training a minimum of twice a week to build some lean body mass. This will help you to expend more calories on a daily basis.”

You can use free apps like MyFitnessPal to track your calories quickly and easily.

And while the larger the deficit, the quicker the weight loss, it’s important to remember that the changes you make in your diet need to be sustainable to avoid just regaining the weight in future. 

To find out how many calories you need to eat to be in a calorie deficit, use a calculator like this one, which uses details to work out the number of calories you should eat everyday for weight loss and maintenance. 

Ensure you're being consistent

Progress doesn’t just happen overnight, no matter how hard you try, our experts say. “Consistency and adherence need to be the foundation for everything else.” PT Daniel says, “This means setting small and sustainable changes that are both familiar and predictable to you, the individual.” 

If you were a keen gym-goer before the lockdown but weren’t one for online workouts at home, it’s also important to recognise that the consistency at which you’ll now exercise is likely to change. 

“Prior to the pandemic, if you were exercising around 6 times per week, I would advice easing yourself in and setting a target of 3 workouts per week, to build your fitness levels and back to the way you were training previously.” Haydn Elliott, head trainer and co-owner of F45 Oxford Circus, explains.

This way, you can keep up consistency by avoiding injury from overtraining and going too hard, too soon.

Get good quality sleep

Sleep has been a huge talking point throughout the lockdown, with insomnia and vivid dreams topping the list of sleep problems caused by the pandemic. Sleep is vital when you’re doing more day-to-day and will be key if you're trying to reverse lockdown weight gain. 

As trainer Haydn explains, “When returning to more intense training structures, you must also focus on getting good quality sleep, at least 7-9 hours. Your body is going to really feel the effects of this increased intensity, so you need to give yourself time to recover.” 

He adds, “As well as sleep, you must ensure that you are properly hydrating with several litres of water throughout the day and nourishing your body with an adequate protein intake.

“I would give this same advice to people who have never worked out before as well. People have been fairly inactive throughout the lockdowns, so everyone is starting their own journey again. Now is the time to leave your pride at the door and try to enjoy the process rather than getting too focused on aesthetics.”

Avoid the classic weight loss mistakes

Over the course of losing weight, lots of people find that their diets aren’t working and they’re just not losing any more weight. While this can be pinned down to many things, including entering a weight loss plateau - where the body has acclimatised to the calorie deficit - knowing the pitfalls to avoid in advance is a good step. 

“One of the biggest pitfalls is overindulging and snacking when you don’t actually require the calories.” Trainer Hasit Jethwa says, “Higher carb intake and reduction in protein intake when you are sitting at home and/or working away is something you should be careful to avoid. 

“Carbs are generally very easy and quick to consume, and it is what most people tend to do which leads to a surplus of calories, as you are not utilising them as much being less active.”

But going too far the other way is also a common mistake. “Don’t assume you can do what you did before lockdown and avoid comparing yourself to that; you’ll no doubt have lost strength if you have been away from training and gym equipment, and you’ll also have lost some endurance if you have not been doing cardiovascular work.” Hasit warns, instead take these points into account account and set small targets to progress.

He adds, "You’ll find that the more active you were before and during lockdown, the quicker you’ll be able to get back to where you once were.” 

Change your mindset

While it can be difficult to brush away the looming post-lockdown pressure don’t attach your self worth to a number on the scale.

As PT Daniel says, “You are not just your weight. Wanting to lose weight to look and feel better, and become fitter and healthier, are endeavours that we highly encourage. But try (as best you can) to emotionally detach yourself from the weight on the scale. 

“We understand this is really difficult, but just view your weight as a data point that provides feedback. You can use this feedback to adjust your daily practices. It’s a massive process of trial and error, but as long as you stick with it...you can’t fail!”

Psychologist and therapist Şirin Atçeken also told GoodtoKnow that as well as not putting pressure on ourselves as we leave lockdown in general, it's important to rebuild our confidence in ways that doesn't just involve weight loss. 

"Exercise is excellent for good mental health, positive mental attitude and making us feel energised, but it can be difficult when we aren’t feeling our best. Make a small plan and understand what works for you." She says, "This could be regular walks, a 30 min exercise session, calorie counting or yoga. These activities will provide instant boosts of energy and motivation, and leave you feeling great, and more confident.

"I would also recommend buying some new clothes, or readdressing your wardrobe and pull out your favourite clothes." Şirin says, "Loungewear is great, but it doesn’t do our mental health any favours, and makes us feel bigger than we are. Buying new clothes, or trying on existing ones that you haven’t had a chance to wear this past year will instantly boost your confidence, and help you rediscover your style, which is all part of the fun.

"It’s really important that you don’t link your self confidence and worth to your weight, and realise what great qualities you have. Write down on a piece of paper all of your great qualities - or better yet, get someone else to write them down, and you do the same for them. Whenever you feel low, or sad, look at the list to help perk you up and make you feel better."

Ask for help when you need it

Whether you’re itching to get back on the treadmill or looking to venture into the world of back garden HIIT workouts to help shift any unwanted lockdown weight gain, professional help can really make the difference. 

Personal Trainer Daniel suggests asking an expert “who is experienced in helping people through the weight loss journey”. Not only will they help you create a plan but you’ll also “have someone to hold you accountable and provide advice or guidance when things get tough.”

Some 12 to 15 year olds are now eligible for the Covid vaccine, so many are wondering when younger children will have their turn. 

Whether you think all children should have the Covid vaccine or not, it's something that children may have soon as concerns are rising over the Delta variant and there are discussions over a potential circuit breaker lockdown to stem the rise in cases.

Currently, the NHS just offering eligible children aged 12 to 15 both doses of the Covid vaccine. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said this will happen "as soon as possible" to protect more vulnerable young people.

When can young children get the Covid vaccine?

At the moment, the government have not said when children younger than 12 years old can get the Covid vaccine.

This week, The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised the government that children aged between 12 and 15 years old "at an increased risk of serious coronavirus (COVID-19) disease are offered a vaccine."

Currently, this only includes children who have severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities. Children aged between 12 and 17 who live with "an immunosuppressed person" can also have the vaccine, if they wish.

Studies are still ongoing to assess whether children younger than 12 should have the coronavirus vaccine. While the NHS will tell those eligible for a third vaccine how to book a booster jab before the end of the year.

From September 2021, those eligible for a third Covid-19 vaccine will be told how to book a booster jab online.

Covid vaccines for children aged 2 to 11 years old

Pfizer is conducting trials for children ages 6 months to 11 years old at the moment. This will determine whether younger age groups can have the vaccine in the future as currently, this vaccine is only approved for those aged 12 and over.

The pharmaceutical company have said that they should be ready to submit data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US within the next few months.

“We are planning for emergency use authorization submission for the older age group (ages 5-11) in September or October of this year, and the younger group to follow soon thereafter,” Alejandra Gurtman, Pfizer’s vice president of vaccine clinical research and development, said during a virtual symposium recently.

This means that children aged 2 to 11 years old could have the coronavirus vaccine in the States soon. However, there is no word on whether children between these ages would get the vaccine in the UK.

At the moment, Pfizer is going ahead with clinical trials for healthy children aged 6 months to 11 years old. The children are studied in three separate age groups. Beginning with 6 months to 2 year olds, 2 to 5 years, and then 5 to 12 years olds. Similarly, Moderna is doing clinical trials for those aged between 6 months to 11 years old. While Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, two more vaccines that have not yet been approved for use in the UK, are continuing their trials for young people aged 12 to 17 years old. 

Earlier this year, Oxford University began their vaccine study into children aged 6 to 17 years old. The study involved 300 volunteers, with 240 children receiving the actual vaccine and the remainder receiving a control meningitis jab.

Andrew Pollard, Oxford's professor of paediatric infection and immunity, and the chief investigator on the trial, said that most children don't become seriously unwell with coronavirus. However,"it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people". In the future, "some children may benefit from vaccination."

He said, “These new trials will extend our understanding of control of SARS-CoV2 to younger age groups.” 

However, the trial stopped in April. Researchers discovered a possible link between the Oxford vaccine and blood clots in adults. It has not resumed since then. 

Covid vaccines for children aged 6 months to 2 years old

Similarly, both Pfizer and Moderna are conducting clinical trials on the efficacy of the vaccines on children aged 6 months to 2 years. This will decide whether children get the coronavirus vaccine in the future.

There were some concerns at the beginning of the rollout over whether the Covid-19 vaccine should be given during pregnancy. Following multiple trials, those who are pregnant can now have the vaccine if they wish. 

However, there are no plans to introduce the vaccine to babies as part of their early-life vaccinations. 

Should all children get the Covid vaccine? It's a question everyone from parents to medical experts have been asking. 

Just this week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the Pfizer vaccine for vulnerable children aged between 12-15 years old. Following this, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has asked the NHS to start vaccinating eligible children "as soon as possible".

For some, it's a huge relief. Allowing younger children with underlying health conditions access to the vaccine ensures them more protection from the virus. Others, however, wonder if this will lead to all children being vaccinated in the not-too-distant future.

Should all children get the Covid vaccine?

Vaccinating children is essential to reach herd immunity and limit the severe repercussions of Covid-19 on the wider population, research suggests. This is our sure-fire way out of the pandemic for good, as herd immunity has predominantly been achieved through vaccines for hundreds of years now.

However, safety and necessity should always be paramount when considering new vaccines - especially for children.

These are just two of the main arguments for why we should and shouldn't vaccinate children. This is what else the experts are saying...

The risk of Covid-19 to most children is very low

This is true, all evidence suggests. While children are certainly still vulnerable to the virus, they're significantly less likely to become ill while infected with it.

Most children who contract Covid-19 only get a mild illness, research shows. All children, including those with minor underlying health conditions, also have a significantly lower risk of hospitalisation and death too.

They're less likely than adults to develop long-term conditions as a result of the virus, such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, as well.

Infections in children are almost always only mild or even asymptomatic, evidence suggests. This is a dramatic contrast to older age groups who tend to experience worse symptoms while unwell and are proven to be more at risk.

One international study, published in the Lancet, shows that an estimated fewer than two out of every million children died directly from Covid-19 during the pandemic last year. While even one child is too many, this shows that the virus rarely if ever seriously affects children.

And medical experts have agreed that those children who are extremely vulnerable should have the vaccine. As of July 20, the NHS is offering all eligible children their first dose of the vaccine "as soon as possible" to prevent any further risk from the new Delta variant.

On announcing the new stage of the rollout, Vaccines Minister Nadim Zahawi said, "In accepting the JCVI advice, more vulnerable young children and those who live with people who are immunosuppressed will be offered the vaccine. Vaccines save lives, and it is vital all those who are eligible book their 1st and 2nd doses without delay".

But children are still susceptible to long Covid

Even children who were asymptomatic during infection have been shown to develop long Covid afterwards.

The condition was first identified in adults but studies have now discovered that it's very much something that's impacting the daily lives of children too. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, insomnia, muscle pain, flu-like symptoms and heart palpitations.

One Italian study interviewed 129 children (aged between 6 and 16 years old) who had tested positive for Covid-19 between March and November 2020. They discovered that more than one out of three children had one or multiple symptoms of the virus four months or more after infection - a pattern now officially described as long Covid. Out of the 129 children surveyed, just over 40% completely recovered.

The research by Paediatrician Danilo Buonsenso at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome also confirmed previous findings. Even children who only had mild symptoms or were completely asymptomatic had the long-term effects of the virus.

Findings from the ongoing Zoe symptom study have confirmed that vaccines "reduce the chances of people getting long Covid". This is because the jab reduces "the risk of seriously debilitating symptoms". And, importantly, also decreases the chances of an infection lasting longer than three months.

Vaccinating children could save other lives

Experts have always said that older people and those who have underlying health conditions are most at risk from Covid-19. Vaccinating children is a good step to help reduce the risk for others.

The vaccines are proven to be excellent at disrupting the spread of the virus, as the rise in cases recently tells us.

Other research shows that just one dose of the vaccine cuts the chances of catching the virus by half at least. And even the people who do get Covid are half as likely to pass it onto others.

Younger children, surprisingly, aren't actually major risks for the spread of coronavirus. But it's certain that older unvaccinated teenagers are a serious risk to those vulnerable to the virus.

But other countries need the vaccines more

The United Kingdom has fully vaccinated over half of their population. 82.4 million people have received at least one dose, which cuts their risk of severe illness and hospitalisation by as much as 75% in some cases. Following the success of the rollout, the government are considering boosting immunity with a third jab this year.

In comparison, according to the People's Vaccine Alliance, at least 90% of people in 67 low income countries are unlikely to have a vaccine against Covid-19 this year. All because richer nations, including the UK, have reserved more vaccine doses than they need.

Wealthier countries only contain 14% of the world's population. But they have purchased 53% of the eight "most promising" vaccines, according to the Alliance. This includes all of the Moderna doses for the next year and 96% of the Pfizer vaccine jabs.

While Oxford University has promised to offer 64% of their vaccine to developing countries, the Alliance has predicted that at best this will reach only 18% of the world's population within the next year.

This has caused huge contention in the medical community. Some experts insist that all extra vaccine supplies should go to nations who haven't been able to vaccinate their populations.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed recently that rich countries should delay any plans to vaccinate children. Instead, they should donate the doses to the rest of the world.

Professor Andrew Pollard conducted the clinical trials of the Oxford vaccine. He said that it was "morally wrong" to prioritise children in the UK over other nations. While immunologist Professor Eleanor Riley did say that there "is a case for it" - but it comes with a condition.

"If there was unlimited supply of vaccine we could keep going with the over-12s, but there isn't," she said. "Eventually it's a political decision whether to prioritise our kids over adults dying in their droves elsewhere in the world."

There are also economic benefits to offering the vaccine more widely than our own shores. Professor Philip Clarke, a lead researcher of population health from the University of Oxford, said as much.

"Redistributing vaccine supplies from high-income countries would have global benefits. It would reduce the risk of the emergence and spread of new variants and benefit the economy, both globally and in donor countries," he said.

"In contrast, the economic cost of vaccine nationalism is potentially high. The world’s economy is highly interconnected. As long as the virus is not under control everywhere, there will be a huge cost to the global economy. Up to $1.2 trillion per year according to some estimates."

As the Delta variant is now dominant in the UK, experts are warning that Covid symptoms to look out for have changed.

Since the very beginning of the pandemic, we've been told to look out of three symptoms which indicate Covid-19 infection: a high temperature, continuous cough and a loss of taste and/or smell. The emphasis has been on washing hands, wearing a mask and self-isolating at first sign of a splutter or fever. Even as other variants emerged last year, experts maintained warnings about these three main symptoms.

However the new Delta variant has thrown this all into question. Following recent data collection by the app-based Zoe symptom study, experts are now warning people to be aware of totally different symptoms that have proven links to the new variant.

What are the new Delta variant Covid symptoms?

The three new Covid symptoms to look out for are: 

• Headaches 
• Sore throat
• Runny nose

These are the most common symptoms of the Delta variant, researchers from the Zoe Covid symptom study have said. Instead of a specific set of more unusual symptoms, they suggest that the Delta variant feels more like a “bad cold”. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHBua3aXQ7c

It's for this reason that people are asking whether you should go into work with a cold during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since October this year, many people have returned to offices - despite the risk of infection.

Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London is leading the study. He said, “Covid is acting differently now, it’s more like a bad cold.

“People might think they’ve just got some sort of seasonal cold, and they still go out to parties. We think this is fuelling a lot of the problem. So, what’s really important to realise is that since the start of May, we’ve been looking at the top symptoms in all the app users, and they’re not the same as they were. So, the number one symptom is headache, followed by sore throat, runny nose and fever.” 

Whereas previously a continuous cough was one of the most common symptoms, it’s now only the fifth most-common. A loss of smell is not in the top 10 list of common Covid symptoms experts have linked to the Delta variant. 

The warning about these new Covid symptoms comes as the Delta variant is now dominant in the UK. The most up-to-date data from Public Health England (PHE) shows that the variant is responsible for up to 95% of all new cases of the virus in England, since it's significantly more transmissible (by up to 64%) than the other variants. It also appears to double the risk of hospitalisation as well.  

The new variant is also slightly resistant to the Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford vaccines - particularly after only one dose. PHE research shows that the vaccines, however, do offer all round good protection after both doses. This is one of the reasons that many people have been eager to get their second Covid vaccine dose early.

As Professor Spector said, “I think the message here is that if you’re young and getting milder symptoms any way, it might just feel like a bad cold or some funny feeling...do stay at home and do get a test.” 

Do lateral flow tests work on Delta variant?

Lateral flow tests do work to detect the Delta variant, experts have confirmed.

Professor Tim Spector has urged anyone feeling unwell to stay at home. And importantly, use a lateral flow test and follow up with a PCR test if they get a positive result.

"The number one symptom is headache, followed by runny nose, sore throat and fever. Not the old classic symptoms. We don’t see loss of smell in the top ten any more. This variant seems to be working slightly differently," he said.

Lateral flow tests will work on the Delta variant, an article in the British Medical Journal explains, as the kits detect viral proteins (antigens) from the virus in respiratory samples. The antigens in the sample bind to specific antibodies attached to the paper strip on the test. This, in turn, creates the purple lines that indicate a positive result.

However, it's important to note that lateral flow tests rely on the person having a high viral load. Those who have contracted Covid-19 but are asymptomatic with the virus tend to have a lower viral load than those with symptoms, meaning the test could be less effective. This is why self-isolating if you have come into contact with a Covid-positive person is important.

Following a high spike in the number of people contracting Covid-19, the government have put out further guidance on when to use each of the tests.

To take a lateral flow test, take a swab from the back of your throat and your nose. Drop the swab into the liquid provided. Then add the solution carefully to the test strip and wait for between 20 to 30 minutes for your result. If positive, you should follow up with a PCR test. These are more accurate than lateral flow tests at diagnosing infection.

Anyone can get two free lateral flow tests per week in England, without displaying any symptoms. People can order them online, call 119 or collect from local test centres and pharmacies.

The emergence of the new Delta variant is the main reason why some countries are requiring UK travellers to have proof of their Covid vaccines before they can enter. Many are also allowing travellers into the country with a negative PCR test. But there are some that are only allowing fully vaccinated visitors to enter without a quarantine period.

Is the Delta variant more deadly?

Early evidence suggests that the Delta variant may cause more serious illness than other variants.

PHE have already confirmed that the new variant may increase the risk of hospitalisation. Their analysis of over 38,000 Covid-19 cases found that those who contracted the Delta variant of Covid-19 were 2.61 times more likely to be admitted to hospital than those with the Alpha variant, which was dominant in the UK last year.

However, PHE has also confirmed that hospital attendances and admissions "are predominantly in unvaccinated individuals". Just one dose of the Pfizer vaccine is 94% effective at preventing hospital admission as a result of the Delta variant, according to the same analysis by PHE. This increases to 96% after two doses. The Oxford vaccine is also effective at preventing hospital admissions - by 71% after one dose and 92% after two doses.

This suggests that the new Covid variant is most deadly to those who haven't had any shots of the vaccine.

The labelling of this new variant as a 'variant of concern' led to the government to delay the end of lockdown until July 19. Previously. The lockdown roadmap gave an original end date of June 21 for all lockdown restrictions. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the "sensible" course of action would be to "wait just a little longer" to ease restrictions.

By delaying the end of lockdown for one month, the government hoped to significantly increase the number of people who have both Covid-19 jabs and reduce the chance of having to go into a circuit breaker lockdown again in the future. 

“Vaccination greatly reduces transmission and two doses provide a very high degree of protection against serious illness and death. But there are still millions of younger adults who have not had either vaccine. Sadly a proportion of the elderly and vulnerable may still succumb even if they have had two jabs.

“And that is why we are so concerned by the Delta variant that is now spreading faster than the third wave predicted in the February roadmap,” the PM said. 

“By Monday 19th July we will aim to have double jabbed around two thirds of the adult population including everyone over 50, all the vulnerable, all the frontline health and care workers and everyone over 40 who received their first dose by mid-May. And to do this we will now accelerate the 2nd jabs for those over 40. Just as we did for the vulnerable groups – so they get maximum protection as fast as possible.” 

It's because of the transmissibility of the Delta variant that some people are eligible for a third vaccine. GP surgeries and local pharmacies will be in contact with those vulnerable to Covid to book a Covid booster jab before the end of September.

As of July 19, 54% of all people living in the UK have received their second dose of the vaccine. Over 80 million people have had their first dose.

On December 8 2020, less than a month after the government approved the Pfizer vaccine, the first person in the UK received their first dose.

It was the first Covid-19 vaccine to roll out in the UK but shortly afterwards, it was joined by the Oxford vaccine and months later, by the Moderna vaccine. All three have contributed to the UK's successful vaccination programme, which in turn, has allowed for the lockdown roadmap to go ahead as planned. At the moment, there are no warnings that we'll go back into lockdown later this year - although there have been discussions over a potential circuit breaker lockdown in the future.

At the time of writing, over half (54.0%) of the UK population have had both doses of the jab. So where did the Pfizer vaccine come from? Who's next on the list to receive their vaccine? And importantly, is the Pfizer vaccine effective in combating new Covid-19 strains like the Delta variant? These are all questions people have been asking as more information around the Pfizer vaccine comes up.

Who made the Pfizer vaccine and in which country?

An American corporation called Pfizer in New York and BioNTech, a German biotechnology company based in Germany, developed the Pfizer vaccine. 

Pfizer is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Over the years, millions of people have used some of the essential medicines that the company creates. One of their most famous inventions is the EpiPen, which is used to treat allergic reactions, while anxiety sufferers might be familiar with Xanax, another of their medications. 

However, BioNTech are the originators of the vaccine. Founded by two German scientists, the company normally develop cancer immunotherapies but during the pandemic, they have turned their attention to Covid-19. 

How long does the Pfizer vaccine last?

The Pfizer vaccine produces a strong immune system response in the body that may protect against Covid-19 for years, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Nature science journal, discovered that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine offer long-lasting protection against the virus. This adds to the expanding evidence suggesting that those who received a mRNA vaccine may not need a booster dose. However, this is depending on whether the variants evolve again beyond their current condition.

Dr Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist and lead author of the study, said that the findings were a "good sign for how durable our immunity is from this vaccine".

Dr Ellebedy and his team also previously conducted a study on immunity levels in people who had recovered from Covid-19. They found that similar to the vaccine, those who have contracted the illness previously may not need boosters. Based on these study results, scientists are now saying that immunity to Covid-19 from the combined protection of the vaccines and previous infection could last for years - and possibly even a lifetime.

To work out whether the vaccine alone could produce this long-lasting effect, the research team looked at the body's lymph nodes. This is where immune cells train to recognise and fight off the virus. Four months after the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, they discovered that the body's lymph nodes showed high levels of germinal centre B cells. These suggest long-lasting protection from the virus.

However, experts have warned against getting the second Covid vaccine early as this may decrease the levels of protection.

How effective is the Pfizer vaccine?

Public Health England (PHE) confirmed in May that the Pfizer vaccine is 97% effective in preventing death from Covid-19. After the first dose, protection sits at 80% and rises to 97% following the second vaccination.

The vaccine's success was consistent across age, gender, race and all ethnicity demographics, and across participants with a variety of underlying health conditions.

Another report directly from Pfizer confirms this statistic. It also proves that the vaccine is successful in preventing asymptomatic coronavirus infection as well as symptomatic, and those without the vaccine are 44 times more likely to develop symptomatic Covid-19 than those who had been fully vaccinated. Those who haven't had the vaccine are also 29 times more likely to die from Covid-19. It comes after final data was recently released from a Phase 3 study of more than 12000, who were followed-up with at least six months after their second dose.

The proven effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines is one of the reasons why some countries now require proof of Covid-19 vaccine status before allowing travellers from the UK to enter. With proof of double vaccination, countries such as France are allowing visitors to enter without the mandatory quarantine period.

Is the Pfizer vaccine effective against the Delta variant?

A new study from Public Health England (PHE) confirms that the Pfizer vaccine is effective against the Delta variant (first identified in India) after the two doses.

Two jabs of the Pfizer, or Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, offer a good level of protection against symptomatic Covid-19 as a result of the new variant. However, they only offer 33% effectiveness against the Delta variant three weeks after the first dose, compared to 50% effectiveness against the Alpha variant (first identified in Kent).

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock followed up this news at the time, saying he was "increasingly confident" that the final stage of lifting lockdown in England could go ahead as planned. This did not happen in the end and lockdown restrictions ended on July 19.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) have also confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine, along with the Moderna vaccine, is effective in protecting people against the new strain of Covid-19.

The European regulator reviewed data on the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine on this newer variant and vaccine strategy manager, Marco Cavaleri, said at a press conference recently that the results were "encouraging" and "rather reassuring" as the vaccine would work "at least to an extent that will guarantee sufficient protection".

It's for this reason that the Pfizer jab will be offered to those eligible for a third vaccine before the end of the year. From September 2021, those vulnerable to Covid will be invited to book a booster jab for added protection.

Is the Pfizer vaccine effective against the South African variant?

New research has revealed that the Pfizer vaccine is 100% effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in South Africa, where the South African variant - known as B.1.351 - is dominant.

In a study of 800 participants, the nine cases of Covid-19 that were diagnosed were all in the placebo group. This means that those diagnosed with Covid-19 during the study did not receive the vaccine at all, so everyone who did receive the Pfizer vaccine was effectively protected against the South African variant.

This is comforting news amidst the current panic surrounding the Omicron variant. With parents worrying if schools will close again due to the newly detected strain. Yet for now, the government have confirmed that schools will stay open and that the public should carry on with Christmas as normal.

Is the Pfizer vaccine effective against the Kent variant?

The Pfizer vaccine is effective against the Kent variant and is cutting community infections, according to research from both Pfizer and PHE.

Various other studies have now also confirmed this finding, as this variant - otherwise known as B.1.1.7 - is considered to be the dominant strain of Covid-19 around the world.

However, it's vital that those currently being immunised against the virus take up their two doses. Scientists from Israel's Ministry of Health revealed that two doses of the vaccine was more than 95% effective in preventing hospitalisation, infection and death from the Kent variant. This compared to the results from just a single jab, where the one dose was only effective in preventing infection by 58%, hospitalisation by 76% and death by 77%.

When will the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine be given?

The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be given 8 to 12 weeks after the first dose now.

Many people are now able to book their second Covid-19 vaccine dose just 8 weeks after their first, as the government aims to fully vaccinate as much of the population as possible.

Originally, Pfizer suggested that the space between doses should be 21 days. At the beginning of the roll out, the government said they would deliver second doses 12 weeks after the first. This strategy was developed so that in the general population, more people could be vaccinated with the first jab rather than giving a small number of people total immunity.

After the UK's death toll hit a heartbreaking 100,000 deaths in January, the hope was that this method will save more lives.

To find out when you're set to receive the second dose of your Pfizer, Oxford or Moderna vaccine, use the Covid-19 vaccine calculator. It takes into account your age, vulnerability and other factors to produce an earliest and latest possible date for your second jab.

Will there be enough Pfizer vaccine for the second dose?

Former Matt Hancock confirmed that there will be enough Pfizer vaccine available to give everyone their second dose.

A spokesperson for the health secretary told the i paper at the time, "Everyone will receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first."

Officials have urged people who received their first dose to keep an eye open for their invitation to receive their second - but keep an eye out for vaccine scams.

Speaking at a press conference on February 1, Matt Hancock also told the public that other vaccines were on the way. "I also want to let you know some good news on vaccine supply. Today we’ve ordered another 40 million vaccine doses from Valneva.

"As we have all along, we’ve invested early and at risk, before we know for sure if it will come good because from the start, we’ve taken a no regrets attitude to backing vaccines. We’ve tried to leave nothing on the table.

"If this gets regulatory approval, the Valneva vaccine, like many others, will be made right here in the UK.

"The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is made in Oxford, and Staffordshire, and Wrexham. The Novovax vaccine is being manufactured on Teesside. And if approved, this Valneva vaccine will be manufactured in Livingston, in Scotland.

"We didn’t start this pandemic with a large-scale on-shore vaccine manufacturing capability, so we’re building one, all across the United Kingdom. The vaccine programme just goes to show how important it is to have the UK working as one, together."

We now have over 400 million doses of vaccines on order." He said, "This is obviously more than the UK population needs. And my attitude has always been we protect every UK citizen as fast as we can. And at the same time, we’re generous around the world."

How much does a dose of the Pfizer vaccine cost?

All the Covid-19 vaccinations, including the Pfizer vaccine, are completely free to the general public. The NHS is offering the vaccine at no cost to anyone who has been invited to receive it and currently, it's not legally possible to pay for a private Covid-19 vaccination in the UK.

However, the government are paying for everyone to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Per dose, the Pfizer vaccine costs the government $20 (£15). It's much more expensive than the Oxford vaccine at £3 per dose, but cheaper than the Moderna vaccine which comes in at $38 (£28).

It's thought that this is one of the reasons why the roll-out of the Oxford vaccine, which has come from Oxford University and is being produced largely in the UK, has been hailed as such as success.

Is the second vaccine dose the same as the first?

The first and second doses of the vaccine are similar but they work in different ways. The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will help the immune system crease a response to the virus that causes Covid-19, while the second dose acts as a 'booster' for this protection. The break between the two doses gives the body a chance to create the immune response, before the second jab works to deliver another spike in Covid-19 antibodies.

Both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines require two doses to make the receiver immune to Covid-19.

Who is a priority for the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK?

Age is the biggest risk factor for Covid 19, so older people such those in care homes and their carers were the first priority for the Pfizer vaccine. All priority groups should now have been offered their first dose of the vaccine and currently, the vaccine is being offered to everyone over the age of 18. 

The government recently confirmed that all those eligible for a dose of any Covid-19 vaccine will be offered an appointment by the end of July this year, with second doses coming 8 to 12 weeks after that date.

A prioritisation list published by the government confirms this as "older adults’ resident in a care home and care home workers" were first on the list, followed by "all those 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers". After that the priority list works in this order...

• All those 75 years of age and over
• All those 70 years of age and over
• All those 65 years of age and over
• High-risk adults under 65 years of age
• Moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age
• All those 60 years of age and over
• All those 55 years of age and over
• All those 50 years of age and over
• Rest of the population (priority to be determined)

Currently, those under 16 years of age are not eligible to receive any of the Covid-19 vaccines in the UK - except in exceptional circumstances.

Will children be offered the Pfizer vaccine?

For now it looks as though that children under the age of 16 will not receive the vaccine unless they are extremely vulnerable due to other conditions. However, this decision is still currently under review.

This is because children are at risk of catching the virus, but the symptoms of coronavirus in children are famously less severe and damaging than in adults. 

What are the side effects of the Pfizer vaccine?

About one in three people report side effects of the vaccine, including: soreness at the site of the injection, fever, aches and chills.

This comes from a recent report by the Zoe app, a team at King's College London. They found that from those who had received the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine in early January this year, 51% of people reported one of these side effects but none were serious. The most common one at 37% was pain or swelling near where the jab was given, after both the first and second injections.

None of the side effects reported in the study, which used the experiences of around 40,000 people who were mostly healthcare workers, were serious at all and went away within just a few days.

The side effects are caused by the injection itself or the body's process of building protection against the virus, rather than the virus itself. None of the Covid-19 vaccines use the live virus and none can give people the illness. To combat the virus, the vaccine uses a harmless element of coronavirus to teach the body to recognise and fight Covid-19 if it comes into contact with it.

In fact recent findings from the MHRA, the UK's vaccine regulator, has found that both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines are "extremely safe". In their study, only 3 in 1,000 people were affected with any side effects at all from the vaccines. These were the same side effects recorded by the King's College report, with mild cases of sore arms, tiredness and flu-like symptoms topping the list.

The Pfizer vaccine and heart inflammation

A new study on the Pfizer vaccine from researchers in Israel has uncovered a smaller number of heart inflammation cases, mainly among young men, which they believe could be associated with the Pfizer Covid vaccine.

Heart inflammation, also known as myocarditis, was reported in their study for 275 out of roughly 5 million people who had received the first vaccine in the last six months. The reported symptoms of this heart inflammation were only mild and mainly affected those under the age of 30, with the condition most frequently seen in those male patients aged between 16 to 19 years old.

Symptoms of myocarditis include:

• Tightness of the chest
• Shortness of breath
• High temperature
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Palpitations

Most of those who experienced this particularly rare side effect spent fewer than five days in hospital. 95% of cases were only considered to have mild symptoms, according to the study produced by multiple teams of experts on behalf of Israel's health ministry.

However, Pfizer have said that they have not seen a higher rate of heart inflammation than would normally be expected in the general population. The creators of the vaccine confirmed that they were aware of Israel's study, but that no direct link to its vaccine had been established yet.

The Pfizer vaccine and allergic reactions

At the beginning of the vaccine rollout, two NHS workers had serious allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine. In response, the UK regulator issued a general warning to those with a long-term history of serious allergic reactions against having the jab.

The two staff members suffered from an anaphylactoid reaction with symptoms including a skin rash, breathlessness and a drop in blood pressure. It was very different from a potentially fatal anaphylaxis allergic reaction, so the warning simply serves as a precaution.

The advice only applies to those who have had reactions to medicines, food or vaccines in the past, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said.

"As is common with new vaccines, the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely," Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England, said.

In the days following the news, NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon told BBC Radio London that allergic reactions and side effects are still not that common. Those administering the vaccine are also more than equipped to deal with any adverse reactions. “We always check before we give people vaccination." Dr Cannon said, "It’s a rare side effect and it’s unfortunate that it’s happened in the last couple of days.”

“Talk to your GP about it or talk to the practice nurse, whoever is doing the vaccination in the hospital. We’re quite used to this because we have this every year with the flu vaccination and with other vaccinations. So we are used to it and we will decide whether or not your level of allergy is enough that you can’t have the vaccination.”

“I would personally advise my patients to go [and have the vaccine] because it’s only patients with the most severe allergies that wouldn’t have it and if you do want to have the vaccination…we do give vaccinations to people with allergies and we do it in a safe hospital environment and we do that every year, so I would go to your appointment if called.”

“This will affect very few people. It doesn’t feel like that now because obviously we’ve had these two cases but from what the MHRA has published, it should only affect very few people.”

Immunology expert, Prof Peter Openshaw, from Imperial College London has also said, "The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well."

Which countries have approved the Pfizer vaccine?

The UK was the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine for effective and immediate use. This was shortly followed by Bahrain and then the 27 member states of the EU.

The US was going to be one of the first countries set on rolling out the vaccine due to their record-high levels of coronavirus. Although the vaccine was approved for emergency use, the Food and Drug Administration have now fully approved the Pfizer vaccine for those 16-years old or more.

Other countries set to approve the Pfizer vaccine in the coming months are those in Asia and Australia. But officials have confirmed that they won't be rushing into anything. Head of the Australian regulator, Professor John Skeritt told ABC that Australia was on a different timeline to the UK and the US and wouldn't be pressured to approve the vaccine earlier than January 2021.

Speaking to the news site, he said this was because the UK and the US are in a different situation with coronavirus. “They're not approvals that those two countries are talking about, they're emergency use authorisations, and they're really reflecting the desperate situation of those countries,” he said. “We have to remember on many days, day after day the US is having more deaths than we've had in the whole year of the pandemic here in Australia.”

While professor of infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore, Dale Fisher, said that countries who had the virus under control didn't have to issue emergency authorisations. He said they were able to learn lessons from the rest of the world, such as how long immunity lasts with the Pfizer vaccine.

He said, “I wouldn’t say they [the UK, US and Europe] are a test case - they may be used as a test case but that’s not out of design, it’s out of desperation. These countries need a vaccine more urgently,”

“I would never have believed that these countries, among the most developed in the world, would be the ones that are the most needy. But that’s the truth.”

The end of the lockdown roadmap is in sight, with the government lifting most of the restrictions very soon. 

At the moment, six people from different households can mix both indoors and outside. Pubs and restaurants can also reopen to customers indoors, and gyms and leisure centres are also open again with limited capacities. Even sports events in stadiums have gone ahead with social distancing measures in place.

The government was due to end all restrictions on June 21 but with concerns over the new Delta variant, they delayed this until July 19 at the earliest. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now confirmed that the government will end all legal restrictions, with new face mask guidance expected from this date.

Lockdown roadmap: What's the next stage of lifting lockdown?

• July 19 2021 - All legal limits on social contact to lift and a return to 'normal' life.

At a press conference on July 5, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed that the pandemic is "far from over and won't be over by 19 July". Cases are rising "fairly rapidly" still and the country is seeing a rise in hospitalisations, particularly steeply in some places in England. Where previously the government was "locking down further" when this happened, the PM says that the success of the country and the rest of the UK's vaccination programme means this isn't necessary now. However, he said that we also must "reconcile ourselves to more deaths from Covid".

"As we come to the fourth step we have to balance the risks," he said, referring to the risks from the disease and also the "toll on people’s lives and livelihoods, health and mental health".

"If we can't reopen our society in the next few weeks when we will be helped by the arrival of summer and the school holidays, we must ask ourselves 'when will we be able to reopen?'" he said.

The alternative, Johnson added, would be to open up in autumn this year when the virus would have an advantage - or not at all this year.

The first stage of the roadmap began on March 8, when schools reopened again. Shortly afterwards on March 29, the rule of six came into place for household mixing outside and outdoor sport resumed. On April 12, all non-essential shops, gyms, leisure centres and zoos reopened. Libraries, theme parks, hairdressers and beauticians also opened again at the same time. Restaurants, pubs and cafes also began to serve customers in outside spaces again.

All of the key dates and targets above for lifting lockdown are subject to change following the government's ongoing review of infection rates and the efficacy of the vaccination program in the UK.

Read on for more information about the government's roadmap out of lockdown and for more details on everything that will re-open and which rules will change on the key dates listed above.

What is the lockdown roadmap?

In February, PM Boris Johnson set out a "cautious but also irreversible" plan to lift the third lockdown in England. It consisted of four stages, happening at least four weeks apart to allow for the data to catch up. This is what the lockdown roadmap looked like...

From March 8 (step one - part one ): 

• All schools opened, with after-school activities and sports allowed. 
• Two people from different households could meet in a public space. 
• Each care home resident in England could have one regular visitor. 

From March 29 (step one - part two):

• The government allowed outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households. This included gatherings in outdoors private spaces, such as gardens. 
• Outdoor sports returned, such as tennis and golf.
• Organised adult and children’s sport, such as grassroots football, returned. 
• The government allowed travel outside of local areas, with no guidance to 'stay at home'. 
• Those who are clinically vulnerable were able to stop shielding at the end of March.

From April 12 (step two):  

• The government opened non-essential retail again, including personal care services.
• Pubs and restaurants opened for outdoor service in beer gardens etc. 
• Indoor leisure facilities, including gyms and swimming pools opened.
• Most outdoor settings opened from this date, including zoos and drive-in cinemas.
• Public libraries and community centres reopened.

From May 17 (step three): 

• The government scrapped most social contact rules outdoors, meaning groups of people (max.30) could meet up from different households. 
• Indoor mixing was allowed for two households, up to six people.
• Pubs and restaurants opened for indoor service, with the rule of 6 or two households maximum.
• All other leisure facilities including cinemas, bowling alleys and children's play areas reopened.
• Hotels, hostels and overnight accommodation were allowed to open again.
• Large events, including those that take places in concert halls and sports stadiums, resumed.

From June 21 (step four) - now delayed to July 19 following a final confirmation on July 12: 

• There will be no legal limits on social contact, meaning that groups of over 30 people will be able to meet either indoors or outside.
• All sectors not already open will reopen again.
• The government will lift restrictions on large events.
• All limits will be removed from weddings and other life events.
• Nightclubs could reopen.

These dates have always been precautionary, however, as they were the earliest chance for lockdown to lift. The roadmap works in four steps. Each step has at least four weeks between them. To lift lockdown further, England's infection and vaccination levels have to meet the following four criteria:

1. The coronavirus vaccine programme must continue to go to plan. 
2. The evidence must continue to show that vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment. 
3. Infection rates must not risk a huge surge in hospital admissions. 
4. New variants of Covid-19 must not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions.

Following the emergence of the Delta variant (and new Covid-19 symptoms), the fourth test hasn't been met and the government has delayed lockdown's end until July 19.

In his address to the House of Commons on February 22, Boris Johnson said that the government would be driven by "data not dates" to ensure that the way out of lockdown was "cautious but irreversible" and a "one way road to freedom".

Labour leader Keir Starmer has previously said that he wanted Boris Johnson to learn the "lessons of the last two lockdowns", as he took the country out of the restrictions "too quickly". He also told LBC radio that businesses "desperately" needed more support in the latest lockdown, including an extension of the business rates relief and VAT cuts for the hospitality sector.

There is also no promise that we won't go back into lockdown again this year, as politicians have refused to rule out the prospect of a circuit breaker lockdown before Christmas.

What will the rules be for coming out of lockdown?

Until July 19, social distancing and wearing masks inside is still necessary - and mandated by law. After this point, whether you wear a mask or not will be up to personal preference and personal considerations of safety.

While lockdown is lifting, you must:

• Wear face covering where social distancing is not possible, including on public transport and in supermarkets around the country. Some people also wear face masks outside when social distancing is difficult and secondary school pupils must wear a face mask in schools.
• Maintain a 2 metre distance from those you don't live with or are not in your support bubble, even as the rules lift to allow people from different households to meet up indoors and outside.

The government will review these rules, which have been in place throughout lockdown, in due course.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, anyone looking to get away this year will likely have to get proof of their Covid vaccine for travel.

While some countries on the government's green and amber lists only request a negative PCR test, there is a growing list of countries around the world who are requesting that UK travellers show proof of both vaccinations - or enter a 14-day quarantine on arrival. Malta and Portugal, two popular holiday destinations for Brits, are the latest countries to put themselves on this list.

It comes amid fears of the new Delta variant and its increased transmissibility, as cases have skyrocketed in the UK over the last month. So whether you're planning to travel for essential reasons or a holiday, this is what you need to know about proving your vaccination status - and the countries where you'll need this vaccine passport.

How to get proof of your double Covid vaccination for travel

The verified way to show proof of your double Covid vaccination status is through the NHS Covid Pass.

You can request one on the NHS website or through the NHS app. This is different to the NHS Covid-19 app, which you use to check into venues as part of the government's Track and Trace scheme. To use this app, you have to be registered with a GP surgery and create a login using your NHS number, which you can request a reminder of online.

Once you're logged into this app, you can press the "Get your NHS Covid Pass" button. Press "travel" and the app takes you to a screen that contains all the details of your Covid-19 vaccinations. Press "show details" and a QR code will pop up. This is officially your Covid-19 vaccination status, as officials in other countries will be able to scan the code to verify your complete vaccination status.

It expires after 30 days so to get another one, you just need to log back into the app. Currently, the only approved vaccines for use in the UK are the Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford jabs.

Can you get a letter proving you've had your COVID-19 vaccine for travel abroad?

If you don't have access to the app, you can also apply for an NHS Covid Pass letter via the website.

This letter shows your coronavirus vaccination status and you can use it if you're travelling abroad, going to an event that requires a full set of vaccinations or for anything else that needs proof of a double vaccination.

This also only applies to those living in England. In Scotland, to access proof of your Covid-19 vaccination you must request a paper copy of your vaccine status via the NHS inform website. You can also call 0808 196 8565 to make the request.

In Wales, there is no system to offer a digital pass for vaccination status. To request a paper one, call 0300 303 5667, but only a minimum of five days after your second dose.

However in Northern Ireland, authorities are still making progress on the paper Covid pass. This is likely to be available in July and digital passes may be available later in the year.

Those eligible to book a booster jab will also be able to show a triple vaccination through this system.

Which countries require double vaccinations to enter?

There are some countries, such as France, that are only allowing in people from the UK who are double vaccinated. However, many of these will also accept proof of a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours before.

• Portugal: All UK arrivals must have proof of double vaccination or enter 14-day quarantine.
• Ireland: All arrivals must show double vaccination status or proof of a negative test.
• Spain: UK travellers must provide proof of double vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test.
• France: All UK arrivals must have proof of double vaccination AND proof of a negative PCR test on arrival.
• Greece: UK travellers must show proof of two vaccine doses, antibodies from previous infection or a valid negative test.
• Cyprus: Anyone coming into the country must be able to show full proof of double vaccination or quarantine.
• Israel: Travellers must have proof of two vaccine doses. Or they can provide a negative PCR before flight and another test on arrival to prove complete vaccination status.
• Estonia: Travellers must prove double vaccination status or presence of antibodies from previous infection.
• The Seychelles: Visitors must prove complete vaccination status and provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours.
• Romania: All arrivals must be able to show proof of double vaccination status or quarantine on arrival.
• Georgia: All travellers must be able to show proof of double vaccination status or quarantine on arrival.
• Poland: Anyone entering the country must prove full vaccination status or quarantine for 10 days on arrival.

Iceland will also join this list in the near future. Currently, UK travellers wanting to go to Iceland must take a test and quarantine on arrival. But sometime soon, proof of both doses of the Covid vaccine will be suitable for travel.

When visiting any of these countries, many of which are on the government's amber list and require a quarantine period on return, it's important to check restrictions on coming back to the UK. Amid rising coronavirus cases, there are concerns over a circuit breaker lockdown and extended restrictions before the end of the year.

This would likely change the travel rules once again.

To figure out where the Delta variant has been found in the UK, surge testing is taking place around the country. 

This new Covid-19 variant was first discovered in India and following classification by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it's now called the Delta variant. This new mutation found its way to the UK in March this year but currently the Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford vaccines are proven to be effective against it. However, with the government delaying the end of lockdown on June 21 due to a huge spike in cases, the prospect of going back into lockdown remains on the horizon.

The Delta variant is now dominant in England, with warnings that some parts of the UK could go into a circuit breaker lockdown. Those living in places where the variant is most prevalent have been advised to keep up social distancing measures, partake in increased testing and come forward for vaccinations.

Where has the Delta variant been found in the UK?

Every local authority council in England now has cases of the new Delta variant, apart from the Isles of Scilly, according to Public Health England (PHE). Although infections are most common in the north west of England, they are now spread out across the country. 

The government has put further measures in place in the following councils to combat the spread of Covid-19:

• Bedford
• Blackburn with Darwen
• Bolton
• Burnley
• Bury
• Chorley
• Fylde
• Hyndburn
• Kirklees
• Lancaster
• Leicester City
• London (Hounslow)
• Manchester
• North Tyneside
• Oldham
• Pendle
• Preston
• Ribble Valley
• Rochdale
• Rossendale
• Salford
• South Ribble
• Stockport
• Tameside
• Trafford
• West Lancashire
• Wigan
• Wyre

Those living in areas of concern will have been alerted that surge testing is taking place. This is either conducted by door-to-door healthcare workers or personally, with a lateral flow test and if positive, a follow-up PCR test. Researchers have also outlined new symptoms of the Delta variant for people to look out for. 

The NHS has also been working to call up more people for their first and second vaccinations. Earlier this month in Bolton alone, 6,200 people had their first jab early. The rise in new variants is also partially why children may get the Covid vaccine soon, as although they are rarely unwell themselves, young people can pass on the virus to others.

However, there have been warnings against people trying to get their second Covid vaccine early.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the growing danger of the new variant. He said, “We must be humble in the face of this virus. We’ve all learnt over the past year that in a pandemic, we must not just look at where we are today but where the evidence shows we may be in weeks and months down the track.” 

In most parts of England, cases of the Delta variant are doubling every 4.5 to 11.5 days. The West Midlands and Yorkshire are experiencing the fastest growing rates of the virus, according to PHE. However, the new variant is still most prominent in the North West of England. Blackburn and Darwen had the highest seven-day infection rate, ending on June 9. Health officials in the area recorded 1,082 positive cases per 100,000 people.

Bolton and Rossendale also have high case numbers, coming in at 797 and 672 respectively for the same week.

The areas around these hotspots are also now seeing a huge increase in the number of Delta cases. Of the 291 local authorities who recorded five or more cases in the last week, infections had increased in 177 of them. Cheshire West and Chester, Gateshead and Leeds all had the largest growth.

In May, Matt Hancock added that the majority of the people in hospital with Covid-19 in Bolton were eligible to have a vaccine - but had not had one. 

“This shows the new variant is not tending to penetrate into older, vaccinated groups and it underlines again the importance of getting the jab.” 

The emergence of this new variant comes just as the majority of social restrictions lifting in the UK, following the last lockdown review on May 17. From this date, groups of six or two households have been able to meet indoors and up to 30 can meet outside. 

There was also a change in the lockdown travel rules to allow people coming back from ‘green list’ countries to freely enter the country without quarantine. 

Where is the Delta variant in London?

The Delta variant has been found in all London boroughs, however, these are where cases are most high:

• Hillingdon (surge testing is targeting areas within the HA4 postcode in Ruislip).
• Hackney (surge testing is targeting areas in Shoreditch and Dalston).
• Ealing
• Croydon
• Bromley
• Kingston Upon Thames
• Redbridge (surge testing is taking place in areas within the IG1 and IG6 postcode areas and small parts of the IG5 and IG7 postcode areas).
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (surge testing is targeting areas within the W11 postcode).

London mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed the presence of the virus in five London boroughs. However, PHE has said that there are actually clusters of the new variant across the whole of the capital.

A spokesperson for PHE told the i paper that London should expect further surge testing in the coming days, as the new variant is "pretty well spread in terms of distribution".

They also confirmed that 105 of the 400 confirmed cases of the new variant in London were to do with travel. "The vast majority of the rest" came from household transmission or "very close contacts of those people who have travelled."

"We'll probably see more surge testing across the country for the Delta variant as we go down the line," They added, following the news from scientists last week that the new strain could very well become dominant across the whole of the UK.

Where has the Delta Plus variant been found in the UK?

According to PHE, there are 41 cases of the new Delta plus variant in the UK. This is out of the 75,953 Delta cases across the country.

Experts have repeatedly warned that Covid-19, much like other viruses, will mutate over time. Some variants pose more of a risk than others though, as they may contain properties which avoid the immune system's response to the virus which, in turn, makes the vaccines less effective.

India's health ministry have said that studies show the Delta plus variant - also known as AY.1 - does spread more easily, binds to lung cells more easily and is potentially resistant to some antibody therapies. However, leading virologists have questioned whether the Delta plus variant needs to be a 'variant of concern', as there's no evidence yet to suggest that it is in fact more infectious or causes more severe disease.

"There is no data yet to support the variant of concern claim," said Dr Gagandeep Kang, a virologist and Fellow of the Royal Society of London. "You need biological and clinical information in order to consider whether it is truly a variant of concern."

So far, PHE have said that two doses of both the Oxford vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine are effective against the Delta variant. However, experts need more data to research on any further mutations of the variant to assess whether they are still fully effective.

Whether there will be local lockdowns again in the UK is the topic on everyone’s mind as eight local councils have been advised to act cautiously in light of risks posed by the Indian variant. 

Restrictions were only just lifted for many on May 17, allowing travel to green list countries and more people to meet outside and indoors. With restrictions currently at their most relaxed since last year, it seemed as though the lockdown roadmap was going ahead as planned. 

However, as cases of the Delta variant found in the UK have more than doubled in just one week, the government have started to taken action in high risk areas to stop the spread.

Will there be local lockdowns again in the UK?

The government aren't officially re-introducing local lockdowns at this stage, but they have issued new advice specifically for certain areas in the UK. 

Eight areas in England are now subject to different recommended restrictions and advice compared to the rest of the country, based on the prevalence of the Delta variant in those areas.

The areas that have been issued with new advice regarding lockdown rules are: 

• Bedford Borough Council 
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 
• Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council 
• Burnley Borough Council 
• Kirklees Council 
• Leicester City Council 
• London Borough of Hounslow 
• North Tyneside Council 

New guidance for these areas was published on the government’s “what you can and cannot do” page online. It advises those in areas worst hit by the new variant to meet outside rather than inside where possible and keep two metres apart from people you don’t live with (unless you’re in a support bubble).

Much like the circuit breaker lockdown last year, the advice was originally also to avoid travelling in and out of the affected area unless it was absolutely essential (if you cannot work from home, for example). However, the government have now backtracked on this advice and urged people to "minimise travel in and out of affected areas" where possible.

This advice contradicts much of the government’s recent guidance. Most recently, the ‘rules’ on hugging changed to allow people personal contact with those they don’t live with, nor are in a support bubble with. 

The ‘stay at home’ rule banning all non-essential travel was scrapped under the first lifting of restrictions in March, allowing hotels to open up again to members of the same household. 

Areas affected by the new rules say they were not told about the advice, with North Tyneside Council saying local officials didn’t know about it until three days after it came into effect. While Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health, Dominic Harrison, said that the affected areas “were not consulted with, warned of, notified about, or alerted to this guidance.” 

However, Downing Street told the BBC that all areas were told about the new advice. 

There currently hasn’t been any update from either the Prime Minister or Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the changes. Mr Hancock did urge those vulnerable to the virus to ensure they have their second vaccine to protect themselves against new virus variants. He also announced that surge testing was taking place in six areas where the new variant, first identified in Indian, was present but didn’t outline specific rules or guidance at that time. 

A Downing Street source also confirmed to the BBC that the new guidance was advisory, however, rather than legally obligatory as the tiered system of local lockdowns was last year. 

Where at the areas at risk of local lockdown?

Areas with rising Covid-19 cases are most likely to be subject to new restrictions or rules if they are introduced in the future. The areas that have had rising coronavirus cases in the last week include: 

• Rossendale (77 cases per 100,000 people)
• Hyndburn (67 cases per 100,000 people)
• Bury (61 cases per 100,000 people)
• Manchester (59 cases per 100,000 people) 
• Chorley (58 cases per 100,000 people) 
• Trafford (57 cases per 100,000 people)
• Bradford (52 cases per 100,000 people) 
• Preston (50 cases per 100,000 people)
• Pendle (50 cases per 100,000 people) 

There has been no news yet about whether these areas of the UK will become subject to local lockdowns in the next couple of weeks, as infection rates will be impacted by the increase in surge testing and vaccinations. 

The steady rise in infections is one of the reasons why children may soon get the coronavirus vaccine, as they are rarely unwell or severely impacted by the virus, but can pass it onto those more vulnerable due to age and underlying health conditions.

Where has gone into local lockdown in Scotland?

Scotland lifted restrictions on May 17, with all areas - apart from Glasgow - going into either Level 2 or Level 1.

Glasgow has remained in Level 3 restrictions, which means that those in area cannot meet in groups of up to 6 people from 2 different households in an indoor public space such as a pub or restaurant. They can only meet in groups of six from six households outdoors in a garden or public place.

The city currently has a high number of cases with a 133.3 infection rate per 100,000 people.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery John Swinney said that the government was reviewing the restrictions "on a regular basis" but said that the measures in place were the right decision.

Are there going to be local lockdowns in Wales?

Currently, there doesn't appear to be any plans to put areas in local lockdown in Wales. The country is in Alert Level 2, meaning that indoor hospitality can open with six people from up to six households allowed. All holiday accommodation has been allowed to fully reopen, which includes visitors from other parts of the UK.

Up to 30 people can also take part in organised indoor events and up to 50 people in organised outdoor activities, which includes wedding receptions and wakes.

Are there going to be local lockdowns in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland doesn't have plans to put areas into local lockdown for the time being.

From Monday May 24, restrictions in Northern Ireland lifted to allow six people from two households to mix indoors, restaurants, pubs and other hospitality venues to reopen to indoor patrons, and international travel to certain pre-approved countries.

When can I stay overnight with family again? It's a question that many people have been asking, since the lockdown rules changed on May 17.  

The latest step in the lockdown roadmap has allowed more people to meet up indoors and outside. It's meant that families can see each other in their back gardens, in restaurants and even in their own homes for the first time since Christmas last year.

But can families now visit each other overnight? With fresh concerns over a new variant, this is what you need to know about overnight stays following a change in the rules.

When can I stay overnight with family in England?

Following the rule change on May 17, overnight stays with family are now allowed. This includes anyone who is not part of your household or your support bubble, under the government's guidance for lifting lockdown.

From this date, six people or two households (of any number) can meet inside. This can either be in a public space, such as a hotel or B&B (under the rule of six) or a private space, such as someone's home. Up to 30 people can mix outdoors as well, as long as social distancing guidelines remain in place.

This has been England's longest lockdown and it's being lifted slowly in four stages. The first two stages have already taken place, starting with pupils returning to school on March 8. Later in the month, two households and up to six people were able to meet outdoors in a public space - such as a park. 

The next change happened on April 12, when pubs and restaurants opened their outdoor areas under the rule of six. Members of the same household could also go on holiday together from this date, with campsites and caravans reopening again across the country.

Along with the changes to social restrictions at home, the latest change in the rules on May 17 allowed for international travel to open up again. While vaccine passports are still being considered by the government, a green list of countries was announced. For the first time, family holidays for summer 2021 started to look like a possibility.

The next date for lifting further lockdown restrictions will be June 21 at the earliest. It’s hoped that there will be no restrictions on social mixing, distancing and people won't have to wear face coverings after this date. However, this is pending reviews by the government.

If we go into another lockdown in the future - even a short, sharp circuit breaker lockdown - this is one of the restrictions that's likely to be reinforced.

Current rules on staying overnight

You now do not need a "reasonable excuse" to stay overnight with family, friends or people who live outside your household or support bubble. As long as there are up to six people or two households, the gathering is legal.

Before May 17, it was not legal to stay overnight with another household. Support bubbles were still in place, though, to allow for those who meet the criteria to mix indoors with others.

There were very limited circumstances where overnight stays were permitted. However, the government advice on the issue was clear: "You cannot leave your home or the place where you are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so."

When can I stay overnight with family in Scotland?

In most areas of Scotland, families can stay overnight with each other from May 17.

With the exception of Glasgow and Moray, most of Scotland moved into level two restrictions from this May date. In level two, people can meet up inside each other's homes in groups of up to six people from up to three different households. They can also stay overnight at each other's homes.

In Scotland, unlike England, children under the age of 21 are not included in the rule of six. They do count in the limit of households, however.

As of April 26, restrictions on non-essential travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK has also been lifted. This means that there won't be any travel restrictions preventing people coming into Scotland from other parts of the UK and vice versa.

When are the rules changing in Wales?

Those living in Wales won't be able to meet others indoors from May 17, as the country is still in level three.

In general, people from different households "must not come into your home unless you have formed an extended household with them," guidance from the Welsh government says.

When can I stay overnight with family in Northern Ireland?

Those living in Northern Ireland are also not allowed to stay overnight with family. This includes only people from outside of their household or mix indoors with others.

These restrictions will once again be reviewed on June 10.

Does the 'rule of 6' include children? As pubs, restaurants and cafes are open again for indoor seating from May 17, it's the question people keep asking. 

Now the next stage of the lockdown roadmap has unfolded, groups of six people or two households can meet up indoors in a private or public space. It's allowed families and friends to reunite over lunch in the pub garden and stay overnight at each other's homes. But with every change in the lockdown rules, it's also posed more questions about what exactly is - and isn't - allowed.

So whether you're looking to book a table at a restaurant or just make sure that you're sticking to the rules, this is what you need to know about the rule of six as lockdown lifts.

Does the rule of 6 include children?

Children of all ages count towards the limit of 6, according to the latest guidance from the British government.

Minister Michael Gove confirmed this when the first set of lockdown restrictions eased back in March. He said that England's decision to include children in the rule of 6 was "absolutely right" as it enabled people to meet "in a way that is socially responsible".

However, a group of any size from two households can meet up indoors from May 17. Each household can also include a support bubble in this case, if they are eligible to create one. The broadening of the rules is a new change in the rule of 6 definition and it means that two larger families can now meet. Although the guidance on hugging has changed, the government have warned people to keep their distance where possible.

If all steps of the roadmap continue to go to plan, we could see no legal limits on social contact from June 21. This would mean that the rule of six would no longer be necessary.

In Wales and Scotland, the rules are slightly different. While both countries do have the rule of six, children in Scotland don't count towards the limit if they are under 12 years old. In Wales, children don't count towards the rule of six if they are under 11 years old.

Do babies count in the rule of 6?

Babies count towards the rule of 6 in England - but not in Wales or Scotland.

Any child of any age must be included in the group of six in England, whether you're having a private gathering in the back garden or booking a table at a restaurant. However, the rule allowing two households of any size to meet up still applies in this case. So if it's just your household (and support bubble, if applicable) meeting with another household, you don't have to stick to the rule of six.

In Wales and Scotland, children under the ages of 11 and 12 respectively don't count towards the rule of six at all.

Naturally, there are some exemptions in England that allow multiple households to exceed the rule of six limit. One of these is baby and toddler groups, which can meet indoors with a limit of 15 people - not including the children or the group leader.

Are there any exemptions where the rule of 6 does not apply to children?

The rule of 6 only applies to 'social settings' - like meeting people in a restaurant. It does not impact things like work and education. From May 17, children also won't have to wear a face covering in schools.

'Wraparound childcare' - such as breakfast clubs or after school childcare - can also now return, following the reopening of schools on March 8. The rule of 6 will not apply to children in these settings and it also doesn't apply to childcare bubbles either.

From April 12 onwards, all children's activities can return and indoor parent and child groups will also be allowed (with a maximum of 15 attendees still). Again, children under five years of age will not count towards the attendee limit in these settings.

Lockdown rules are changing on May 17, following the all-clear for the next stage of the lockdown roadmap to go ahead as planned.  

May 17 is the third stage of lockdown lifting in the UK. The last change on April 21 allowed pubs and restaurants to reopen their outdoor seating areas, gyms and swimming pools also reopened, and non-essential retail stores welcomed in customers again.

Although there is always the chance that we will go into a circuit breaker lockdown before Christmas, the Prime Minister has stressed that there is “nothing in the present data that makes us think that we will have to deviate” from the government's roadmap.

What lockdown rules are changing on May 17?

The major rule change on May 17 is the one allowing for more people to meet up outside and indoors, with the rule of six in place for inside spaces and up to thirty people allowed to meet outside.

On May 17, social restrictions will lift to allow: 

• Groups of six or two households to meet inside, either in a private or public space. 
• Groups of no more than 30 people to meet outdoors. 
• Pubs, cafes and restaurants to open their indoor spaces for seating. There are no requirements to have a substantial meal and no curfew. 
• Gyms and leisure centres to resume indoor fitness classes, up to six people. 
• Indoor entertainment venues, including children’s soft play areas and cinemas can reopen. 
• B&Bs, hostels and hotels to accept bookings for overnight stays from groups of multiple households. 
• Weddings, receptions, wakes and funerals with up to 30 people in attendance.
• Performances and sporting events in outdoor venues (with a capacity of 4000 or half-full, whichever is lower).
• Some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues (with a capacity of 1000 people or half-full, whichever is lower). 

In some cases, outdoor venues will be able to accommodate 10,000 people (or a quarter-full, whichever number is lower) from May 17. This will only be in outdoor seated venues, however, where crowds can "spread out”. 

The government recently updated their advice on social distancing to go along with these rule changes. It's now been announced that people can hug again but they should limit who and how many people they chose to hug. It's not been revealed, however, when we can stop wearing face coverings. 

They’ve added that this review will “also inform guidance on working from home” but in all cases, “until this point, people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble.”

A change to the lockdown travel rules also occurs from this date. People are allowed to travel to any of the countries on the government's 'green list' without the need to quarantine on their return to the UK. However, those returning from countries on the 'amber list' will have to quarantine for two weeks and those on the 'red list' must self-isolate in a government-managed facility.

These strict travel restrictions came into place in February this year in a bid to combat new Covid-19 variants.

When is the next lockdown review?

The next lockdown review is on June 21. On this date or in the days before it, the government will announce whether or not the restrictions will lift again.

As per the government's roadmap, four tests need to be passed for the government to lift lockdown measures. These include: 

• The vaccination programme must continue successfully
• Evidence must show that the vaccines are effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• Infection rates must not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put “unsustainable pressure” on the NHS.  
• The assessment of risks is not substantially impacted by new variants.

If the government’s scientific advisors believe that all four tests have been met, the next stage of the roadmap will go ahead and these restrictions will lift.

There have already been some concerns, however, about the new variant of Covid-19 that first appeared in India. Although all signs point to the Covid-19 vaccines being able to successfully combat this new mutation, the government have warned that they will take steps to prevent lockdown lifting if it poses a substantial threat. In a worse case scenario, this means we could go back into some form of lockdown.

However, f the change in the rules goes ahead as planned on June 21, lockdown will essentially be over - for good.

The Covid vaccine and pregnancy is a subject that raises many questions for those who are expecting or planning to start a family soon. 

At the beginning of the rollout, both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines had not been tested in pregnancy because as standard, vaccines and new medicines aren't tested on pregnant women or on those trying to conceive. So, the advice for all those going through pregnancy was to not have the vaccine.

Following further research on the Covid vaccine and pregnancy, including the newly-approved Moderna jab, this advice has now changed - for most people.

Covid vaccine and pregnancy - is it safe?

Pregnant women should be offered Covid-19 vaccines at the same time as anyone else of the same age or risk group, according to advice from The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Real-world data from the USA shows that around 90,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated, predominantly with mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, without any safety issues. While the Centers for Disease Control did say that additional follow-up was needed on the study, particularly among those who were vaccinated in their first or second trimesters of pregnancy, the preliminary finders were "reassuring". This means that largely, those who had the vaccine during pregnancy were not affected by it specifically because they were pregnant.

The NHS has advised that anyone who is pregnant and looking to be vaccinated should have either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine. This is predominantly because the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been used during pregnancy around the world and haven't caused notable safety issues.

The advice also suggests that anyone who received the first vaccination and, since becoming pregnant, has been offered their second dose should still take it up - unless they had a serious side effect following their first jab.

However in April, news broke that anyone under 30 years old would not be offered the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine on the basis that it can, in very rare circumstances, lead to blood clots in younger age groups. Some medical experts, including those at the Royal College of Midwives, have expressed the need for all pregnant women to be given the same choice between vaccines considering this news.

Vice president at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Pat O’Brien, has said,“The latest government guidance for pregnant women is to contact their GP for advice on how to receive the appropriate vaccine. However GP practices are reporting that they don’t have the ability to do this, leaving pregnant women feeling frustrated and helpless as they are passed from pillar to post.

“Healthcare professionals offering COVID-19 vaccination should continue to discuss the benefits and risks, including the side-effects, with pregnant and postnatal women and for those about to start - or who have started - fertility treatment. This should include discussion of the different vaccine types available, including the extremely rare adverse thrombotic events.”

For the same reason, it's unlikely that children will get the Oxford coronavirus vaccine when or if the vaccination programme is expanded to include those under 18 and over 12 years old. As a result of the new trials, the Oxford vaccine is only now available to those under 30 and over 18.

Generally, pregnant women are more at risk from Covid-19 than those who are not pregnant. Anyone pregnant who is diagnosed with Covid-19 may have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This has been one of the driving factors to allow pregnant women access to the Covid-19 vaccination.

The Covid vaccine and fertility

The Covid-19 vaccine doesn't have an impact on fertility, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has confirmed.

At the beginning of the vaccine roll-out, there were speculative and unsubstantiated claims that Covid-19 vaccines were having an effect on fertility. President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Edward Morris, has said this is medically impossible.

“We want to reassure women that there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility," he said in a statement.

"There is no biologically plausible mechanism by which current vaccines would cause any impact on women's fertility. Evidence has not been presented that women who have been vaccinated have gone on to have fertility problems."

The British Fertility Society have confirmed that there is "absolutely no evidence, and no theoretical reason" that any of the vaccines could have an effect on male fertility either. They said in a statement, "Those who are undertaking IVF treatment have also been encouraged to go ahead and get vaccinated when they're eligible. "You may wish to consider the timing of having a Covid-19 vaccine during your fertility treatment, taking into account that some people may get bothersome side effects in the few days after vaccination that they do not want to have during treatment. These include for example, tenderness at the injection site, fever, headache, muscle ache or feeling tired.

"It may be sensible to separate the date of vaccination by a few days from some treatment procedures (for example, egg collection in IVF), so that any symptoms, such as fever, might be attributed correctly to the vaccine or the treatment procedure. Your medical team will be able to advise you about the best time for your situation."

When can soft play areas reopen? It's a question many are asking, as lockdown rules changed on May 17. 

From this early summer date, families can enjoy a taste of 'normality' as kids have gone back to school after lockdown, baby and toddler groups have been allowed to resume, and swimming pools have reopened again under the government's lockdown roadmap.

Many of the social restrictions have been lifted, including the rules on staying overnight with family, but there are still some in place until lockdown finally comes to an end.

When can soft play areas open in England?

Soft play centres reopened on Monday 17 May 2021. This re-opening date was confirmed by Boris Johnson in a press conference a week prior.

The Prime Minister first announced his intention for indoor play areas to re-open along with his roadmap out of lockdown strategy on 22 February.

Under Stage 3 of the roadmap, which will to come into effect on 17 May, Boris said, "Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, the rest of the accommodation sector, and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will reopen."

After a government review this month, the Prime Minister declared that Stage 3 proceedings would indeed come into effect from the third week of May.

As part of the re-opening, soft play centres are thought to be reducing visitor numbers. It will be mandatory to pre-book a time slot online in order to visit. So make sure you check what the booking system is at your local soft play centre before turning up.

Other likely measures include temperature checks on arrival, increased cleaning and hand sanitiser stations. Plus, visitors over the age of 12 will have to wear a face covering inside and should practice social distancing at their discretion.

When can soft play areas open in Wales?

Children's soft play centres reopened on May 17 in Wales.

Much like England's lockdown lifting, Wales' indoor hospitality sector, cinemas and museums re-opened on this date too.

Covid safety guidelines are also expected to be in place when the soft play centres are open. If in doubt, be sure to check your local indoor play area's website or call ahead of your visit.

When can soft play areas open in Scotland?

Scotland has lifted further restrictions recently, but for the moment soft play centres remain closed.

They are not expected to re-open before 7 June at the very earliest, though this date is a mere guideline and one that requires confirmation from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Soft play areas have been closed since the first lockdown in March 2020. Upon reopening, spaces will be enforcing social distancing and have to have capacity constraints in all venues.

There is some good news though as outdoor organised activities for children and young people up to 18 is now allowed. Providing that there are no more than two adults at any one time and that the overall group size does not exceed 15 people.

This is one of many new rules that came into effect on Monday 17 May. And it's hoped that if this phase goes well, then a decision on soft play centres could be revealed in the next government review.

When can soft play areas reopen in Northern Ireland?

A provisional date of 24 May has been given with regards to the re-opening of soft play areas in Northern Ireland. So at present, play centres remain closed.

The roadmap out of lockdown in Northern Ireland works under review dates, rather than set dates for lifting restrictions. So, soft play area could reopen again after the next review on May 20.

Since the last review on April 15, all pupils have now returned to school and the 'stay at home' message has been replaced with 'stay local'.

As lockdown restrictions ease and a return to 'normal' life feels like a possibility, there is one question that keeps coming up - whether we'll need a vaccine passport or not.

Under the government's roadmap out of lockdown, more people will be able to meet up outside and indoors from May 17. Pubs, restaurants and bars will be able to open their indoor spaces for patrons and there's even good news for the travel sector, as the government have now revealed the 'green list' countries to travel to without quarantine.

However, to what extent will more freedoms only be available to those with a so-called vaccine passport? Recent government discussion have made this question a possibility. 

What is a vaccine passport?

A vaccine passport - or Covid status certification - is a digital or physical document that shows whether someone has received both doses of the Pfizer, Oxford or Moderna jab, has received negative coronavirus test results, or has contracted and recovered from Covid-19 recently. 

Vaccine passports may be utilised by the government to allow those who have been vaccinated greater freedoms. At the moment, they are pilot testing ways to allow large gathering - such as concerts, nightclubs and sporting events - to go ahead safely and a vaccine passport could be an element of this.

Additionally, people with a vaccine passport tend to have a lower risk of passing on Covid-19 as they have either been fully vaccinated against it, received a negative test recently or have natural antibodies from infection. For this reason, it's thought that vaccine passports will be required for when international travel resumes.

Vaccine passports, whether digital or physical, are likely to include the name and date of birth of the person using it, along with the date of the vaccinations and the type of vaccine used. If they haven't been fully vaccinated, it will hold details about the negative test or recovery from the virus.

How will vaccine passports work in the UK?

Vaccine passports in the UK are set to work hand-in-hand with the European Union's "Green Digital Certificate". This documentation would allow anyone who has been fully vaccinated to freely travel within the region, without having to take a test or quarantine after every move.

England

From May 17, those living in England will be able to use a new feature in the standard NHS app as a vaccine passport. When available for use, the Green Digital Certificate will likely read data from the NHS app to confirm eligibility for unrestricted travel.

Announcing the new feature, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, "The certification, being able to show that you’ve had a jab, is going to be necessary for people to be able to travel. So, we want to make sure people can get access to that proof, not least to show governments of other countries that you’ve had the jab if they require that in order to arrive."

He added, "Israel’s a good example. They’ve said that they’ll want proof of you having had two jabs for you to go to Israel as and when they open up. They’re on the green list of course. So we will make sure that you can get access to that, to prove that point.”

The NHS app will only show vaccinations, though, and won't be able to hold information on negative coronavirus test results or recent infections at the moment.

The government haven't confirmed what exactly what advantages a vaccination passport could have for those who are eligible for one in England. When the idea was first announced, it was thought that some pubs and restaurants might require proof of vaccination for diners sitting inside. However, this is not the case.

When the lockdown travel restrictions change on May 17, anyone looking to leave the country will still need to take a test before their return home once they are back in the UK. It's also not known when people won't have to wear face masks anymore so these will be a requirement throughout the journey as well. And if we go back into a short, sharp lockdown - otherwise known as a circuit breaker lockdown - again, the rules are likely to change too.

For anyone looking to use this vaccine passport to travel, it's advised you register to use the app at least two weeks before travelling. To apply for a paper letter, you request has to be submitted at least five days after a second vaccine dose. It's then likely to arrive another five days after that.

This is just one the ways the government is proposing to bring back some aspects of normal life over the next few months. It comes alongside plans for education recovery and the possibility for school days to be extended in England to help children catch up on missed schooling.

Scotland

Public health officials have said that Scotland is working on a similar digital system to allow people to prove their Covid-19 vaccination status, but they were not close to making it happen yet.

Professor Jason Leitch, national clinical director, has said that paper "proof" of vaccination was "not a satisfactory solution" to the problem and a digital copy was necessary. But he added that compiling the information was difficult and "we're not near yet".

When the system has been developed, though, it's likely to take on a similar form to the new feature in England's NHS app. There will be details on whether someone has been fully vaccinated, received a negative test or recently recovered from Covid-19, it has been confirmed.

Wales

Currently, there is no news of when vaccine passports will available to those living in Wales.

Speaking to Wales Online, a government spokesperson said, "We are considering the options for reopening international travel safely and making sure we do not risk the progress we have made in keeping Wales safe."

At the time of writing, there has also been no assurance from the Welsh government that the same green list which applies to England will also apply to Wales. Although, First Minister Mark Drakeford has previously indicated he would follow the approach of the UK government with regards to international travel restrictions.

Northern Ireland

Similarly, there is no news on vaccine passports for Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Robin Swann said he was "keen to see if [vaccine passports are] something that could work in Northern Ireland" but "the utilisation of Covid vaccine passports to access hospitality or close-contact services is not something that sits comfortably with me."

The UK government has said that it's working with all devolved administrations to ensure that the service delivered by the NHS app will be available to everyone across the UK eventually.

Will vaccine passports be compulsory?

The government have said that there will always be settings where vaccine passports would not be compulsory - including in essential shops and on public transport. They have also said that there will be exemptions for those “for whom vaccination is not advised and repeat testing is difficult."

Vaccine passports may be compulsory in some scenarios, such as for travelling abroad.

However, the idea that a vaccine passport would be compulsory in at least some settings has been criticised. some MPs for being “dangerous, discriminatory and counterproductive”.

Will I need a vaccine passport to travel abroad?

Yes, a vaccine passport will be needed to travel abroad in the coming year. However, those who have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated yet will be allowed to show proof of a negative tests to travel. 

Covid certification, including proof of a negative coronavirus test, is already part of the requirements for either leaving the UK or coming home and will continue to be so.

Which countries are using vaccine passports already?

South Korea, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Sweden and Denmark all are set to require vaccine passports for either inter-regional or international travel in the coming months. 

South Korea’s mobile app, which will allow people to come into the country from abroad, will officially be launching later in April. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun outlined plans for the rollout recently and said, “The introduction of a vaccine passport or ‘Green Pass’ will only allow those who have been vaccinated to experience the recovery to their daily lives”. 

Cyprus are welcoming Brits who’ve had two jabs into the country from May 1, without needing a negative test or having to quarantine. Similarly, Greece is set to admit all Covid-negative tourists from Israel using their “green” digital vaccine certificate, under plans negotiated between the two countries. 

Denmark’s ‘Coronapas’ is the vaccine passport that all residents will need to travel internally from Easter, but it could be rolled out later as a key tool for international travel. Those using the Coronapas will have to show proof of vaccination, earlier infection or a recent negative test to access hairdressers, restaurants, cinemas and other venues from May 17. 

For those living in Israel, the “Green Pass” is available to anyone who has been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 recently. The country has the highest vaccination take-up in the world, with more than half the country already completely inoculated. 

How do I get a vaccine passport?

The vaccine passport for those in England will work through the NHS app. This is not the same NHS Covid-19 app that identifies people who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

The NHS app has been in circulation since before the pandemic and was traditionally used to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions or view medical records. View the app here. 

While it's likely that a wider UK scheme will be available in the coming months, the new feature on the NHS app will be available when international travel is allowed again from May 17.

With family and friends allowed to properly reunite after months apart from May 17, the question everyone is asking is, can we hug now?

From next week, the number of people who can meet up indoors is set to change from just one household or support bubble, to six people or two households. Those gathering outside can meet in groups of up to 30 people. 

Since we first went into lockdown, experts and scientific advisors have warned against giving loved ones a hug, as social distancing has been a key Covid-safe measure. Hugging is now at the top of many people’s post-lockdown bucket lists, and new rules around lockdown announced this week is going to make hugging 'allowed' in the UK once again. 

Can we hug now? When hugging will be 'allowed' in the UK?

Hugging will be allowed again from May 17, when the UK moves into the next stage of the government's roadmap out of lockdown. 

As the coronavirus alert level was lowered from four to three, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged caution but did confirm that people from different households would be allowed to hug each other again. 

He said that there were still Covid risks involved in social interactions, so to 'pick and choose' who to hug. “This doesn’t mean that we can suddenly throw caution to the winds. We all know that close contacts such as hugging is a direct way of transmitting this disease," he said. 

“So I urge you to think about the vulnerability of your loved ones.” 

Mr Johnson said that people should consider all the factors when choosing to hug someone; including whether they and those they are hugging have had the vaccine, whether both people have had their second dose, and whether there’s been appropriate time for the vaccine to take effect.

He also said, “Remember outdoors is always safe than indoors. And if you are meeting indoors, remember to open a window and let in the fresh air. 

“Keep getting tested regularly, even if you don’t have symptoms, so you don’t spread the virus without knowing it. And whatever you decide, I must ask that you continue to follow social distancing when not with friends and family including in workplaces, shops, pubs, restaurants and other settings.” 

The new rule only applies to people living in different households or support bubbles, as those in these two set-ups haven't had to socially distance from each other at all during the lockdown.

This latest change to the lockdown rules comes as groups of up to six people or two households can meet indoors, meaning hospitality venues can open their indoor spaces again. Grandparents can be reunited with their grandchildren, as overnight stays with family are also allowed again.

While further relaxation of social distancing is expected in the coming months, experts predict face coverings will still be worn into next year in many public environments.

Is it illegal to hug someone before this date?

It has never been illegal to hug someone during the coronavirus pandemic, as social distancing was never put into law. It has only ever been guidance, which is not enforceable by the police. 

This means that you shouldn’t be given a fine for breaking lockdown rules if you hug someone or are less than 2 metres apart from someone you don't live with.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 is an Act of Parliament, so it’s the law. This Act doesn’t cover any social distancing measures, but rather gave more powers to the police to contain potentially infectious people (in hotel quarantine, for example). It also allowed them to change mental health laws, local authorities’ duties in relation to social care, and make changes to the Government’s surveillance powers (Track and Trace, for instance). 

If we take on more restrictions, such as a circuit breaker lockdown, this is likely to be one of the first restrictions re-enforced.

Is there a way to hug safely reduce risk of virus transmission?

Boris Johnson urged “caution and common sense” when announcing the change in the rules, adding, “whoever I hug, I can assure you, it will be done with caution and restraint”. 

This comment was followed up in a BBC report with Catherine Noakes, a specialist in airborne infections at the University of Leeds. She gave the following advice: 

• Avoid hugging everybody you know: restrict hugging to small numbers of close family or friends. 
• Don’t hug too frequently 
• Don’t hug for too long 
• Try to avoid being face to face
• Wear a mask, if possible

“The reality is, when you hug somebody you are very close to them and we know the virus is in people’s breaths so you are very close to their breath at that moment," said Catherine.

But, Catherine also says, it depends on the circumstances. “A grandparent hugging a grandchild and the grandparent is fully vaccinated - that’s probably quite a low-risk activity most of the time. 

“But it would worry me if we were advocating [for hugging] all of our friends every time we meet them again because I think that’s going to perpetuate an additional lot of close contact that could still spread the virus.”

When will I get my Covid vaccine? It’s the question many of us are asking as over 50 million people in the UK have now received their first dose of either the Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford vaccine. 

50 million vaccines is a huge milestone. This is because it means that over 65% of all adults have received their first dose. In addition to this, 30% of adults in the UK are now fully inoculated against the virus.

So with discussions around vaccine passports ongoing, returns to the workplace imminent and the next lockdown review coming up, this is when you might expect to be called up for your first covid vaccine dose.

When will I get my Covid vaccine?

Find out when you’ll get your Covid vaccination by using the Omni Calculator. 

It’s an online calculator that takes various factors, including your age and vulnerability, into account to decide how long it will take to get your first dose. This is based on the current roll-out rates across the country. While reliable, this means the potential date of vaccination does change regularly.

However, the calculator will offer a rough time period of when you should be called up for your vaccination. You can try the Omni Calculator here. 

As all those over 50 years old have now been offered their first dose of the vaccine. Those 40 to 49 years of age are next. The rest of the vaccination programme will go in the following order of ages: 

• 40 - 49 years old: 1st jab by 22/05 and 2nd jab by 14/08
• 30 - 39 years old: 1st jab by 26/06 and 2nd jab by 18/09
• 20-29 years old: 1st jab by 06/08 and 2nd jab by 29/10

These are the last dates for people in these age groups to receive their vaccinations. According to the government, everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccination for Covid-19 will be offered their first dose by the end of July this year. 

Boris Johnson said in a statement earlier in February this year, “We will now aim to offer a jab to every adult by the end of July, helping us protect the most vulnerable sooner, and take further steps to ease some of the restrictions in place.” 

He continued, “But there should be no doubt: the route out of lockdown will be cautious and phased, as we all continue to protect ourselves and those around us.” 

By now, those most vulnerable to the virus have received some level of protection from the vaccine. 

At the beginning of the vaccination programme, the government drew up a list of those who would be eligible for the vaccination first. It largely included those who would be most affected by Covid-19 and those made particularly vulnerable due to occupation, age and/or medical history, along with some other factors. 

Due to the uptake of vaccines, vaccinations are now being offered almost completely based on age. 

While some social distancing measures will relax from May 17 after the next lockdown review, including allowances for hugging family and friends again, the vaccination programme needs to continue for further changes to be possible. There is always the chance we'll go into a circuit breaker lockdown if cases of coronavirus begin to rise before enough of the population have been vaccinated.

When will over 30s get the Covid-19 vaccine?

According to the Omni Calculator, those over 30 years of age will receive their first vaccine dose by June 26.

Over 30s should be invited to then receive their second dose of the vaccine from September 18 this year. 

However, as the calculator is based on the changing rate of vaccination around the UK. This means it’s likely to be slightly earlier than these two dates given.

Many people are looking ahead to when pubs and restaurants can reopen indoors, now venues have been able to open their outdoor spaces. 

On April 12, millions of people in England were able to enjoy their first night out since before Christmas as pubs and restaurants opened their outdoor spaces. 

So with a change in how many people can meet outdoors and all those over 50 now being offered their first vaccine, it looks as though the next stage of the government's roadmap out of lockdown is set to go ahead as planned. 

When can pubs and restaurants open indoors?

Pubs and restaurants can open their indoor spaces from May 17, when the next stage of the lockdown lifts. 

From this date, groups of six or two households will be able to sit indoors together at venues around England. 

At the moment, hospitality venues can only open their outdoor spaces under the rule of six. This means that many pubs and restaurants haven’t been able to reopen yet. 

On announcing the government’s plan to lift the lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “No earlier than 17 May, we will go to step three and open all our hospitality sector to service indoor pubs, bars, restaurants, along with hotels and cinemas, and, subject to capacity limits, we will also open sports stadia, concert halls and theatres.” 

At the same time, people from two different households will also be able to gather in private spaces indoors.

This still depends on all four criteria for lifting lockdown being met, however. These are: the vaccine deployment programme must continue successfully, evidence has to show that vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated, infection rates must not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS, and the government’s assessment of the risk must not be “fundamentally” changed by the new variants of concern.

But currently, there is "nothing in the present data that makes us think that we will have to deviate" from the roadmap. “We set out our roadmap and we’re sticking to it”, the Prime Minister said.  

Once the restrictions are lifted, pubs and restaurants are only likely to close again if we go into more restrictions - like a circuit breaker lockdown.

Over 32 million people have now received their first dose of either the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine, with over 7.5 million people now fully inoculated. 

This steady rate of vaccination is likely to continue. Those over 45 will receive the jab soon and the new Moderna vaccine is now also in distribution.

What will pubs and restaurants look like when they reopen?

When pubs and restaurants reopen, there will be strict social distancing regulations in place. There will be restrictions on capacity, meaning that numbers inside the venue will be limited. Everyone will have to wear a face mask inside when they are not sitting down at a table. Venues will also have to increase hygiene measures. 

People visiting the venue will have to register their details with Track and Trace when they enter. This could be via the venue’s own system or via the NHS Track and Trace app.

Even as we come slowly out of the restrictions, fines for breaking lockdown rules will still be in place. 

Under the government's roadmap out of lockdown, many of the rules that were enforced at the beginning of the year are now being lifted - such as how many people you can meet outdoors. However, there are now increased fines for anyone who flouts the restrictions still in place.

In the last month, the fine for breaking international travel rules in lockdown has increased dramatically, along with harsher penalties for those who bypass the hotel quarantine period when returning from a country on the government's red list.

What are the fines for breaking lockdown?

The fines for breaking any of the lockdown restrictions depend on what part of the UK you are in. In all cases, the police can issue monetary penalties to anyone they believe is breaking the rules.

Fines for breaking lockdown in England

In England, the standard fine for breaking the lockdown starts at £200 for the first offence. This can be lowered to £100 if it's paid within the first 14 days. It's £400 for the second offence and doubles for each offence to as much as £6,400.

In January 2021, the government introduced another type of fine: penalties for "large gathering offences". As it is still against the law to meet indoors with people outside your household or support bubble, these fines are applicable to anyone meeting up in a group of more than 15 people within a private home, educational accommodation or anywhere indoors. The new penalty is also applicable if the gathering meets the definition of a rave by having more than 20 people present in the open air.

Anyone thought to be organising a large event can be fined £800 which is payable within 28 days. It is reduced to £400 if it's paid within 14 days. If a second "large gathering offence" is committed by the same period, they are given a second fine of £1,600 which then doubles for any more offences, capped at £6,400.

In England, there are also £10,000 fines for anyone found to be organising the illegal gathering.

Amidst another surge of coronavirus in Europe, the fine for travelling abroad for non-essential reasons has also increased to £5,000 as of March 29.

Under the current plan for easing restrictions, the earliest date that people in England could go abroad for a holiday would be May 17. However, this will only go ahead if the roadmap continues as planned.

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This are the same fines for both full-length lockdowns and a short, sharp circuit breaker lockdown - like the one England had in November.

Fines for breaking lockdown in Wales

In Wales, it's £60 for the first offence and this penalty can be reduced to just £30 if it's paid within 14 days. The penalty then rises to £120 for the second offence and for each further offence after that.

There are also fines for those found to be organising an "unlicensed music event of more than 30 people". This offence is punishable by conviction and an unlimited fine or as an alternative, a fixed penalty notice of £10,000.

In a statement, the Welsh government said, "The unlimited fine or significant fixed penalty for organisers of these illegal events reflects the potentially serious public health consequences at this time.

"We hope people understand the severity of the situation we are facing and will comply with the regulations, without having to be issued penalties."

Fines for breaking lockdown in Scotland

In Scotland, unlike elsewhere in the UK those over the age of 16 can be fined for breaking coronavirus restrictions. It's £60 for the first offence, then lowered to £30 if paid within 28 days.

It's £120 for the second offence, which then doubles for further offences up to £960.

During one week in January, 241 fines were issued to those found to be breaking travel rules which were in place at the time to stop people moving through areas with different restriction levels.

ACC Alan Spiers said, "The policing approach we adopted from the outset of the pandemic will not change. Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance, & encourage compliance. We will use enforcement as a last resort where there is a clear breach.

"The Chief Constable has said publicly on numerous occasions that we will not be routinely stopping vehicles or setting up road blocks, and that will not change as a result of travel restrictions now being in law.

"However, officers may in the course of their duties come across people who are travelling from one local authority area to another. In areas where travel restrictions apply, they will continue to use the common sense, discretion and excellent judgement they have applied so far."

Fines for breaking lockdown in Northern Ireland

Much like Scotland and Wales, in Northern Ireland, it's £60 for the first offence which can be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

It's then £120 for the second offence, doubling each time up to a maximum fine of £960.

What are the coronavirus rules you can be fined for breaking?

As lockdown restrictions change across the UK, what rules you can be fined for breaking is likely to change and they are also very hard to police in the first place. For example, while 'mingling' in the street is prohibited, the police can't technically fine you for bumping into someone that you know when out and about.

However, if you're caught by the police doing any of these things, then you can be fined...

• Breaking the rule of six 
• Not wearing a face covering on public transport or elsewhere when it’s required (unless you are medically exempt)
• Breaking the quarantine rules after coming back from a country on the quarantine list 
• Failing to self-isolate if you are contacted by track and trace 
• Forcing someone else to break the quarantine rules 

The level of penalty is dependent on the severity of the crime and whether you've committed the same offence before.

Can you be fined for not wearing a face mask?

Yes, you can receive a fine from the police for not wearing a face mask - if you’re not medically exempt from wearing one.

While people aren’t required to wear masks outside, they do have to wear them inside supermarkets and shops during the lockdown and when the new tier lockdown system comes into place, those in tiers one and two will have to wear masks in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues when not sat at a table. 

Despite the rules being clear-cut, it seems that the police are hesitant to issue fines for not wearing a face mask. Statistics released by the NPCC show that just 89 fines were given out for breaching the rules on face coverings between June 15 and September 21.

Of these fines given out, 61 were related to not wearing a face covering on public transport while less than 30 fines were given out for breaches of the rules in other public settings, such as shops. 

The UK has been in lockdown for a long time now - but are the restrictions working to bring down cases? 

The third lockdown was announced back in January this year. With it came the order to 'stay at home' and the promise of a roadmap out of lockdown when it thought that the restrictions had been successful enough to reduce the number of hospitalisations and cases of Covid-19.

Now the plan for lifting the restrictions is being rolled out over the next few months, does that mean that lockdown is working?

Is lockdown working in England?

Thankfully, the numbers suggest that lockdown restrictions are working in England to reduce the number of new infections. 4,781 new infections were recorded on March 22. This is down by almost 1000 from the previous week, where 5, 592 new infections were recorded.

The R-number, the rate of virus growth, is also down for the whole of the UK to between 0.6 and 0.9, with a daily infection growth rate range of -6% to -3% as of 19 March 2021. This means that the virus is shrinking around the country, rather than growing, as was happening when the R-number was at 1 or above.

However, recent results from Imperial College London's REACT study suggest that while coronavirus infections continue to fall in England, they are not declining at the same rate they were in February and it's been suggested that infections are rising again in London, the South East and the Midlands.

It's thought that 1 in 204 people in England are now infected with the virus, working out to roughly 0.49% of the population. This is a fall of more than two-thirds since January this year, when 1 in 64 people were infected.

Professor Paul Elliott, director of the REACT programme from Imperial’s School of Public Health, said, “The fall in infections our study has observed since January demonstrates that national public health measures are working. But these new findings showing that some areas are experiencing apparent growth reinforce the need for everyone to continue to stick to the rules and help keep infections down.

"At this critical time, with lockdown soon to be eased, we need to make sure that our behaviours don’t risk a rise in infections which could prolong restrictions, which we all want to avoid.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock opened a debate in the House of Commons on March 25 with a similar message, urging people to continue to follow the rules. "Cases are rising in some areas and they are rising among those under 18. There are early signs of cases flattening among the working age population too.

"But while we are confident that we have broken the link between the number of cases and the hospitalisations and deaths that previously inevitably followed, no vaccine is perfect and take-up isn’t 100%. So that link while broken is not yet severed. New variants also remain a risk because we don’t yet know with confidence the impact of the vaccine against the new variants."

Matt Hancock also confirmed that the government's roadmap would not be moved along any quicker than planned for the same reason. When asked about a report in The Times which suggests the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is expected to halve in the next two weeks, the health secretary said that cases could still go up so there wouldn't be any change to the current lockdown lifting measures.

During the third lockdown, new hospital admissions appeared to reach their peak seven days after the lockdown began. They have now dramatically reduced in England, with 134 fewer admissions for coronavirus recorded on March 22 compared to 7 days before.

This is more successful than the cases numbers following the short, sharp circuit breaker lockdown in November.

Is lockdown working in Wales?

The situation is similar in Wales as it is in England. While total cases are still rising, the number of new infections is slowly decreasing.

150 people tested positive for coronavirus in Wales on March 22, compared to 248 people exactly seven days before. This is a dramatic decline of almost 100 cases over a seven day period and according to the government's trends, it looks like it's on the downward slope.

This has been the case since late January and to reflect the positive developments in cases, the Welsh government made some changes to their lockdown rules earlier in the year. This began with allowing two people from different households to meet outside together for exercise and was followed by the gradual reopening of schools from February 22.

Is lockdown working in Scotland?

The situation in Scotland is fluctuating more than in the rest of the UK. It appears that the country is in a similar situation to England and Wales though. The numbers of total cases are steadily increasing but the numbers of daily new infections are on the decline.

214,937 people in total had Covid-19 on March 22 in Scotland, compared to seven days before when 211,122 had the virus. This is a decent decrease of 3,815 cases over a seven day period.

Experts warned that Scotland would take a cautious approach to lifting lockdown measures but now, Nicola Sturgeon has set out "indicative" dates for easing restrictions. It depends on the continued progress in driving down infection rates and the current rules are set to relax into the levels system instigated earlier in the pandemic.

Have lockdown restrictions worked in Northern Ireland?

Total cases in Northern Ireland are also on the increase, with new daily infections steadily in decline.

On March 22, 116,208 people had the virus in Northern Ireland. This was an increase from the 115,138 total cases a week before.

The idea that the lockdown is working as a whole comes from this steady decline in new cases. It should reflect the total number of positive cases in a few weeks. When people get better from the illness, they begin testing negative. Combined with lower daily increased in infections, created by the lockdown, the overall rate of Covid-19 in the UK should decrease.

Why wasn't lockdown working before?

In January, lockdown wasn't working to quell numbers of Covid-19 cases. 3,274,397 people were positive with coronavirus on January 27. This was up by over 100,000 from the previous week, where 3,135,985 people were positive with the virus.

Professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College, Steven Riley, predicted this would be the case in Imperial College London’s React study, one of the data sources used by the government to track the progress of coronavirus in the UK. The research showed that infection in England actually increased during the third lockdown, between January 6 and 15.

He said in an interview with Times Radio at the time, “It’s long enough that, were the lockdown working effectively, we would certainly have hoped to have seen a decline.”

Previously lockdowns have shown a decline in cases, but he added that the current research “certainly doesn’t support the conclusion that lockdown is working”.

He also said that he was “extremely concerned” about the high infection rates in the community at the time and that the number of people in hospital in England was “astronomically high”.

This could have been because the restrictions during the third lockdown have not been as strict as the first. Under the current exercise rules for lockdown, two people from different households can meet together outdoors. Many of the biggest industries in the UK, such as construction, are still open for business both indoors and outside. Until recently, anyone coming into the country didn't have to give a negative coronavirus test. Flights were still incoming from all over the world. Rates of self-isolation after returning from abroad had also reached a record low, with less than 20% of people told to self-isolate actually doing so.

Experts have also reported that the struggle is related to people's attitudes around the pandemic. Now more than ever before, people are bending the rules around the restrictions and have become comfortable doing so, according to the Covid-19 Social Study by University College London.

The survey asks 70,000 adults every week about the effects of the virus and social distancing. Recently, they've concluded that women follow the rules more closely than men. Wealthier people tend to be less compliant. Key workers also bend the rules more frequently (although this could be related more to their jobs). Adults aged 18 to 29 years old are the same.

In England, people follow the rules less than in other parts of the UK. As do people living in cities and adults living with children tend to follow the rules less too.

However, overall most people are in fact following the rules. Not always, but most of the time.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was created by the University of Oxford and distributed for the first time on Monday January 4 2021 in the UK. 

After it was approved, the Oxford vaccine joined the Pfizer vaccine in creating the country's Covid-19 vaccination programme. Since late December 2020, over 23 million people have now received their first dose of either vaccine and the top nine priority groups are on target to be vaccinated by the end of April.

However, research on the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine is ongoing to determine essential factors, such as whether pregnant women can have the vaccine and what life will look like after vaccinations are available. Scientists from around the world are also continuously looking to side effects of the vaccine and, most recently, they have suggested there is a possible link between the Oxford vaccine and an increased risk of blood clots. It has led some countries to suspend their use of the vaccine already, pending review from the World Health Organisation.

This is what we know about the Oxford vaccine, who created it and what the side effects of the vaccine could be.

Where is the AstraZeneca vaccine made?

The "vast, vast majority" of the doses will be made in the UK, according to Ian McCubbin, the manufacturing lead for the UK's Vaccine Taskforce. However, he also revealed that the initial doses of the vaccine will actually be produced in the Netherlands and Germany as “a little bit of a quirk of the programme”.

“But once that’s supplied, which we expect will be all by the end of this year, then the remainder of the supply will be a UK supply chain.”

This doesn't currently take into account the possible border delays that could occur from January 1 as a result of Brexit. It's already been confirmed that there will be challenges initially on products entering the country, most of them coming from greater custom controls and more restrictions on hauliers between Kent and Dover.

However, high priority has been given to both the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines by the government and the international firms behind them. This means it should be easier to move the vaccines into the country through new routes, avoiding delays, than some other products.

What are the side effects of the Oxford vaccine?

Side effects of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine tend to be mild to moderate and could include the following:

• Tenderness, pain, warmth, itching or bruising where the injection is given
• Generally feeling unwell
• Feeling tired and minor fatigue
• Chills or feeling feverish
• Headache
• Feeling sick
• Joint pain or muscle ache
• Swelling, redness or a lump at the injection site
• Fever
• Being sick or diarrhoea
• Flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills

These are often gone within a few days of vaccination, with some cases still presenting side effects after one week. The NHS recommends using paracetamol to ease any uncomfortable symptoms.

Some more severe side effects have been reported, which include:

• Feeling dizzy
• Decreased appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Excessive sweating, itchy skin or rashes

In some clinical trials, there were some very rare reports of incidents relating to the inflammation of the nervous system. This may cause numbness, pins and needles and/or a loss of feeling. These side effects, however, have not been explicitly related to the vaccine.

Severe allergic reaction was also one of the more severe side effects reported, but is considered to be extremely rare and related to underlying health conditions, such as asthma. Due to this side effect, after having the vaccination, people are required to wait at the vaccination site where medical care is available for around 15 minutes.

Why are countries stopping the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine?

Some countries have suspended their use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns that it could be linked to an increased risk of blood clots.

Countries including France, Germany, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland have stopped administering the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots in the days and weeks after the vaccination was first administered.

Following this, a review from Norway's medicines agency revealed that there had been four new cases of "serious blood clotting in adults". The European Medicines Agency (EMA) have also confirmed that one person in Austria was admitted to hospital with pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in the lung arteries, and later died. Another death where blood clotting was involved after vaccination was reported in Denmark.

The EMA has said that there is "currently no indication that the vaccination caused these conditions" and urged people to still have the vaccine, as the benefits greatly outweighed the risk.

They said, "Events involving blood clots, some with unusual features such as low numbers of platelets, have occurred in a very small number of people who received the vaccine.

"Many thousands of people develop blood clots annually in the EU for different reasons. The number of thromboembolic events overall in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population."

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has also said, 'We are closely reviewing reports but the evidence available does not suggest that the blood clots were caused by COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.'

How many blood clots have been potentially linked to the Astrazeneca jab?

A review is currently being undertaken into each reported incident of blood clotting that potentially relates to the Oxford vaccine - which is 30 blood clots currently.

This number is out of the five million people who have been given the Oxford vaccine across Europe.

Why do some people react to the Covid vaccines?

People react differently to the Covid-19 vaccines, whether the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine, for different reasons. Similarly to why Covid-19 affects people differently, factors including sex, age, previous Covid infection and the vaccine itself play a role in whether one person will have worse side effects than another.

Sex

Multiple studies have proven that women are able to fight infections better than men in general, as they have stronger immune system responses to foreign antigens (like viruses). However, they are also proven to experience more adverse side effects. The most recent study from the US Center for Disease Control on this relates specifically to Covid-19, where it was reported that 79 percent of the adverse side effects were had by women.

As well as naturally having stronger responses to infection, there are also genetic and hormone factors in play. X chromosomes for example, of which women have two and men have one, contain many genes that regulate immune and cellular function.

Previous Covid-19 infection

Equally, those who have had the Covid-19 virus appear to show more symptoms after the first dose than those who haven't been infected with the virus before.

Results from the ZOE Covid symptom study, which is led by Professor Tim Spector at Kings College London and is the world's largest ongoing study of Covid-19, concluded that those who have had Covid-19 before are twice as likely to suffer side effects from the vaccine. These side effects are likely to be numerous and affect the whole body, with the most common ones being fatigue, headache, chills and shivers. These lasted for the first two days after vaccination and only three percent of people went onto experience longer-lasting side effects.

Antibody response

One reason someone might experience worse symptoms with the Oxford jab is that it offers a more "rounded" antibody response. Dr Claire Steves told The Telegraph, “There is evidence that the AstraZeneca jab may produce a more ‘rounded’ antibody response, and more of a response from our T-cells, which are another part of the body’s natural immune response.

“This can mean you get symptoms such as fever, tiredness and aches as your body adjusts. But, reassuringly, our data shows that 98.3 per cent of people feel better within a week.”

Second dose proven to cause more side effects

Experts suggest that people are more likely to have stronger side effects after a second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine than the first dose. The same data isn't available for the Oxford vaccine as this study was completed in the US, where the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being distributed.

According to research submitted to the FDA, seven percent of people between the ages of 18 and 55 who received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine reported a fever. This was significantly lower than the 31 percent of people who reported a fever after the second dose of the vaccine. While the Moderna vaccine, which has now been approved for use in UK but not yet distributed, has a one percent rate of people aged 18 to 64 reporting fever after the first dose. This compared to the 17 percent who reported a fever after their second dose of the Modern vaccine.

Who funded the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine?

The UK and US governments have funded the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, under the promise that the company will deliver millions of vaccines worldwide.

Oxford University revealed that they had received £65.5 million in government funding in May last year for the Covid-19 vaccines, following early trial success. Also in May last year, CNBC reported that the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority had given AstraZeneca more than $1 billion in funding for the coronavirus vaccine.

AstraZeneca itself has also invested in the vaccine, but doesn't stand to make any profit from it until the pandemic is over. The pharmaceutical company predicts, according to Sky News, that it will spend $6 billion (£4.5 billion) on the production of three billion doses of the vaccine by the end of 2021.

Is AstraZeneca a UK company and where are the factories?

AstraZeneca is a joint British and Swedish company and their headquarters are located in Cambridge, England.

It was formed in 1999 through the merging of two different companies: Swedish organisation Astra AB and British company Zeneca Group. Although they mainly operate out of the UK, with one of their research and development centres also in Cambridge, they also work from Gothenburg in Sweden and Gaithersbury in Maryland, USA.

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine effective?

A recent study has found that a single dose of the Oxford vaccine offered 76% protection for three months. Followed by the second dose, this increases the vaccine to 82% effective.

While it's not as high as the 95% effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine, it's considerable enough to be successful. The flu vaccine, for example, is only 50% effective in most cases.

The same study also produced some hugely positive news. As well as protecting the individual with the vaccine from contracting Covid-19, the results showed that the Oxford vaccine could reduce transmission of the virus by 67%.

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine effective for over 65s?

The AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine is effective for over 65s, despite what recent reports from Germany suggest.

Germany's disease control agency, the Robert Kock Institute, said in late January that the Oxford vaccine should only be given to those aged between 18 to 64. They put this down to a lack of data from those aged over 65 years old, suggesting there were doubts on how effective the vaccine was for people in this age group. In all other aspects, they concluded that the Oxford vaccine was just as suitable as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Multiple experts have dismissed this idea, however, including Astrazeneca themselves. A statement from the company, before the vaccine was later approved for use elsewhere in Europe, reads, “Reports that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine efficacy is low in adults over 65 years are not an accurate reflection of the totality of the data. The latest analyses support efficacy in this age group, which we expect to be published by the EMA in the coming days.”

While Dr June Raine, chief executive of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said, “Current evidence does not suggest any lack of protection against Covid-19 in people aged 65 or over. The data we have shows that the vaccine produces a strong immune response in the over-65s.”

Head of immunisations at Public Health England, Mary Ramsay, also backed the call for approval of the Astrazeneca vaccine and explained the reasons for the doubt. She said there "were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group" but the data they did have on immune responses was "very reassuring".

Will the vaccine work against the new Covid-19 variants?

The vaccine works against the UK variant of Covid-19, first discovered in Kent, and the South Africa variant to some extent. This is why, after 100 cases of the South African variant were discovered in England, parts of the UK are now undergoing mass testing programmes.

Epidemiologist Dr Susan Hopkins told Sky News that three of the vaccines (including the Oxford vaccine) were effective "at a level greater than what was set as a minimum standard set by the WHO".

"We expect all other vaccines to have a similar level of effectiveness, particularly in reducing hospitalisation and death."

"What we do know is that [the variant] has more mutations… that is causing perhaps to have diminished effectiveness to a vaccine but still very good."

However, scientists from the University of Oxford are preparing to make changes to the vaccine to beat any emerging Covid-19 variants. It's thought that the team behind the Oxford and Astrazeneva jab will take on studies to reconfigure the vaccine at just 48 hours notice, to get it ready to distribute.

When will the Oxford vaccine be ready to distribute?

Now the Oxford vaccine has been approved, it's ready to distribute. From Monday December 4, the government began vaccinations with the Oxford and AstraZeneca jab to all those high on the priority list. Brian Pinker, 82, was the first person to receive the vaccine as part of the efforts to curb the virus around the country.

It's a spot of good news among the announcement of further tier 4 restrictions on millions of people around the country, after a new variant of the virus was discovered in the UK in December. On December December 29, 53,135 people tested positive for Covid-19, which quickly became the highest single day rise since mass testing began. There were also 414 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Speaking on the distribution of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, "This is a pivotal moment in our fight against this awful virus and I hope it provides renewed hope to everybody that the end of this pandemic is in sight."

But he added to "keep cases down and protect our loved ones", it's essential to follow social distancing rules and coronavirus-prevention measures such as increased hygiene.

Is the Oxford vaccine a live vaccine?

Technically the Oxford vaccine is live, but it's not as scary as it sounds. The Oxford vaccine is created using a common cold virus (not the Covid-19 virus) from chimpanzees and removing about 20% of the virus’ instructions. 

This means, according to the university, that the vaccine cannot cause disease in humans but it can be made in a laboratory under special conditions. 

The 20% space is then replaced with the instructions for the spike protein from Covid-19. Once inside the human cell, the instructions have to be replicated over and over again in a process known as transcription. It’s this repeat replication that is used to make large amounts of the spike protein. 

This is essential for the vaccine to work as when the spike protein is made, the immune system reacts to it and pre-trains our systems to identify and destroy a real Covid-19 infection in the future. 

This is one of the things that makes it different to both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Sarah Gilbert explains, as these are both mRNA vaccines and “no virus is needed to create the mRNA vaccine”. 

“This means the rate at which the vaccine can be produced in accelerated.” She explains, but emphasises that the Oxford vaccine “uses a harmless, weakened version of a common virus which causes a cold in chimpanzees.”

“Researchers have already used this technology to produce vaccines against a number of pathogens including flu, Zika and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers). The virus is genetically modified so it is impossible for it to grow in humans.”

Who will get the Oxford vaccine first in the UK?

The Oxford vaccine was rolled out to those most vulnerable to the virus first. Then the rest of the population, just like the Pfizer and other vaccines. 

With well over 20 million people now vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine in the UK, the top nine priority groups will have been offered their first dose of the vaccine by April 15. By February 15, the top four priority groups had been vaccinated.

How many Oxford Covid vaccines does the UK have?

The UK government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, which is enough to vaccine 50 million people.

These doses will be enough to vaccinate the entire population (apart from children), the health secretary has said. Especially as they'll be combined with the full amount of Pfizer and BioNTech jabs ordered.

Children, alongside pregnant women, are one of the demographics currently not being vaccinated as part of the government's programme.

Boris Johnson announced the country's roadmap out of lockdown yesterday, which has since prompted questions about family reunions and whether grandparents can see their grandchildren.

The separation between families has been the hardest part of the UK's various lockdowns with relatives eager to reunite and hug loved ones.

Some have been able to form a support bubble or walk with one non-household member under current lockdown exercise rules. Whilst others haven't been as lucky - being unable to travel outside of their local area under the UK's third lockdown rules.

Change is on the horizon though with two households legally able to mix outside from 29 March 2020.

However, until this date grandparents should continue to follow the current restrictions in place...

Can grandparents see their grandchildren now?

At the moment in England, grandparents can only see their grandchildren under certain conditions such as if they are part of their household, support bubble or if they are helping with childcare under the childcare bubble eligibility rules.

Each of these are different and unfortunately, none of them allow for grandparents (who don't live by themselves) to visit their grandchildren socially or stay over. There are also restrictions on travel under the lockdown.

To be in the same household, you must live together. To be in a support bubble, a grandparent must live by themselves and the family members they are bubbling with must agree not to bubble with anyone else to avoid any chance of cross-household transmission.

As of late last year, grandparents are able to form a bubble with a household which includes a child who is under the age of one or was under that age on 2 December 2020. There are also other rules that allow a grandparent to form a support bubble with a household that has a child with disabilities.

To create a childcare bubble, a concept that only came into place in December, grandparents must be joining a household where they are providing informal childcare to someone under the age of 14. The grandparent/s offering childcare can live with one other person or more in this arrangement and they can look after grandchildren in either their home or the child's home, or outside in a public space.

Overnight care is included, meaning that grandparents can stay over with their grandchildren if they are part of the childcare bubble. However, government guidance expressly says that this must be for childcare only and no other reason.

Under the new lockdown rules, it's also now not allowed to meet people you don't live with for social reasons. If grandparents want to see their grandchildren outside of the household, support bubble or childcare bubble arrangements, the lockdown exercise rules now unfortunately only allow for exercise with one other person. This means that one grandparent could go for a walk, run or cycle with one grandchild.

In Scotland, grandparents can visit their grandchildren if they live alone as they can form an 'extended household'. Apart from this, those in the highest level 4 restrictions will only be able to visit their grandchildren if it's for strictly essential childcare. In this case, grandparents aren't allowed to visit their grandchild's home but rather, the grandchild must move between the households without any contact being made with other people.

The rules are similar in Wales but as informal childcare should only be offered when no other methods, such as childcare services with increased hygiene regulations, cannot happen. If this is the case, then grandparents can look after their grandchildren but any other adults should not enter their home at drop-off or pick-up. Much like in other places, in Wales any grandparent living alone can form a support bubble (otherwise known as an extended household) with their family. This could allow for a grandparent to see their grandchildren.

In Northern Ireland, support bubbles are in place to allow for single grandparents to meet with members of their family who all live together in one household. Similarly, informal childcare can be offered with limited contact with other members of the child's household, including parents.

However it is important to note though that, although these rules are in place to allow for support and childcare, shielding has also been re-instated due to the increased level of risk. This means that clinically vulnerable people are being told to take extra precautions and to stay at home at all times, except for medical appointments and daily exercise. The government has drawn up a list of those included in this extremely vulnerable category and it is based around risk from the virus, but elderly people have been told to socially distance wherever possible.

Can grandparents look after grandchildren?

Yes, if grandparents have grandchildren under the age of 14 then they can create a childcare bubble with the household.

This new rule came into effect in England from 2 December 2020 and has been a vital lifeline for parents forced to work from home and look after children at the same time during the first lockdown.

Within this new rule, the grandparent\s providing the childcare don't have to live by themselves, but they should limit contact with other people as much as possible for their own health.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, Grandparents can also look after grandchildren for childcare purposes. This includes those living in Level 4 - the highest protection level - in Scotland.

Whilst in Wales, grandparents looking after their grandchildren is only acceptable if other professional childcare solutions are not an option.

Can grandparents hug their grandchildren now?

Hugging hasn't been on the cards during the pandemic, as close contact and lack of social distancing is a sure fire way to spread the virus. However, if a grandparent is in a support bubble with their grandchildren, they don't have to socially distance and can hug anyone in that household. Similarly, children don't have to socially distance from anyone in their childcare bubble so in this circumstance it's also allowed.

If a grandparent is seeing their grandchild outdoors for exercise, as is the only way the government permits household mixing, then they should not hug them as social distancing is expected. Under no circumstances should a grandchild from another household, who is not in a support bubble or childcare bubble, hug their grandparent.

Social distancing is naturally hugely difficult for grandparents and their grandchildren alike and it marks just one of the huge changes families have had to go through in the last year, but due to the ever-rising number of coronavirus infections, it's essential for the health of everyone.

Can grandparents be visited at home?

If a grandparent is in their grandchild's childcare or support bubble, they can be visited at their home. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, however, it's been specified that when grandchildren are being picked up or dropped off, the parent or carer must not go inside or make contact with the grandparent. It's for essential purposes only, so contact should be kept to a minimum under the new government guidelines.

Kids and parents could consider a socially distanced visit to see their grandparents by using their permitted daily walk to stop by their doorstep (if they are local). In order to do this, grandparents should remain in their house behind a door or window and chat to their relatives from a safe 2-metre distance.

Can grandchildren stay with grandparents?

As with the other conditions in England, if a grandparent is part of a support or childcare bubble with their grandchild, then they can stay overnight.

However in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the child must go to the grandparent's home rather than the grandparent coming into the child's home. This is to prevent mixing with other members of the household.

But even when it's legally allowed, the rules state that the public should use 'common sense' when it comes to shielding vulnerable members of the family. Those shielding appear to be encouraged by the government to make their own risk assessment.

Since the beginning of the virus outbreak, we've been aware that Covid-19 affects people with underlying health conditions more than others.

In fact, they're one of the main reasons why Covid-19 affects people differently. Those with the most serious illnesses are significantly more like to experience the most severe symptoms of coronavirus and be dangerously unwell. It's because of this that anyone with a major underlying health condition was asked to shield in the first lockdown and then again in the third lockdown, when cases began to rise again because of the new variants.

Now one year into the pandemic, we know more about how Covid-19 affects those with underlying health conditions than ever before.

What are underlying health conditions?

Put simply, underlying health conditions are long-term illnesses that people already have, which affect their health adversely. Multiple studies have shown that if they were to contract Covid-19, they would be seriously at risk as the majority of the illnesses already affect the body's ability to fight off infection.

The NHS has separated the conditions into two categories: high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable people) and moderate risk (clinically vulnerable people).

People at high risk from Covid-19 (clinically extremely vulnerable)

• Those who've had an organ transplant
• People having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy
• People having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer
• People having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors)
• Those who've have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
• Those who've had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine
• People who've been told by a doctor you have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD)
• People who have a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)
• Those who are taking medicine that makes you much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppressant medicine)
• People who have a serious heart condition and are pregnant
• People who have a problem with your spleen or your spleen has been removed (splenectomy)
• Adults with Down's syndrome
• Adults who is having dialysis or has severe (stage 5) long-term kidney disease

Anyone in this group should have received a letter from their GP at the beginning of the first lockdown, highlighting their risk and instructing them to shield.

Additionally, those eligible for a third Covid vaccine in this group will be told how to book a booster jab online before the end of the year.

People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

• Adults aged 70 or older
• Those who have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
• Those who have heart disease (such as heart failure)
• People who have diabetes
• Those who have chronic kidney disease
• Those who have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
• People who a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
• People a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
• Anyone who is taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
• Anyone who is seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
• Anyone who is pregnant

Of course, being pregnant is not a health condition, but it's thought that carrying a child at the moment could make you more vulnerable during the pandemic. It's one of the reasons that there was so much debate around pregnancy and the Covid-19 vaccine when it first became available.

People in this less severe group won't have received a letter from their GP suggesting that they shield. However, they have been advised to take more precautions.

Why are people with these conditions at higher risk when it comes to Covid-19?

People with underlying health conditions are more at risk because they already have illnesses that affect the immune system and/or the respiratory system.

Someone who has had an organ transplant, for example, takes immunosuppressants to stop their bodies rejecting the organ. While these are essential, they do prevent the immune system from working as it naturally should, so they have no natural defence against the virus. Similarly, those on intensive cancer treatments will be taking drugs that compromise their immune systems, to ensure that the treatment works to fight the disease.

While those with severe lung conditions are at risk because Covid-19 is a respiratory virus. It enters through the nose or mouth and can go on to infect the upper or lower part of the respiratory tract. The respiratory tract is vital for breathing as it contains the tiny air sacs called alveoli, where oxygen is absorbed into your blood from the air and carbon dioxide is let out. So when this area become infected by the virus, it gets irritated and inflamed and can seriously damage the alveoli - impacting the person's ability to breath. This is one of the main causes of long Covid.

Someone with cystic fibrosis, for example, already has a similar problem in their lungs. As the Cystic Fibrosis Trust explains on their website, there is a thin layer of mucus that helps your body move dirt and bacteria out of the lungs when your lungs are healthy. People with cystic fibrosis have much thicker mucus that clogs their lungs, forming the ideal environment for harmful bacteria.

People with the condition may have restricted lung function due to thickening of the respiratory track and have frequent lung infections. Some people with cystic fibrosis also go onto have lung transplants as well, so they are on immunosuppressants which suppress the immune system. If they were to contract Covid-19, this would put further pressure on an already heavily compromised respiratory system.

However, people without such serious conditions are also at risk from Covid-19 - for quite similar reasons. Those aged over 70 years old are proven to have less effective immune systems than younger people and those with even mild asthma have compromised respiratory systems, making it harder to fight off infection.

Is MS an underlying health condition?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) does count as an underlying health condition, as it affects the brain and spinal cord. However, according to the MS Society, some people people with the condition are more at risk than others.

"This could be because of a particular treatment or the way your MS affects you. Or it could be a combination of things." They explain on their website, adding that anyone meeting the following requirements may be seriously at risk.

Those with MS who are at risk from coronavirus:

• Anyone who has significant difficulties with breathing or swallowing (for instance if they need artificial feeding)
• Anyone who has taken alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) within the last 4 weeks (or longer if specified by a clinician)
• Anyone who has had HSCT treatment in the last 12 months (MS society advises these people to speak to their MS team to understand at what point their risks will reduce)
• Anyone who has taken cladribine (Mavenclad), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) or alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) within the last 6 months
• have taken cladribine (Mavenclad), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) or alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) within the last 6 months and has two of the high risk factors associated with MS.

For more information on Covid-19 and multiple sclerosis, visit the MS Society's coronavirus support page.

16 - 65 with underlying health conditions: When will I get the vaccine?

Anyone aged 16 to 65 years old with an underlying health condition should receive their vaccine anytime from February 15. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should have already been vaccinated with either the Pfizer vaccine or the Oxford vaccine, as they were in the top 4 priority groups.

A statement from NHS England reads, "NHS staff will begin vaccinating people aged 65 to 69 and those who are clinically vulnerable against COVID from tomorrow (Monday February 15) with over one million people already invited to book a jab.

"Almost 1.2 million letters were due to land on doorsteps by yesterday (Saturday February 13) asking people to log on to the national booking service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination with another 1.2 million due to arrive this week.

"Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

"Those who receive a letter can choose from more than 100 large scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services.

"In the next phase which begins tomorrow (Monday February 15), GP led vaccination sites will focus initially on the clinically vulnerable from cohort 6 because of the relationship between general practice and those with long term conditions, and continuity of care.

The vaccination rollout has been largely considered a huge success so far, as the government met their target to vaccine 15 million people in the top 4 priority groups by February 15. They are now going onto vaccinate those aged 16 to 65 with underlying health conditions.

New shielding list

In February, the government asked a further 1.7 million people in the UK to begin shielding again. This number was on top of the 2.3 million people who were already doing so as part of the lockdown guidelines, first introduced at the beginning of 2021.

It comes as a new model has been developed by the NHS to take into account extra factors that put someone more at risk from Covid-19, apart from their health. While it does take underlying health conditions into account, it also looks at:

• Ethnicity
• Deprivation (worked out by postcode)
• Weight
• Age
• Prescribed medications

Until February, only those with the specific conditions outlined above were told to shield until March 21. The new model takes these other factors into account, after researchers from Oxford University looked at the characteristics of people who died from Covid-19 in the first wave to better understand their risk from the virus.

People newly found to be at risk have been identified by medical records and from now on, should be sent letters from the NHS informing them of their new risk status. This means that they will also now likely be entitled to statutory sick pay, where they previously might not have been, as well as prioritisation for online shopping slots and the vaccine.

After living with the virus for almost a year we know that Covid does affect people differently - but the reason why hasn't always been clear. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, health experts warned that those who were older and/or had underlying medical conditions were the ones most vulnerable to the virus. However as the months went by, survivors emerged to suggest that this wasn't the whole story.

Most recently, 113-year old Maria Branyas became the oldest person in Spain to contract Covid and come out the other side, surviving the deadly virus. Yet in March last year, 21-year old Chloe Middleton contracted coronavirus and passed away, after only previously suffering from mild asthma.

The situation only gets more bewildering after you realise that these aren't just one-off cases. Data shows that one in three people are asymptomatic and won't develop any Covid symptoms at all, while 5% of people become critically unwell. Most people are in the middle of this and develop mild coronavirus symptoms that fade after two to six weeks. However, there are also people being diagnosed with long-Covid every day.

Why does Covid affect people differently?

Age and underlying health conditions still have the biggest impact on why Covid-19 affects people differently, according to latest studies on the virus. However, this is mainly to do with how these two factors affect the health of our immune systems.

GP Sonal Shah says, "The answer is not fully known [as to why Covid affects people differently] and there are multiple theories as to why this. It is believed different responses by the immune system when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 virus may have a role, as well as genetics, lifestyle factors. These factors are currently being investigated by scientists all around the world."

While Dr Otto Yang from UCLA told the LA Times that it was impossible to know for sure, but "the big risk factors are diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and age."

"I think of the immune system like the police and the virus like criminals," Dr Yang said. "If the criminals are easily brought under control, then the police don’t do much collateral damage to the city. But if there is an all-out war with equally matched sides, there is a lot of collateral damage. That’s what we are seeing in the sickest patients."

Age

Research shows that age is a huge factor in why Covid affects people differently. According to research published by Imperial College London, nearly one in five over-80s infected with coronavirus are likely to require hospitalisation, compared with around 1% of people under 30.

For the immune system to effectively combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, it has to perform four essential tasks: recognising the threat, flagging the threat, destroying the threat and then clearing the threat from the body. Older people tend to make fewer cells that can recognise and handle the new infections once they enter the body, partially because ageing damages the cells in our airways, so they can't fight off the infections.

Essentially, each of these four vital processes are proven to become more dysfunctional the older we get and tend to differ a lot from person to person. For this reason, it's also more common for older people to suffer with additional viral illnesses on top of Covid-19 - such as the flu. Although, it's not known at the moment which of these four tasks is most necessary to prevent Covid-19 infection in this age group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzpWyXkT6zg&list=PLvrp9iOILTQaJa78zFQ0QgvShQ2HEwHxP&index=45

People over 65 years old are also more likely to have existing health conditions (which themselves increase the risk of dying from coronavirus), including cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer and diabetes. Together with age, these conditions make for a dangerous combination and can drastically change whether someone experiences mild coronavirus symptoms or severe ones.

Underlying health conditions

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the NHS have warned that anyone with an underlying health condition will be more vulnerable to Covid-19. On their website, they list the people most at risk and the main feature of all the conditions is that it affects either the immune system or the respiratory system.

Those who've had an organ transplant, for example, have to remain on immunosuppressant drugs. People with cystic fibrosis have a condition that weakens their respiratory system already, meaning that they would experience Covid-19 significantly more severely than someone with entirely healthy breathing. However, this isn't just the case for severe conditions like these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlBpfiPv1S0&list=PLvrp9iOILTQaJa78zFQ0QgvShQ2HEwHxP&index=46

Asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and diabetes are also on the list of conditions that make people more vulnerable to the virus - for exactly the same reasons.

Even pregnant people have been listed as a moderately at risk, which provoked concerns initially around the Covid-19 vaccine and pregnancy.

Pre-existing immunity

Technically, no one who hasn't had Covid-19 before should have immunity to it as it's a new virus. However, at least six studies suggest that 20% to 50% of people who haven't knowingly had the virus before have T-cells, which fight off known infections.

Since this information was revealed, it's been a puzzle for many scientists but there is one theory for why this might be.

“Our hypothesis, of course, was that it’s so called ‘common cold’ coronaviruses, because they’re closely related,” said Daniela Weiskopf, the senior author of a paper in Science that confirmed the hypothesis. “We have really shown that this is a true immune memory and it is derived in part from common cold viruses.”

This means that anyone who's developed T-cells from a cold or flu virus that even slightly resembles Covid could already have some protection from coronavirus. This would be one of the reasons that someone may have significantly less severe symptoms compared to someone else.

T-cells and antibodies are different elements of the body's immune response. Since the beginning of the pandemic, much research has gone into the latter because they're often cheaper and easier to study, according to immunologist Marcus Buggert at the Karolinska Institute. But T-cells offer a more promising picture of the pandemic and future immunity from Covid-19.

While antibodies from coronavirus have been proven to only last a few months, one study from Singapore found that T cells were present in patients 17 years after the infection. The study came from the SARS epidemic in 2002, but is very similar to the one we're experiencing now.

Genetics

The sheer differences in the way that people's bodies respond to Covid-19 led researchers at UCLA to look into whether people's genetics could play a role.

In particular, the team - led by human genetics professor Daniel Geschwind - are studying the common differences in genes that are shared between people related to each other and rare genetic mutations that have a big effect on health.

"The vast majority of young people can be exposed to the virus and seemingly develop no symptoms, and yet there are a handful of healthy 20- and 30-year-olds ending up in intensive care units on ventilators," said Dr Geschwind, "Likewise, we know age is a major, major factor, but we see some older people who get infected and do quite well."

Dr Manish Butte, professor of pediatric allergy, immunology and rheumatology, said that the team believe this could be because some people have a stronger immune system as a result of their genetics.

"Some viruses, like Ebola and measles, are very cytopathic or cytolytic, meaning they destroy the host's tissues," He said, "SARS-CoV-2 is only mildly cytolytic. When people die of COVID-19, they mostly die because their immune system became hyperactivated."

Not only does this explain why Covid does affect people differently but with this information in hand, they hope to develop a treatment.

"We could look at a patient's genetic data and then warn their physician that they need to watch out for a hyperactive immune response, and maybe administer a treatment to prevent this from happening," Dr Butte said.

Exposure to more viral load

There are some reports that severe cases of Covid-19 are caused by the person being exposed to a higher viral load, i.e. more of the virus particles. The critical cases of illness and death among healthcare workers has been attributed to this, especially earlier in the pandemic when personal protective equipment wasn't being fully utilised in the same way it is now.

Dr Shah says, "Scientists have seen from animal studies, epidemiological data and human challenge trials that the number of infectious viral particles to which people are exposed at the point of infection (the “inoculum”) correlated with severity of ensuing disease. Simply put, those people exposed to a higher viral load of SARS-CoV-2 19 have been shown to have more severe illness."

This contributes to why Covid does affect people differently, as anyone exposed to a smaller viral load could have less severe symtoms. It was certainly a theory that arose towards the beginning of the pandemic, as healthcare workers were caring for those testing positive for Covid-19 without totally effective personal protective equipment.

Gender

Although there's no difference between the rates of men and women contracting Covid-19, evidence suggests that men are more likely to die from contracting the virus than women. In fact, men make up 53% of hospitalisations, 68% of ICU admissions and 57% of deaths globally.

Much like the other reasons why Covid affects people differently, scientists only have minimal answers for this.

Some studies suggest that there are differences in immune responses between sexes, with women developing better antibodies after viral infection or vaccination. This has been largely attributed to sex hormones including oestrogen, progesterone and androgens, as well as genetic differences between the sexes.

The other two are lifestyle habits, so while they have been proven, they won't necessarily be applicable to every situation.

Men are likely to drink alcohol more than women, which weakens any standing immunity to the virus and also increases the chances of developing pneumonia. They're also more likely to smoke, which has been proven to be a very strong risk factor with Covid-19 and another habit that increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and pneumonia.

However, as vulnerability due to gender isn't considered a high risk factor by any major health organisation, there hasn't been significant amounts of research around it. Whether this is a factor contributing to why people experience Covid-19 differently has yet to be decided.

Variants

We already know that new Covid-19 variants are spreading around the world, with the Kent variant now dominant in the UK. New lockdown travel rules have been put in place as well to prevent others, such as the potent South African variant, from spreading too.

While studies into the variants are ongoing, some research suggests that some variants have the potential to be more deadly. Evidence from Public Health England, Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Exeter has been assessed by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) around this.

It led to the conclusion that there was a "realistic possibility" for the virus to become more deadly with these mutations, but it was far from certain.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, urged caution about making conclusions on this when the news came to light in January. He said, "I want to stress that there's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it, but it obviously is a concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWSMnpVT0M

Why do some people get long Covid and others don't?

Age, BMI, female sex and experiencing more than five of symptoms during the first week of illness have all been identified as risk factors for long Covid.

A new study from Kings College London discovered these after using data from 4182 people who had logged their symtoms on a tracker. Of these, 13% of people had symptoms lasting for more than 21 days, 5% had symptoms lasting for more than 8 weeks and 2% had symptoms for more than 12 weeks.

Age was one of the most severe risks, with cases of long Covid rising from 10% in 18 to 49 year olds to 22% in those aged over 70, with a clear rise in probability the older someone gets. Although, women aged between 50 and 60 years old were most likely to experience long Covid.

While other health conditions including those affecting the heart and kidneys, obesity and diabetes did play a role in increasing the risk of someone experiencing Covid-19, asthma was the only condition identified as posing a significant risk. This could be linked to the fact that dyspnoea (difficultly breathing) while testing positive with the virus was also shown to be significant predictor of long-term symptoms.

Any of these or a combination of more than one would explain why Covid does affect people differently.

Since the end of last year, news of Covid-19 variants and updates on the roll-out of the UK vaccination programme have occupied the headlines. 

The country breathed a huge sigh of relief when the first Pfizer vaccine dose was administered in December, as it was starting to look like we were on the road to recovery and 'normal life' could resume soon. However shortly afterwards, scientists revealed that a new mutation of the Covid-19 virus had been discovered in Kent, England, and a third lockdown was announced for the whole country.

Two new Covid-19 variants were then found elsewhere in the world by scientists in South Africa and Brazil. To combat the spread, the government tightened the travel lockdown rules. Now, all but strictly non-essential travel is prohibited and anyone coming into the UK has to produce a negative coronavirus test before they fly. From February 15, travellers coming back from countries on the new UK quarantine list will have to self-isolate in a hotel at their own expense.

But until recently, we didn't know to what extent the vaccines we have were protecting people against these new, more infectious strains. This is what we know now...

What is the new variant of coronavirus?

The new variant of coronavirus is a mutated form of the original SARS-COV2 (Covid-19) that first appeared in Wuhan, China, last year. But the variants we're hearing about now aren't the first ones to come about since the beginning of the pandemic.

The first variant, called D614G, emerged in Europe over February last year before becoming the most prominent form of the virus as it spread around the world through international travel. There was then the A222V variant which also spread across Europe and was linked to people's summer holidays in Spain over the summer last year.

Each new variant has differences in its spike protein, which is an important part of the virus that binds to the receptors in our bodies. These receptors are also the main area for antibodies to attach to, when they are produced either after infection or after the vaccine.

We're only now hearing about variants from the UK, South Africa and Brazil due to sophisticated genome sequencing, which helps to identify new forms of Covid-19. Genome sequencing also helps scientists understand Covid-19, along with how it spreads and mutates, so we have a better understanding of it than we did in March last year.

Viruses of all kinds, including the common cold and flu, mutate all the time. It's a normal process for viruses, says Professor Lawrence S. Young, virologist and professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick.

“Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been around since the beginning of the pandemic and are a product of the natural process by which viruses develop and adapt to their hosts as they replicate.  Most of these mutations have no effect on the behaviour of the virus but very occasionally they can improve the ability of the virus to infect and/or become more resistant to the body’s immune response.  Many thousands of these mutations have already been identified in isolates of the virus with around 4000 spike mutations being found in different viruses from around the world."

Is the South African variant resistant to the Oxford vaccine?

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provides "minimal protection" against mild disease from the South African variant, scientists have revealed.

This certainly doesn't mean that it's ineffective against this variant however, as it will decrease mortality and serious illness, which is essential for healthcare systems.

Results from the early trials, which have not been peer reviewed yet, involved about 2000 people who were 31 years old on average.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, Oxford lead vaccine developer, told the Andrew Marr Show that the current vaccines "have a reduction in efficacy against some of the variant viruses".

"What that is looking like is that we may not be reducing the total number of cases but there's still protection in that case against deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease."

However she has also said, "Efforts are underway to develop a new generation of vaccines that will allow protection to be redirected to emerging variants as booster jabs, if it turns out that it is necessary to do so."

"We are working with AstraZeneca to optimise the pipeline required for a strain change should one become necessary. This is the same issue that is faced by all of the vaccine developers, and we will continue to monitor the emergence of new variants that arise in readiness for a future strain change."

It's also thought that the Pfizer vaccine will be effective against new Covid-19 variants, but further research is needed to confirm this.

What is the South Africa variant and are there cases in the UK?

In South Africa, another variant of coronavirus was widely reported at the end of last year, called the 501.v2 variant. The 501.v2 variant is not the same variant as the UK one, but there are now 77 confirmed cases of it in the country as a result of international travel. 

It’s been identified as a new strain by scientists in South Africa. As confirmed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, “It is definitely not the same variant [as the UK one], but there are similarities as they both share the same change in the spike protein at the 501 position. What it does tell us is that if we do not control the spread of the virus then it is likely to evolve in similar ways in different parts of the world.”

The institute has also confirmed that while they don’t know whether this new strain is more severe than others, it does spread in the same way. 

In response to the outbreak, South Africa was put into lockdown in late December by the president as it was admitted that the variant was "more contagious" than the original virus, which circulated around the world during the first wave.

As of December 23, there were two cases of the South African strain in the UK. The cases and their contacts were quickly identified and quarantined, with the government placing strict restrictions on travel from South Africa.

What is the new Brazilian variant?

The Brazilian variant is another new form of the Covid-19 that's been identified this year. It was first found in four people who travelled from Amazonas state in Brazil to Tokyo, where scientists detected it amongst positive tests.

It reportedly shares similar traits to the other new, highly infectious Covid-19 strains found in the UK and South Africa. There's currently little to no evidence to suggest that it's more deadly or dangerous in any way than the other variants.

This Brazilian variant was the reason that the government stopped travel from 15 countries in South America though. No one from Argentina, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela or Brazil itself is currently allowed to enter the UK. The same restriction was extended to Portugal.

Sir Patrick Vallance commented on the emergence of this newer variant. He said, “If you've been exposed to the old variant or you've had a vaccine, it looks like that's going to work just as well with this new variant for the UK one.”

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) confirmed this as they said there is currently “no proof showing the new variant found in those from Brazil is high in infectiousness”.

Is the Kent variant more deadly?

The Kent variant of Covid-19 (aka, the B117 variant) is the strain of Covid-19 first discovered in Kent, England, last year. Its presence forced much of the south-east of England into stricter lockdown restrictions, as early studies predicted it would spread much faster than the original strain.

New research has suggested that it might be "associated with a higher degree of mortality" as well as "spreading more quickly" throughout the country, compared to the original strain, according to the prime minister.

Speaking at a press conference on January 22, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said,"It is largely the impact of this new variant that means the NHS is under such intense pressure, with another 40,261 positive cases since yesterday." He said,

"We have 38,562 COVID patients now in hospital, that’s 78 per cent higher than the first peak in April and, tragically, there have been a further 1,401 deaths.

"So, it is more important than ever that we all remain vigilant in following the rules and that we stay at home, protect the NHS and thereby save lives."

Public Health England, Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Exeter are still trying to figure out to what extent this UK variant is more deadly than the original strain.

While their evidence has been reviewed by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), the group of scientists have concluded that there was a "realistic possibility" that the variant was more deadly. But this is far from concrete evidence, as the government's chief scientific adviser explained at the press conference.

Sir Patrick Vallance said that the data was "not yet strong" and "there's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it".

But he added, "Obviously is a concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility."

This backs original theories from an earlier NERVTAG report that the new variant transmits significantly fast. As Boris Johnson said in his statement on December 19, “NERVTAG’s early analysis suggests the new variant could increase R by 0.4 or greater.

“Although there is considerable uncertainty, it may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant.”

There are also two other Covid-19 variants, now with positive cases in the UK as well as abroad. They were first identified in South Africa and Brazil, as both countries have advanced genome sequencing similar to the UK.

Where did the Kent variant come from?

Emerging from around London, the south and south east of England, it’s thought that the virus could have come from one individual who was chronically infected with Covid-19. 

Professor Paul Hunter is a professor of medicine at The Norwich School of Medicine at the University of East Anglia. He explains, “The suggestion that the variant arose in a chronically infected individual is plausible but unless we have sequences from that individual it would be difficult to prove.

“It is known that viral variants are more likely to arise in people who are chronically infected, though the evidence for this primarily comes from those viruses that routinely cause chronic infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B.

“Indeed in these infections the generation of what are known as immune escape mutants are an important part of how the virus may cause continuing disease.  We do know that in immunocompromised patients SARS-CoV-2 can shed COVID for quite a long time, but so can immunocompetent patients.

“Nevertheless mutation in viruses are a random event and the longer someone is infected the more likely a random event is to occur.”

This means that the new Covid-19 variants are likely to come from someone whose immune system was suppressed and so not able to function effectively and fight off the virus. 

“But, we may not be able to provide this for certain,” Professor Hunter adds. 

Which other countries have the new Covid-19 variants?

In total, 45 countries have reported cases of the B117 UK variant. As well as New Zealand, which identified 6 cases of the variant in their isolation centres, the USA, Denmark, Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Canada, Chile and China have also reported cases.

13 of these 45 countries then reported community transmission of the variant, meaning that it's spreading through the country.

Cov-lineages.org is currently recording all the known cases of the UK variant throughout the world.

New Zealand has reported their first cases of the South African variant as well, at the same time that the UK reports 77 cases of the variant.

What are the symptoms of the new variant?

It’s thought that the new variant of Covid-19 displays exactly the same symptoms as the standard variation of Covid-19 which has been spreading widely in the UK over the last year. 

It shows up in coronavirus tests just the same, is spread in exactly the same way and people can protect themselves against it using exactly the same methods. 

READ MORE: What to expect after Covid vaccinations are available

However the new Covid-19 variants are transmissible, so it's more likely to slink through any chink in the armour of our anti-bacterial defences. This means that it’s more important than ever to ensure that solid social distancing is maintained, thorough hand washing is carried out and masks are worn in all densely populated areas where social distancing can’t be maintained. 

The third UK lockdown is here to stay for a while, with a big question mark hanging over when the restrictions will be eventually lifted. 

It officially began on January 6, with the general 'stay at home' order already in place two days before. Strict exercise rules for lockdown were put in place almost immediately, with schools closed for the second time and exams cancelled for 2021. Any kind of social mixing, either indoors or outdoors, was quickly prohibited.

Later on in January, with new Covid-19 variants emerging from both the UK and elsewhere in the world, the government put severe travel restrictions in place. This meant that non-essential travel was totally banned, with flights coming in from South Africa and many South American countries stopped.

This is what you need to know about the third UK lockdown...

Third UK lockdown: What are the rules?

Everyone has been told not "leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary". This is much like the first set of lockdown rules in March last year, but there are some differences this time around...

Stay at home at all times, wherever possible. 

We're back to spending our days inside, nut there are some conditions in which you are allowed to leave the house, if needed:

• To go to work if you cannot work from home (such as keyworkers, those in construction, etc)
• To shop for basic necessities such as food or medical supplies
• For exercise under lockdown restrictions, only once per day
• To meet your support bubble or childcare bubble, if necessary
• To seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm

This includes children, as schools are closed and homeschooling is compulsory this time around.  Only vulnerable children and the children of key workers are allowed.

As schools and colleges are closed and all learning taken online, only vulnerable children and children of key workers are allowed to travel outside the home for education. They will still be allowed to attend school if needed. Nurseries are allowed to stay open to provide essential childcare and childminders can continue to work.

There are also new lockdown rules on travel, similar to that of the November lockdown, where travel is strongly advised against. Also from now on, the UK will also not be accepting arrivals from other countries if they don't have a negative coronavirus test.

You're not allowed to meet others from outside your household (or support bubble).

Any kind of social mixing with people that you don't live with or aren't in a support bubble, or childcare bubble with, is not allowed either inside or outside.

Although, you can meet for exercise with one other person from outside your household if you keep at a 2 metre distance at all times. You also must stay local for all exercise and remain around the area that you live. All team sports events are off the table, however, with golf courses and outdoor swimming pools closed.

All retail and hospitality venues must close 

For the foreseeable, going out to a restaurant to the pub, staying in a hotel and going shopping are all off the table. This is because...

• Non-essential retail must close (including: clothing and homeware stores, car showrooms, betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, auction houses, and market stalls selling non-essential goods).
• Hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs have to close.
• Overnight accommodation (such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites) have to stop service, unless they act as someone's main residence or where someone cannot return home, or if it provides accommodation to someone experiencing homelessness.
• Leisure and sports facilities are closed (including leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, sports courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios).
• Entertainment venues (such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys) are being forced to close

However, click-and-collect services will still be available for those wanting to shop online and collect their purchases from non-essential stores. Equally, hotels and other overnight accommodation venues may stay open for work purposes if necessary.

Personal care services have to close 

This means that hairdressers and barbers, beauty services, tanning and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas and all other similar close-contact personal care services have to stop. The government has also advised that these services are not allowed to continue in people's homes during the third lockdown.

When will restrictions be lifted?

Lockdown measures will stay in place until at least March 8, Prime Minister Boris John has confirmed as he announced the roadmap out of lockdown. This is also the date that kids could go back to school after lockdown, if there is enough evidence to show that lockdown is working.

Speaking to the House of Commons on January 27, he said, "If we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by 15 February – and every passing day sees more progress towards that goal – then those groups will have developed immunity from the virus by about three weeks later, that is by 8 March.

"We hope it will therefore be safe to commence the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March, with other economic and social restrictions being removed thereafter as and when the data permits – then or thereafter."

He added that the government will publish their "plan for taking the country out of lockdown" during the week beginning February 22.

It looks promising for the moment, as new research from Oxford University has revealed that the vaccine offers protection of 76% up to 12 weeks after a single dose.

Currently, well over nine million people have received their first dose of the vaccine. This includes offering the vaccine to everyone in a care home in England.

Will lockdown be extended?

Legislation on England's lockdown restrictions lasts until March 31, which means that lockdown could be extended until this date. So if the government think it's necessary, the restrictions could end in early April instead. It all banks on the rollout Pfizer vaccine and Oxford vaccine continuing to be a big success and more priority groups being vaccinated.

With furlough extended until March 2021, many experts made their predictions that the lockdown would last into the Spring last year.

However, at the moment we just have to wait and see what the government says. There currently any promises about when and how lockdown will end, as the "phased" ending of lockdown is set to be announced later this month.

Will schools reopen when this lockdown ends?

According to the Prime Minister, schools are set to open from March 8 at the moment. It's on this date or slightly after that the government hopes they will able to lift some of the "other economic and social restrictions".

We're likely going to get more information on this during the next lockdown review, however, which is set for late February.

Who needs to shield in the third UK lockdown?

The government is now advising anyone who previously shielded during the first lockdown to now do so again in the third UK lockdown.

This includes anyone who is categorised as 'clinically extremely vulnerable' with one of the following conditions:

• Anyone who is a solid organ transplant recipient
• Anyone with certain cancers and undergoing particular treatments, including all those undergoing active chemotherapy and on immunosuppressant drugs.
• People with severe respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Anyone with a rare disease that significantly raises their risk of infection.
• People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
• Anyone who has problems with their spleen or who has had it removed.
• Adults with Down's syndrome.
• Adults on dialysis or with chronic (stage 5) kidney disease.
• Women who have significant heart disease, either congenital or acquired, who are also pregnant.

According to the prime minister's announcement on Monday, anyone deemed to also be on this list, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs, will be contacted via letter in the coming days with further instructions.

What shops are open in the third UK lockdown?

Much like the shops open during the November lockdown, it's only essential stores that will be able to stay open during the third lockdown. This means that supermarkets, pharmacies and other similar shops will be able to open their doors for online and in-store shopping, while clothing and all other non-essential shops will have to close. However, they will be able to stay open for click-and-collect services only.

These are the shops and services that are still open during lockdown: 

• Supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
• Market stalls selling essential goods, such as food
• Businesses providing repair services, but only if they mainly offer repair services
• Petrol stations
• Garden centres
• Automatic (but not hand) car washes
• Vehicle repair and MOT services
• Bike shops and repair services
• Taxi and vehicle hire businesses
• Banks and building societies
• Post offices
• Funeral directors
• Crematoriums and burial grounds
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• Medical and dental services
• Vets and pet shops
• Animal rescue centres and animal groomers
• Agricultural supplies shops
• Mobility and disability support shops
• Storage and distribution facilities
• Car parks
• Public toilets
• Motorway services
• Outdoor playgrounds
• Outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise
• Places of worship, with social distancing conditions in place

Are hotels open during lockdown?

Hotels are open in the third UK lockdown but only for particular reasons, such as strictly essential travel. They're allowed to accommodate people who normally live in the property or those who are mid-way through moving house. They can also stay open for people who would otherwise be homeless.

They're also set for use by the government during the third lockdown to quarantine those coming back from 'high-risk' countries, including South Africa. While no date has been set for this system to kick off, the health secretary has confirmed that there is "strong" action at the border to prevent new variants from entering the country.

Is the post office open during lockdown?

The post office is open during the January to February lockdown. In a statement on their website, Royal Mail has confirmed, "Throughout the pandemic, and now, we remain open for business. The delivery of parcels and letters is a way of keeping the country together, businesses operating, and helping many people who may not have the option to leave their home.

"To manage the effects of Coronavirus-related absences and necessary social distancing measures such as reducing the number of people together in shared spaces and vehicles, we have implemented a range of mitigations. These include changing the time guarantee on Special Delivery and opening hours of Customer Service Points at local delivery offices."

The Post Office has also emphasised the need for social distancing when visiting the shop and to wear a mask at all times. To combat waiting times and ensure social distancing, Royal Mail has suggested that where possible, customers use parcel postboxes.

Are dry cleaners and laundrettes open in lockdown?

Much like the November lockdown, dry cleaners and laundrettes have been allowed to stay open during the national January lockdown.

Dubbed as an "essential" business due to the clothes cleaning service, it's also thought that dry cleaners have been allowed to stay open for this third lockdown due to the capabilities for social distancing with limited numbers of people in stores.

Can you move house during the third UK lockdown?

Anyone looking to move house over the next few months can continue to do so, under certain conditions.

To move home during lockdown, people outside of your household or support bubble shouldn't help you move house unless it's absolutely necessary. However, estate agents and removal firms can continue to work and help to facilitate house moves, including offering viewings.

Naturally, national guidance applies in all circumstance when moving home. For example, you should socially distance from those you don't live with/not in a support bubble with and wear a face covering where it's not possible.

Where did the idea of a third UK lockdown come from?

The idea of a January lockdown first came from Dr Susan Hopkins, the medical director of Test and Trace. She said that for every day the rules were relaxed over the Christmas holidays, two more under more severe restrictions may be needed to crack down on the spread of the virus. 

Public Health England (PHE) later confirmed that Dr Hopkins had in fact “misspoke” and actually, for every day of relaxation there would need to be five days of tighter measures. 

However, it would be some weeks before the government confirmed that England and other areas of  the UK would be headed into a January lockdown, lasting through until the middle of February.

Following the announcement of new face mask rules, film fans are eager to know if you have to wear a mask in the cinema.

Movie lovers have enjoyed a return to the big screen of late after cinemas across the country were forced to close their doors during a number of government-imposed lockdowns. And whilst we've seen big films like A Boy Called Christmas and No Time to Die available to stream on our TV boxes, there really is no beating the surround sound and screen experience.

New measures were introduced in December to combat a spike in covid cases. This was in response to the new Omicron variant and involved new face mask rules in public places like cinemas. However, with the new year comes a new stance on face covering guidance. So if you're looking to go and see Spider-Man 3: No Way Home, this is what you need to know.

Do you have to wear a mask in the cinema?

Face mask coverings should be worn in cinemas across England until Thursday 27 January. After this date, mandatory face masks are no longer applicable by law. And you won't have to wear one whilst at a screening.

The decision to stop wearing face coverings in public places was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 19 January.

“Having looked at the data carefully the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse, the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks,” he said.

It was a move well received by the UK Cinema Association, who tweeted their delight: "We welcome recent decisions by @scotgov and @GOVUK to relax key COVID restrictions affecting cinemas in Scotland and England respectively."

In Scotland, mandatory face masks remain whilst visiting the cinema. But Nicola Sturgeon's latest coronavirus address announced that the 1 metre social distancing rule would end after 24 January. This is something that Scottish cinemas have been implimenting since December, when the spread of Omicron symptoms was rife.

As for Wales and Northern Ireland, cinemagoers must continue to wear a face covering when going to see a film. This is in keeping with their own face mask rules that have remained throughout 2021.

Big name chains including Vue, Showcase and Odeon have not yet responded to the new guidelines. Though many have encouraged customers to continue wearing face masks previously as a precaution. This is despite the rules having been relaxed in earlier months.

A spokesperson for the smaller independent cinema chain Curzon confirmed in July that as "the pandemic is ongoing" protocols like wearing masks are "in place to protect our staff and ensure peace of mind for our customers."

Cineworld also previously confirmed that they will be "encouraging our employees to continue wearing face coverings".

Are cinemas now open across the UK?

Yes, cinemas are now open across the UK. The re-opening of cinemas came into effect on May 17 this year. And despite some existing coronavirus measures, cinemas will remain open for the foreseeable future.

Whilst the rule of face masks in cinemas varies for different countries in the UK, the rule of six and social distancing no longer apply. Movie fans need also not show proof of double vaccination or a Covid pass (as they're known) to visit a cinema.

Cinema chains have confirmed that increased cleaning measures will continue though. In order to minimise the risk of transmission.

The UK Cinema Association were pleased to share the findings of one SAGE study published in January 2022. The UK government advisory board reported that there research found no significant risk of COVID transmission in the cinema environment.

UK Cinema Association's Chief Executive Phil Clapp agreed with the findings:

"We know from our own independent surveys of returning cinema-goers that the vast majority recognise the relative safety of the cinema environment. With 98 per cent of those polled saying that they are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with standards of safety.

"This latest SAGE study confirms that those responses are rooted in the reality of the experience offered by Association members across the country. All of whom have worked exceptionally hard to ensure the safety of audiences and team members alike."

Video of the Week:

The tougher measures put in place throughout the UK for the January lockdown are projected to last for at least another month, until after February half term. This is to prevent the NHS from being completely overwhelmed with surging cases of Covid-19.

Schools are shut, exams have been cancelled for 2021, non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms and all hospitality venues have closed.

With the UK reaching its highest daily record of 1,610 deaths in one day this week and the grim fact that the country currently has the worst daily death rate in the world, it's not surprise that there have reports the government have considered if an even tougher lockdown in the UK is necessary. 

Here's what we know so far about if lockdown rules will get stricter:

Will lockdown rules get tougher in the UK?

There hasn’t been any confirmation that the lockdown rules are changing just yet. Although, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously suggested that the lockdown rules for the UK could get stricter if people don’t follow the ones already in place. 

Matt Hancock said, “A flex to the rules can be fatal. If people push the boundaries of these rules or do not take them seriously, that can lead to more cases and that can lead to more deaths. 

“We keep these things under review and we have demonstrated that we’re willing to tighten the rules if they need to be tightened.” 

How might lockdown rules get stricter?

One of the measures that could be reviewed are the lockdown exercise rules. These currently allow two people from different households to meet up. While the rule is still in place for the moment, the health secretary has stressed that groups of people meeting outside socially are “not acceptable”. 

The fact that nurseries have been allowed to stay open in lockdown this time around has caused some debate this year already. Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for them to close to help stop the spread, and his voice joins that of some nursery workers, who are also calling for the childcare settings to close temporarily to protect staff.

Mr Starmer said, "This is the most serious stage of the pandemic and therefore, we have to face the most serious restrictions. I think a lot of people will be quite surprised primary schools are closed, and nurseries are open."

Click-and-collect services are another allowance that could be scrapped in the review of the lockdown rules, as the Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said that he had concerns people weren't following the rules when they go shopping.

“We are concerned that, for example, in supermarkets we need to make sure people actually wear masks and follow the one-way rule in supermarkets.” He said, “And, of course, when they are at capacity – to operate safely, people wait outside supermarkets.”

This could mean that the number of shoppers allowed into stores could become the law and click-and-collect could be off the table. It could also mean a change to takeaway services. While takeaways are safe to order during lockdown, the rules may tighten to mean you cannot collect your order from inside the shop or restaurant and must pick it up in an outside setting or have the meal delivered.

Multiple supermarkets have banned people not wearing face masks from entering their stores already, so the government could tighten the advice to make sure that everyone (except those who are exempt) wears a face mask.

It comes as London's Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick echoed the health secretary’s concerns that people were not following the rules. She told LBC Radio that people should call the police if their neighbours are constantly breaking the rules. She said that she didn’t want everyone to be snooping on each other, but “if you do have concerns that somebody is persistently not complying with the restrictions, then yeah you should talk to us. If you feel comfortable to do so, then talk to us.” 

Emphasising that it was “small minority” who were failing to comply with the regulations, she said that police are increasing lockdown fines to those who are “completely reckless” by gathering in large groups.

Rule breaking has long been proven to have an impact on infections, as well as ineffective government policies, so it’s one of the reasons that the government are considering tightening the rules in the next couple of months while the vaccine is rolled out. 

Some councils, however, evidently feel like the government aren’t doing enough to stop the spread in particular areas and have taken matters into their own hans. Local authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Sussex and Hertfordshire have closed some children’s playgrounds for example. 

Even though playgrounds have been allowed to stay open in the third lockdown, the councils reportedly shut the gates again because of the rocketing numbers of coronavirus cases in the area and increased activity in the playground. Colchester Borough, for example, closed down a large playground after 110 children were recorded using the play apparatus at one time. 

So while the government might not step in to tighten the restrictions, local authorities could stop people themselves. 

When is the next review of lockdown?

The next review of the third lockdown is on January 20, followed by a second review on February 2. 

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown in early January, he assured the public that the rules would be reviewed every two weeks to keep an eye on the situation and any escalating problems. 

This means that the lockdown rules could become tougher in the UK (or more relaxed) by the end of January. However it’s likely that for the time being, they’ll stay just as they are. 

Having a takeaway during lockdown has been one of life's small pleasures over the last year.

But, with the more transmissible Covid-19 variant now in the UK and coronavirus cases at an all-time high leading to the current, strict January lockdown, some people are questioning whether it is even safe to have a takeaway during lockdown at the moment. 

At the start of the pandemic, there was concern about how coronavirus could spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects. As stated by Harvard Medical School: "a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes."

So, could this apply to takeaway containers? And if so, is it safe to have a takeaway during lockdown? Here is what the experts say:

Is it safe to have a takeaway during lockdown?

The chances are, you’re not going to catch Covid from a takeaway container. So it is safe to have takeaway during lockdown.

This is because, although Covid-19 can spread via infected surfaces, the main way that the virus spreads is via droplets that come from an infected person’s mouth or nose. These are then breathed in by others, causing the spread of the infection. This is why face masks are now compulsory in many settings and why you see some people wearing masks outside.

There is significantly more research suggesting that the virus spreads in this way, rather than via surfaces or transfer of objects - even with the new variant. 

This was a concern early on in the pandemic after a study revealed that the virus could last on surfaces for hours, but the claim has since been disputed by experts. They pointed out that the study took place in a lab where there were high doses of the virus and just because the virus was present, didn't mean it was still infectious.

Even without this, a few boxes would have to be ticked to make the surface a significant threat for infection. In an interview with the New York Times in November, aerosol scientist Dr Linsey Marr said that the virus would "have to be transmitted to the surface in large enough amounts. Then, it would have to survive on that surface until it was touched by someone else. And even if it was eventually transferred to, say, a person’s finger, it would then have to survive on the skin until that person happened to touch an eye or mouth."

So there's only a small chance of catching coronavirus from a surface. Although, we can't rule out surface-to-person transmission entirely - as there's not really enough evidence yet.

“There’s just a lot more conditions that have to be met for transmission to happen via touching these objects,” as Dr Linsey Marr says.

In addition, reputable restaurants and kitchens already have professional food hygiene regulations in place and takeaway delivery services, like Deliveroo and Just Eat, have put guidance in place during the pandemic to make sure that those delivering the food don’t have to touch any packaging. 

In a statement on their website, Deliveroo say, “We've enabled a new feature which allows customers to select 'contact-free delivery' when they order. 

“This means the rider will leave the food at the door, rather than handing over directly. The rider will then step back at least 2 metres and wait nearby for you to collect it.”

Even if this weren’t the case, any risk that droplets had made their way onto the packing could be eliminated by emptying the food from the container onto a clean plate, disposing of the packaging straight away in a bin bag and washing your hands properly afterwards. 

For the same reasons and the fact that those delivering are also normally wearing a face mask, supermarket deliveries are considered significantly safer for transmission than a trip out to the high street. 

Will takeaways close if lockdown measures are increased?

During the first lockdown and set of restrictions, which were at the most severe they’ve ever been, takeaways and deliveries were still allowed to go ahead. 

Currently, the UK is experiencing a higher number of people in hospital than during the first wave and there are more people testing positive than ever before. Yet takeaways have been allowed to continue in England, which suggests they will continue for the next couple of months. 

In Scotland, however, tightening of the coronavirus restrictions this week have prevented some features of click-and-collect takeaways. Now anyone looking to get a takeaway in Scotland won’t be allowed inside the restaurant, they’ll have to collect the food from a hatch or the doorway - or have it delivered to their homes. 

This could mean that further restrictions are put on restaurants elsewhere in the UK in the coming weeks. 

Among the more obscure symptoms of coronavirus are 'Covid toes', a condition people have reported in their feet that sees toes change colour, swell or become painful. 

Covid toes have puzzled medical experts and dermatologists for months, especially as more than any other age group, it seems to be a common coronavirus symptom in kids.

So what are Covid toes and what effect are they having on children around the world?

What are Covid toes?

'Covid toes' is the name given to the condition developed by those who have had coronavirus, where their toes are red and discoloured, sore and itchy, often with no other symptoms that would suggest they'd been unwell with Covid-19.

One of the many skin conditions associated with Covid-19, Covid toes is a condition very similar to chilblains. The NHS describes chilblains as: 'small, itchy, red patches that can appear after you have been in the cold.'

'The swelling and discolouration can begin on one or several toes or fingers,' says Dr Amy Paller, FAAD and Chair of Dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. 'At first, you might see a bright red colour that gradually turns to purple. COVID toes can also begin with a purplish colour.'

'Along with the swelling and discolouration, COVID toes can also cause blisters, itch, or pain. Some people develop painful raised bumps or areas of rough skin. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin.'

Although the condition's direct link to Covid-19 isn't yet confirmed, findings from a study from Spain published in the British Journal of Dermatology give the best evidence that the two are related. The researchers looked at children with the condition by taking a small sample from the toes to look at under a special microscope, capable of seeing the virus. They discovered tiny coronavirus particles within the blood vessels of the children's feel, confirming their findings later with a separate test.

From this, the researchers concluded that although the appearance of the condition was very similar to standard chilblains, the presence of the coronavirus particles in the feet and toes supports the link clearly and the damage caused by the virus in this area could be responsible for the redness and soreness in the toes.

As of January 2021, Covid toes is not listed as an official symptom of Covid-19 in children. This is because it tends to be an after-effect of the virus rather than an active symptom of the live virus.

What to do if your child gets Covid toes

If you think your child may have developed Covid toes, do not worry. Just like chilbalins, they usually clear up on their own. Dr Amy Paller, who is also a board-certified paediatric dermatologist, says that they tend to last only for about 10 to 14 days in most cases.

GP and medical advisor for Doctor 4 U, Dr Daniel Cichi, says about Covid toes: "They’re not usually serious and they can go away on their own. They can look unpleasant and may alarm some people, but fortunately, it seems that most cases of COVID-19 with this particular symptom are experiencing a mild form of the virus and these lesions are a sign of a normal healthy immune reaction to the virus."

Rashes and skin discolouration is a frequent side effect of many other infections, particularly ones that are viral respiratory infections.

'Rashes are often caused by skin irritation, such as an allergic reaction or a sting, or a virus like chicken pox or measles.' NHS advice says, 'It’s very common for babies and children to develop rashes and they are usually harmless and nothing to worry about, clearing up on their own in just a few days.'

Most skin rashes aren't a sign of anything severe and fade in a matter of days.

However, if your child has a rash that is reddish-brown, spotty and starts from behind the ears, spreading to the head, neck, legs and rest of the body, this could be a sign of measles and you should seek medical help.

It's also important to immediately seek medical help if the child has a pale, blotchy skin rash or a rash of purple or red spots that doesn't fade when you roll a glass over it as this is a sign of meningitis.

How do you treat Covid toes?

The general advice for treating Covid toes is to reduce the pain or itching from the condition as it will go away on its own in time.

"With the evidence available, Covid toes are not a particularly worrying sign alone and may resolve by themselves, or with mild steroid cream to reduce the inflammation." Dr Ravina Bhanot, who has been working on Covid-19 wards in hospitals throughout the pandemic, says.

"If symptoms are worsening, consult with a dermatologist. In addition, a child with respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath should have a thorough examination. “

Naturally, Dr Chichi adds, "There will be ongoing research into this and you shouldn’t assume you have the virus if you have these lesions on your toes, but at the same time, you shouldn’t go to hospitals or GP surgeries in case you do have COVID-19 and could possibly spread it to other people.

"Instead, you can try to treat the lesions at home and get a Covid test. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease any pain or swelling, avoid being in cold temperatures and keep warm but don’t put your feet and toes in direct heat and try not to scratch the area.

"Avoid doing anything that can affect the blood circulation in your fingers and toes such as smoking. Contact your GP if the lesions do not clear on their own, you have a high temperature, or there is pus coming from the lesions, or if you have diabetes as foot problems can become serious if you are diabetic."

Much like the other symptoms of coronavirus, we haven't had enough data for long enough to truly understand the causes and longevity of Covid toes, so if you're unsure, it's always best to call your GP.

Should you wear a mask outside to protect against Covid-19? This is what the experts say...

With 1 in 50 people now testing positive for coronavirus, a number that increases to 1 in 20 in some parts of London, there have been calls for stricter lockdown rules to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Encouraging people to wear a mask outside, instead of just face masks on public transport and in shops, has been one of the potential measures discussed. Top medical experts from the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) have been backing the idea for some time, with face masks being a proven method of reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus to others.

So should you wear a mask outside as a protective measure against coronavirus? This is what the experts have to say...

Should you wear a mask outside to protect against Covid-19?

Back in October 2020, various doctors and the British Medical Association (BMA) called for masks to be made compulsory in all outdoor settings where the standard two-metre social distancing isn't possible.

One of the experts backing the call was Professor Calum Semple, an expert in outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool. He's also a member of the government's SAGE committee. He said, "At the start of the outbreak, we didn't really understand much about this virus and nobody else did, but we now appreciate the importance of face coverings and masks in an indoor environment, particularly where ventilation cannot be guaranteed.

"In reality, if you're outside walking your dog on your own and you're many metres away from other people then wearing a mask is making no difference." He said, "But if you're in a city centre shopping precinct, or you're queueing outside the shops then yes, you should be wearing a mask."

This is because the virus spreads from an infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak or breathe. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO): "Other people can catch COVID-19 when the virus gets into their mouth, nose or eyes, which is more likely to happen when people are in direct or close contact (less than 1 metre apart) with an infected person.

"Current evidence suggests that the main way the virus spreads is by respiratory droplets among people who are in close contact with each other."

The longer you spend in proximity to others and the closer you get to them, the more chance you have of coming into range of someone with the virus and them passing it onto you. This applies both inside and outside in spaces such as a queue or a crowded footpath.

Studies conducted since the beginning of the pandemic, including this one by Oxford University, have proven that 'cloth face coverings are effective in protecting the wearer and those around them' but 'face masks need to be seen as part of 'policy packages' with other measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene.'

‘Next to hand washing and social distancing, face masks and coverings are one of the most of widely adopted non-pharmaceutical interventions for reducing the transmission of respiratory infections.’

There is little information around to what extent mandatory mask wearing would be effective outside. However, in crowded outdoor spaces where social distancing can't be maintained, it's proven that wearing a mask outside could make a difference and as such, it's been implemented into guidance around the world.

Scotland has in fact become the latest country to make mask wearing outdoors mandatory in some situations. The country joins the likes of Spain, Italy, some parts of France and states in the US to implement an outdoor mask-wearing policy. The Scottish governmental guidance says, "Whilst it is not compulsory to wear a face covering outdoors it is recommended in crowded situations where physical distancing is not always possible, such as at the school gate or at the entrance to a building. In such circumstances you are expected to wear a face covering.”

Should you wear a mask while running?

Another question that keeps coming up is whether runners, especially those in cities who weave in and out of people on the pavements, should wear a mask outside - and whether they're able to.

Dr James Thing is a consultant in musculoskeletal, sport and exercise medicine at Highgate Private Hospital. He says that wearing a face mask can have an impact on the temperature and humidity of the air we breathe, but "with normal day-to-day activities, wearing a mask should have little to no impact on oxygen levels."

"At higher intensity exercise levels, wearing certain masks can have an effect on breathing resistance, i.e. how hard we have to work to breathe." He says, "It is however safe to wear a face mask while exercising. Recent studies have demonstrated that heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels are not significantly affected by wearing a mask during modern to vigorous intensity exercise. Research shows that mask wearing has no effect on the time it takes to become exhausted or on maximum power output."

Eddie Fletcher, sport and exercise physiologist for Fletcher Sport Science Ltd, agrees. He says, "For the safety of others - if running or cycling in public areas - wearing a mask is advisable. Normal exhaled air travels around 1.5 m but much further when running/cycling so wearing a mask is recommended in public areas.  Holding your breath as you pass people and for people being passed holding their breath when passed, is a good discipline.  It’s also important to adhere to social distancing rules when passing others."

Anyone worried about not hitting their distance goals doesn't have to be concerned, as Eddie says, "Wearing a mask is not particularly restricting for low intensity exercise and shouldn't affect performance in any meaningful way."

"It’s important when using disposable masks to wear once only, and dispose of safely. Reusable masks wash after every use.

 "Some people with breathing restrictions (asthma for instance) may have to reduce the intensity of exercise. There is no evidence that a mask will restrict breathing significantly, but if you are in doubt it’s always best practice to consult a doctor.

"I wouldn't recommend high intensity exercise in a mask but, if done, then a mask should really be worn in public areas." 

Where do you have to wear a mask at the moment?

Currently, the only places where it is compulsory to wear a mask are on public transport, in shops, supermarkets and shopping centres. You do not have to wear a mask outside. When hospitality venues were open, customers also had to wear a mask walking around the venue and when they weren't sat at a table. There was also a time where children had to wear face masks in secondary schools in the UK.

However, as of Monday January 18, those wanting to shop in either Sainsbury's or Morrisons will have to wear a mask in store otherwise they'll be refused entry, while London's Borough Market has become the first outdoor space in the UK to tell people to wear a mask outside when shopping.

It comes as enormous pressure is being put on the NHS to treat patients with the new Covid-19 variant, proven to be up to 70% more transmissible than the original strain. In recognition of the struggle and warning from top practitioners that they're running out of beds in some hospitals, the UK's chief medical officers and the NHS England medical director recommended that the government should move the alert level from a 4 to a level 5.

Different from the lockdown tier system, this level of alert means that the NHS is close to being overwhelmed if something isn't done soon. In a joint statement, the medical officers and the director of NHS England said, "Many parts of the health systems in the 4 nations are already under immense pressure. There are currently very high rates of community transmission, with substantial numbers of COVID patients in hospitals and in intensive care."

Joe Wicks, AKA The Body Coach, is doing his bit to help the nation's children (and adults, let's be honest) stay fit and healthy during lockdown.

Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, used to be best known for his Lean in 15 recipes (such as the delicious Joe Wicks' chicken pie or turkey burger recipe) but when the UK first went into lockdown back in March 2020, the former personal trainer started broadcasting workouts to the public every day on his YouTube channel.

Now that the UK is faced with yet another lockdown in January 2021, Joe is coming back to help keep adults and children alike fit and healthy with his easy to follow workouts yet again.

During the first lockdown, where most of the world were under restrictions, Joe Wicks lockdown workouts became a roaring success and families from literally all over the world tuned in. They shared pictures and videos of themselves following along with the workouts - with Joe himself revealing that well over a million people were tuning in to his workouts by the end of the lockdown.

So if you want to join in the new Joe Wicks lockdown workouts for 2021, where should you go?

When is Joe Wicks on in January 2021?

Joe has confirmed that he'll be streaming his workouts live on his YouTube channel again every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am (UK time). Just like last time, they'll be child friendly and easy to follow.

Joe confirmed that he was returning with his workouts for kids via an Instagram post on Monday night, after another national lockdown was confirmed by the Prime Minister.

His post explained: 'They will be 20 minutes long and designed for children. Please please share this with as many families as you can and let your schools know so they can notify the parents ASAP and we can get as many young children taking part.

'This is so important for our children’s emotional and mental health 🙏🏼🌍 Lots of love Joe 😀'

Where to watch Joe Wicks' kids P.E workout

Just like last time, all Joe's videos will be on his YouTube account where he has also shared all the live streams of his first round of lockdown workouts.

The Wake Up With Joe series started on November 9th 2020 and the Body Coach revealed that it will continue for as long as people need it to while the new lockdown restrictions are in place. His most recent one aired on December 4th 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZs-mtDmEt8&ab_channel=TheBodyCoachTV

How long are Joe Wicks lockdown workouts?

These new Joe Wicks lockdown workouts, Wake Up With Joe, are almost 20 minutes long.

There's currently two already uploaded, for Monday November 9 and Wednesday November 11 but we know that in the next couple of weeks, there will be loads more - starting on January 11th 2021.

Read more: The best Joe Wicks’ cookbooks for 2021

What sort of exercises will you be doing with Joe Wicks' P.E workouts?

The Joe Wicks lockdown workout sessions are fun and simple, so that anyone can easily follow along - with moves that aren't technically confusing but will provide a brilliant workout for both adults and kids.

In his first Wake Up With Joe lockdown video, Joe started with some stretching before going into some super moves like squats and lunges.

He offered viewers the chance to adapt their lockdown to their own needs, by adding weights or doing it fast, so everyone can get the most from these quick burst sessions.

Best Joe Wicks lockdown workouts

Here's our pick of the best Joe Wicks lockdown workouts for kids so far...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Eya6X_3rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ7evRLFXV8&t=552s

Last summer, Joe was joined by his adorable two children (Indie and Marley) during the workouts. This video from Friday June 12 shows multi-tasking to a whole new level, as Joe squats with his youngest in his arms and toddler, Indie joins for a run around. Oh and as it's Fancy Dress Friday, Joe's dressed as kangaroo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iDqBO34ieA

In early May, Joe broke his arm while out and about on his bike. After surgery, he realised that he wouldn't be able to take the following day's HIIT workout class. So as Joe puts it, "in sickness and in health" his wife, Rosie joined him for the session to help demonstrate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybn_SO990go&list=PLyCLoPd4VxBudCnXPQCehUq4iBnmPTKZm

A workout special! In April, Joe kicked off one Monday morning with something a little different. This Workout Wheel of Fortune was used by "Joe Twix" - the game show host - dressed in a full suit, to decide on the workouts everyone would be doing that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z42mwuX_Xj8&list=PLyCLoPd4VxBuHn84_as427AwkVpahrqti&index=4

Another special feature! At the end of April, Joe used a coin-toss to decide what workouts everyone would be doing in the session that morning. He also spoke about wanting to "do as much as [he] can" to help get people up and moving during the lockdown, announcing that he'd filmed more of his Joe Wicks workout for seniors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8

The first ever Joe Wicks kids workout workout! The very first video of the series has now racked up over six million views and since the video first launched, Joe has launched into the spotlight of media attention. He's been offered a book deal and fans have even been calling for him to knighted, since he's raised well over £200,000 for the NHS.

Great work Joe!

A new variant of coronavirus has emerged in the UK and as such, new lockdown restrictions have been imposed in many parts of the country.

Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are facing another lockdown in January with England adding additional tier 4 lockdown restrictions to cope with the rising levels of coronavirus in the UK, due to this mutated strain of Covid-19.

It's not thought to be more dangerous than the original strain, nor is it thought to be resistant to any of the coronavirus vaccines now in distribution. However, health officials have warned that it is significantly more infectious - by up to 70%.

So far a lockdown like that seen in March, which covered all areas of the UK over successive months, has not been implemented again. While England took on another lockdown in November, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland all took on their own, separate restrictions, some of which included the alternative circuit breaker lockdown.

Cases are doubling weekly in some areas of the UK and numbers of positive tests are now at their highest ever but the Oxford vaccine is now being distributed.

Are we having another lockdown in the UK?

England is now in a third, January lockdown with new rules and restrictions in place from January 6 until mid-February at the earliest. It includes schools closing, school exams for 2021 cancelled and a general 'stay at home' order issued to everyone.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already said earlier in the week that harsher national restrictions could be coming in the next few days, after cases around the country have reached new and alarming levels. He said, "It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that may be tougher. I'm fully reconciled to that. I think the whole country is fully reconciled to that."

While Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is was set to make an announcement on stronger measures this week and Wales, which has been in a national lockdown since December 20, isn't currently set to relax any rules until the end of the month. Northern Ireland also took on harsh restrictions in December, where from Boxing Day people were told to "stay at home".

However, largely each of the UK governments are taking their own approach to another potential national lockdown after the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant. In fact, none of the governments have issued a united response to coronavirus since early 2020 (and briefly, in the Christmas rules) so it's thought that this approach will continue into next year.

Eight in ten people living in the UK were under the highest tier 4 level restrictions as of New Year's Eve before the general lockdown was announced.

Scotland has their own lockdown rules as does Wales and Northern Ireland, as localised lockdowns have become the norm in many parts of the UK instead of a whole national lockdown. By taking on this approach, which England has also taken in the re-emergence of the tier system post-November lockdown, some areas that have lower numbers of cases have been able to retain some freedoms.

What does a national lockdown mean?

The difference between tier 4 and a national lockdown is mainly whether schools can open and certain activities, including outdoor exercise, can take place.

During the first national lockdown, all schools closed their doors to pupils and online learning became the norm. This was the case for all students from primary school children to those at university. While in tier 4, schools, colleges and universities have remained open and the government has urged people to still send their children into schools.

In lockdown, outdoors sports such as golf and outdoor swimming were strictly off the cards. There was even a point back in 2020 when people weren't allowed to leave their homes at all apart from for essential purposes. However, in tier 4 there have been allowances, including keeping golf courses and outdoor swimming pools open.

In both tier 4 and a national lockdown, the general order is to "stay at home" where possible.

However, during the second national lockdown in November, those in England under the restrictions were encouraged to still go to school, college and university, while there were no restrictions on exercise. It marked a change from the first lockdown, so if we were to take on the harsh restrictions again, there's no guarantee that children would be forced to stay at home.

Is there a third wave coming to the UK?

In the strictest sense, the third wave of coronavirus has already landed in the UK due to the prevalence of the new Covid-19 variants. However, some experts argue against referring to each spike of infections as a 'wave' as it's older and confusing language, taken from the Spanish influenza outbreak of 1918.

Additionally, the most recently spike in infections is currently not being widely referred to as a third wave, as the last wave which saw England go into a lockdown in November was. This may be because although infection rates have dramatically spiked, it's not anymore dangerous than the original Covid-19 and the coronavirus vaccine will be equally as effective at offering protection against it.

Due to the new variant, most of the south and south east of England including London, Essex and Kent went into tier 4 restrictions. On Boxing Day, further areas took on the highest level of restrictions with other regions, including Cornwall, moving up into higher levels.

Will schools close again if there is another lockdown?

In January 2021, schools have closed and all learning has been taken online for pupils in primary and secondary school, as well as those doing A-levels and equivalent qualifications in sixth forms and colleges.

The closure of schools was a relatively last-minute decision however, as cases had surpassed the peak they were at in April before the government decided to close schools for the month. It was thought that schools would be the last institutions to close due to the importance of education being highlighted last year, but already by New Year's Day, schools were being told to stagger their return.

According to government sources, the plan to stagger the return came as ministers were torn between following the science behind the spread of Covid and the warnings from the Department for Education, who have suggested that a return to remote learning in January would make it harder for schools to reopen again before Easter, putting summer exams at risk. However, the government's scientific advisors had concerns over the increased spread of the Covid-19 variant, as the statistics from the festive season emerged with devastating numbers.

Over the last lockdown, schools didn't close as coronavirus cases rose. As a result, more than 50% of all schools in England and Northern Ireland sent children home from school to isolate.

Is there a third wave sweeping across Europe?

With shops closed, Christmas plans changed and borders closing for many parts of Europe, it looks very similar to how it did in March when the first wave of coronavirus emerged. Experts have concluded after new spikes in infections across Europe, that many countries are seeing a third wave.

Germany was one of the first countries to take on a Christmas lockdown as infection rates spiked across the country. Figures from just before the restrictions revealed that there had been 20,000 more positive cases, bringing Germany's total to more than 1.3 million, along with a further 321 deaths as a direct result of Covid-19.

It comes as David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation's Covid-19 special envoy, warned that Europe was likely to experience a third wave of the pandemic in early 2021 before the vaccine could be introduced.

He added that European governments still have a lot to learn from Asian countries about how to handle the spread of the virus.

France saw a peak in October with cases totalling 86,852 in the first week of November. Since then, they have dramatically dropped thanks to another lockdown and increased testing in problem areas. However, cases in the country haven't been falling as fast as officials hoped and as of December 15, a nighttime curfew was mandated from December 15 right through until after New Year's Eve to prevent mass gatherings.

Spain, much like the UK, has seen a dramatic rise in infections over winter. Even though cases in the country rose to well above 500,000 as of December 10, the health minister confirmed that "total confinement" was certainly off the table for the future, as measures had been previously implemented to prevent this from happening.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Poland's rate of coronavirus increased in December but has been nowhere near the dangerous levels seen elsewhere. As of December 10, the country had just under 1,250 cases. However, the country will be entering a lockdown as of December 28 to quell infections that are certain to rise up over Christmas.

It comes as the government's quarantine list of countries where you do not have to self isolate upon your return to the UK is being changed every week, with popular holiday destinations removed from the list recently.

Could smaller lockdowns continue to be the way forward for the UK?

The localised lockdowns across the country, which started with Leicester in July, have been largely cited as a success by the government and been given as a reason for the country not going into another lockdown. When Leicester was first put under the new restrictions, the rate of cases per 100,000 people fell in particular areas and come October, one in three people are currently under regional guidelines of varying degrees.

But progress has slowed and it turns out that Leicester was the only city to see a drop in cases after going into a smaller lockdown and in some areas, positive cases have dropped momentarily only to spike again in the weeks after. Manchester, for example, was under restrictions for nine weeks and in that time, the city saw the number of cases more than triple. While some attribute this to an increase in testing, which is true in some cases, the number of tests coming back positive has risen so it suggests that the virus is in face more common in the population than it was some weeks before. The mayor of Greater Manchester has said the reason for this could be two-fold: the local test and trace initiative wasn't operating correctly and the population lacked the initiative to follow the rules as there was a huge disassociation between national and local lockdown rules, with neither being particularly clear. So what does it take for local lockdowns to work?

Medical epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, Lakshmi Manoharan, wrote in The Conversation that certain criteria need to be met for lockdown to be effective. She said that this included "clear communication and data-sharing between all levels of government, including local authorities, the NHS, Public Health England and the UK government. Data must be made readily available to all parties, including up-to-date case numbers to help identify hotspots. In doing so, early action can be undertaken and the necessity for wider restrictive measures reduced.

"A robust testing and tracing strategy must also be in place. Tests should be easy for people to access with results rapidly provided. Cases and their contacts who are required to self-isolate should be supported by central government to assist with accommodation and cover loss of income.

"Finally, local authorities must be involved at every step with clear community messaging that gives people ample opportunity to prepare for increased restrictions."

Importantly, Lakshmi also said that local lockdowns do work, "As recent evidence from a study of these measures in the Italian city of Vo’ has demonstrated – and they remain our best option if there is continued viral transmission in the community."

So while there is no definite to whether the UK will have another lockdown in 2021, there are promises from the government that further local lockdowns will be introduced and by no means should we rule out the possibility of a second lockdown if cases begin to significantly spike.

Now areas have gone into tier 3 as part of the government's latest system, many are worried about what this means for the next few months and what the differences are between tiers 2 and 3 of lockdown measures.

The difference between tier 2 and tier 3 restrictions in the new tier lockdown system is mainly to do with how much social mixing you can do - but there are other restrictions as well. 

Since the list was first announced, areas in the south and south east of England have been introduced to harsher tier 4 lockdown restrictions to combat fast-growing rates of infection. Many high-density areas, including London and parts of Essex and Kent, went into an almost full lockdown while other areas moved from tier 2 up to tier 3.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Swindon are just some of the areas moving back into tier 3 on Boxing Day after a new Covid-19 variant was discovered in the south of England. It comes just days after Bristol and Northern Somerset were given the green light to move from tier 3 down to tier 2 and the Christmas lockdown rules were changed in all areas to restrict inter-household mixing.

London was in tier 4 but after infection rates started to double, Matt Hancock moved the capital up to tier 4 on December 14. The city was joined by the south and west of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire in the step up to the highest tier earlier than the review day.

Speaking about the latest changes, the health secretary said, "In some parts of these areas, the doubling time is around every seven days. This isn’t just about rising rates around school aged children anymore but it’s all age groups including the over-60s and we know from painful experience that more cases lead to more hospitalisations and sadly, the loss of more of our loved ones.

“Hospitals across the capital, Essex and Kent are already under pressure and we know this doubling of cases will be mirrored in hospital admissions and it only takes a few doublings for the NHS to be overwhelmed.

“Our NHS is straining every sinew to cope with the pressures as they always do but if cases continue to double, even they will be overwhelmed. So we must act now to shift the curve because when the virus is growing exponentially, there is not a moment to spare.

The harsher restrictions come as no surprise to some, however, as the government's SAGE body warned that the last set of three tier restrictions wasn't effective enough to reduce the infection rate of the virus.

So as even more cities join the highest tier, what does tier 2 and tier 3 actually mean? With Christmas and the festive season fast approaching, will we be able to get together with friends? Will pubs open? Here's what you need to know about the difference between tier 2 and 3 under the new lockdown system for December...

What is the difference between tier 2 and 3 lockdown?

The main difference between tier 2 and tier 3 is where you can meet people who don't live in your household or support bubble.

In tier 2, people can meet in groups of six outside in a public space or a private garden. This could include gardens of pubs and restaurants as in tier 2, all hospitality venues are allowed to stay open as long as they offer a substantial meal with all sales of alcohol. In the lower tiers pubs and bars can stay open for drinks and food until 11pm now, last orders must be given at 10pm.

In tier 3, this is not allowed. All pubs and hospitality venues have to close except for takeaway until the region goes back into lower levels of restrictions. People in tier 3 can still meet outside, however, in public parks and spaces as long as they're not in groups exceeding six people.

In both tiers, schools will not close again even if coronavirus cases continue to rise. This is the same for all colleges and universities, as well as any workplaces where people cannot work from home.

Gyms, leisure centres and non-essential shops, along with personal care businesses like hair dressers are also allowed to stay open in both tiers 2 and 3.

What does tier 3 mean?

Now with the introduction of a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions, tier 3 has taken on a new meaning. It's now not the harshest level of restrictions and simply means more socialising with people outside of your household than in the highest tier.

Those in tier 3 can meet with six people outside their household in a public, outdoor space while those in tier 4 are not allowed to meet with more than one other person outdoors. In tier 3, non-essential shops like clothing stores and services such as hairdressers can continue, but this isn't the case in tier 4.

Can I travel abroad in tier 3?

In tier 3, there are strict lockdown travel restrictions. Travel in general is only permitted for those who have to move for either education (such as university students) or for work, which includes anyone looking to go abroad.

This means that standard family holidays and trips are off the table for anyone going into or already in tier 3 at the moment, even though there are many countries where people can go on holiday without quarantine upon entering the country or returning.

While in tier 2, there are also travel restrictions but the rules allow for holidays and stays abroad with anyone in their own household or support bubble.

Can I play golf in tier 3?

In tier 3, golf courses will stay open under the government's rules on leisure facilities. It joins the likes of gyms, swimming pools and other exercise facilities in staying open throughout all the tiers, no matter how high the restrictions become.

As it's an outdoor space as well, so there is the added benefit of a reduced chance of transmission of coronavirus. However, players must make sure that they are gathering with no more than six other players outdoors and under tier two and tier three, they should enter an indoor space with anyone they don't live with or anyone who isn't in their support bubble.

Can I stay in a hotel in tier 3?

In tier 3, hotels will stay open but that doesn't mean that anyone will be able to stay in them. Accommodation providers, including hotels and private holiday rentals are only allowed to open for essential reasons as staying overnight anywhere is off limits unless you're travelling for work or education.

Can I go on holiday in tier 3?

The government has strictly advised anyone in tier 3 to avoid going into areas that are in lower restrictions. UK destinations for those in England, including Wales and Scotland, also have travel restrictions in place that limit movement over the border and anyone that does so could be subject to lockdown fines.

Although for many, this will happen over the Christmas period when the rules are lifted between December 23 to December 27. In this case, the government haven't changed their advice and have instead just suggested that families should re-consider their movements over the festive period to avoid staying over at another person's house or in a hotel and take vulnerable family members into account.

Can I move house in tier 3?

Regardless of what tier movers find themselves in, they will be allowed to complete all the steps to move house. This is partly because estate agents and other associated businesses including furniture movers are allowed to continue working throughout all tier levels over the next couple of months.

The rule only applies to people moving to a new permanent primary address, however, and doesn't allow for people move temporarily to second homes for example. Estate agents and other businesses have also been urged to put appropriate safety measure in place where possible, such as making virtual viewings available to prospective tenants and asking people to vacate properties for viewings, along with making sure that empty properties have been thoroughly cleaned before anyone moves in.

The holiday is almost here and normally, we’d be thinking about office parties, family gatherings and Christmas meals out. But this year, it looks as though the Christmas lockdown rules will make things a little different.

The Christmas lockdown rules were first announced in November as the prime minister said, “We all want some kind of Christmas, we need it, we certainly feel we deserve it."

“I can’t say Christmas will be normal this year,” He added, but he promised that “by maintaining the pressure on the virus, we can also enable people to see more of their family and friends over Christmas.”

Now things have certainly changed. A January lockdown is in store for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in the new year, while England has imposed a Tier 4 lockdown restrictions on many areas in the South and South East of the country. This has, naturally, affected plans for Christmas Day and the festive period as all four governments have announced a U-turn on the original Christmas lockdown rules.

It comes as a new variant of Covid-19 has emerged, which isn't proving to be anymore deadly or resistant to the coronavirus vaccine but is likely to be spreading up to 70% faster than the original.

So what’s in store for us when those in England come out of lockdown on December 2? And what can everyone in the UK expect their Christmas to look like this year? This is everything we know about the Christmas lockdown rules for 2020 so far…

What are the Christmas lockdown rules and will lockdown be lifted for Christmas?

Initially, it was promised that all four devolved nations would have a united approach to Christmas. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in November, "To allow families to come together while minimising the risk, we’re working with the devolved administrations on a special, time-limited dispensation embracing the whole of the United Kingdom."

However he did warn, "Families will need to make a careful judgement" about who they see over the festive period and think carefully about visiting older relatives.

Under the first set of rules, three households were allowed to gather together over December 23 to December 27 indoors.  The "Christmas bubble" were allowed to stay overnight at each other's homes but they weren't permitted to visit any hospitality settings together, such as pubs or restaurants, theatres or any retail settings.

Naturally, this has now changed. These are the new Christmas lockdown rules for each part of the UK...

England Christmas lockdown rules

In areas of England not under Tier 4 lockdown restrictions, the Christmas rules now allow for up to three households to meet - but only on Christmas Day. This a change from the five days previously set out by the government in November.

Boris Johnson said at the time of his most recent statement, "As before, there will be no relaxation on 31 December, so people must not break the rules at New Year."

"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned."

He added, "I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year, and how important it is for grandparents to see their grandchildren, and for families to be together.

"So I know how disappointing this will be, but we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science.

"When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence."

What are the Tier 4 lockdown rules for Christmas Day?

In Tier 4 areas of England, households should not mix with anyone outside of their own household at all, under any circumstances.

Support bubbles, however, are still in place for anyone living alone and at particular risk of loneliness or isolation.

It comes as a huge blow to the millions of people now living under massively tightened restrictions in south and south east England. All non-essential shops are now closed, leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools, hairdressers and personal care business are also closed, along with pubs and restaurants.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other officials, including leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, have urged people to follow the rules at all times to prevent the hospitals being overwhelmed and the virus spreading further.

Scotland Christmas lockdown rules

In a statement released over the weekend, the Scottish government have confirmed that the loosening of restrictions will now only apply to Christmas Day - rather than over the five day period initially outlined.

"Scotland will significantly tighten protections against Coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent the spread of the new, highly contagious strain of the virus."

The household limit of 8 people from three households will still apply but "advice is to minimise the numbers. Where possible, people should celebrate the festive period at home in their household and meet with others outdoors."

Travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK is not legal, so anyone looking to cross the border for Christmas is now not permitted to do so, unlike before. However, travel within Scotland itself will be allowed on Christmas Day.

From Boxing Day, Scotland's level 4 restrictions will be enforced across most of the country and include the closure of non-essential retail services and hospitality venues. The areas of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and the "other island communities where restrictions have been reduced in recent weeks" will not move up to level four, however.

Much like in England, from Boxing Day in Scotland, any travel between levels three and four will be prohibited except for essential reasons.

Wales Christmas lockdown rules

The Christmas lockdown rules in Wales have also changed. Now people will only be able to meet in two households on Christmas Day. First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to "stay at home" in general.

Initially, a national lockdown in Wales for January was due to come into play on December 28. Following the emergence of the new variant across the UK, this has now been brought forward.

On announcing the new measures, which mean people have to stay at home and only leave for essential reasons, Mark Drakeford said that hundreds of people had contracted the new, "more aggressive" version of coronavirus in Wales.

He added, "While we all want to avoid further disruption to businesses and plans for Christmas, our overriding duty is to protect lives here in Wales".

Now from December 20, non-essential retail must close, gyms, leisure centres, hairdressing and barber businesses, along with all hospitality venues will be forced to shut down for the foreseeable.

Although only two households will be able to meet on Christmas Day, anyone on their own in a level four area will be able to join another household as part of a support bubble to combat loneliness.

Northern Ireland Christmas lockdown rules

Northern Ireland is the only nation not to alter any of the Christmas rules for the festive season.

First Minister Arlene Foster said that "significant action" had already been taken "in advance of other regions".

This means that in Northern Ireland, up to three households can gather over December 23 through to December 27 in indoor private spaces. However, health ministers for Northern Ireland have reminded people to "think seriously about their plans for Christmas, and now consider limiting their coming together on Christmas Day."

What will the Covid lockdown tiers be for Christmas?

Now with Tier 4 in place, everywhere will stay in their current tier for Christmas as the next review comes on December 30. It's not expected that restrictions will be lifted for New Year's Eve celebrations, however.

This means that the three tier system rules still apply outside of Christmas Day, for everywhere apart from those in the highest level of restrictions in the south and south east of England. Those in Tier 1 will be allowed to mix indoors with up to six other people still and anyone still in Tier 2 will be able to mix outdoors at a pub or restaurant with those outside of their household over the festive season.

Will households be able to mix for Christmas in 'bubbles'?

The rules have changed and now, in England and the rest of the UK, households of varying people are only allowed to mix on Christmas Day - or not at all under Tier 4 restrictions. This means, however, that in most areas people can still form a Christmas bubble.

The bubble will only be in place for one day now though and it's been emphasised how important it is not to break these rules.

On Christmas Day across the UK (but not in Tier 4):

• You can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Wales has a limit of two households.
• You can only be in one Christmas bubble.
• You cannot change your Christmas bubble.
•  You can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble.
• You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
• You can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying.
• You cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble.

This means that over the five-day festive period, groups of friends or other family members (unless they are in the Christmas bubble) are not allowed to meet in pubs, restaurants or other hospitality venues when they open again under the new tier lockdown system. The "Christmas bubble" is also not allowed to meet in these spaces so Christmas dinner will have to take place indoors at home.

However, the new rules do allow for families to get together on Christmas Day.

Will hotels be open for Christmas?

This very much depends on the area in which you're staying. The new tier system allows hospitality (including hotels and overnight accommodation) to open in tiers one and two so at the very least, it's likely that they'll be open in regions who are put into the bottom two tiers as of December 2.

In all tiers over the five day festive period, people are allowed to travel between tiers and UK nations to meet their "Christmas bubble" but as they're not allowed to meet together anywhere other than inside homes, private spaces, places of worship or public outdoor spaces, it's likely that there won't be a blanket opening policy for hotels over Christmas.

New Year lockdown rules

Following changes to the Christmas lockdown rules for the UK, it's been emphasised that there will be no changes to the tier system or restrictions for New Year's Eve.

This means that anyone under Tier 4 restrictions must stay at home and will only be able to meet one other person outdoors, while anyone in Tier 3 can meet up to six people outside in a public space only, anyone in Tier 2 can meet six others outside in a private space. Tier 1 is the only level that allows people to mix indoors.

So for the time being, it looks as though the days of big New Year's Eve parties are off the table this year.