Boris Johnson announces roadmap out of lockdown for England- what the PM said

Boris Johnson announces roadmap out of lockdown for England- what the PM said Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown plan for England.

The Prime Minister announced the four-stage plan in the easing of lockdown restrictions to MPs in the House of Commons on Monday (22 Feb). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• The key dates in the roadmap out of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Teaching union reps in Northamptonshire calling for more evidence to prove a full return to school is safe Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Sending all kids back to school could raise R number to around 1 - according to a SAGE member Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• People with HIV can now get a Covid vaccine without worrying about stigma - here’s how Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Matt Hancock says public must ‘follow the rules’ to ensure England exits lockdown as planned Northamptonshire Telegraph
• More than one-third of 300 calls in a single day to Northamptonshire Police were over breaches of Covid-19 rules Northamptonshire Telegraph

A quarter of a million people missed out on mental health help during Covid pandemic, figures reveal

A quarter of a million people missed out on mental health help during Covid pandemic, figures reveal Mental health referrals have fallen dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic with over a quarter of a million fewer people accessing talking therapy for common conditions like depression or anxiety. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Prolific burglar jailed again after rifling patients' belongings on Northampton hospital ward

Prolific burglar jailed again after rifling patients' belongings on Northampton hospital ward A prolific burgler has been sent back to jail after rifling through patients' lockers and drawers in a Northampton hospital ward.

Wayne Townsend was also convicted of assaulting security staff who tried to stop him marching through Northampton General Hospital in December last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Heart failure: a call to action

Heart failure: a call to action In 2016 the All Party Parliamentary Group on Heart Disease published ‘Focus on Heart Failure’ which made recommendations to improve care and transform lives. Four years on, with heart failure featuring prominently in the NHS Long Term Plan and a growing number of regional NHS plans, this report looks at the progress that has been made on the APPG’s recommendations, and evaluates what further action needs to be taken. Alliance for Heart Failure 

Vaccine linked to reduction in risk of COVID-19 admissions to hospitals

Vaccine linked to reduction in risk of COVID-19 admissions to hospitals Vaccination has been linked to a substantial reduction in the risk of COVID-19 admissions to Scotland’s hospitals. As part of the EAVE II project, which uses patient data to track the pandemic and the vaccine rollout in real-time, Public Health Scotland, the Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Glasgow and St Andrew’s analysed data on vaccine effect. Public Health Scotland

See also:

• First real-world UK data shows Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provides high levels of protection from the first dose Public Health England
• Guidance: PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination Public Health England
• Covid vaccines - 'spectacular' impact on serious illness BBC News
• Britain's Covid vaccines ARE working, early studies show The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 vaccines cut hospitalisation risk by around 90% early data show GPonline

COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021

COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021 The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’, setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. Cabinet Office

See also:

• Prime Minister sets out roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
• Mass testing for secondary pupils as all schools and colleges fully reopen from 8 March  Department of Health and Social Care
• Build back better should start right now, and target risk The Health Foundation

Covid-19: Everyone 'has to play their part' in lockdown easing, warns Hancock

Covid-19: Everyone 'has to play their part' in lockdown easing, warns Hancock Everybody has to "play their part" to meet the dates for England's lockdown to be eased, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned.

It comes after Boris Johnson outlined his four-step strategy that could see restrictions lifted by 21 June - if strict conditions are met. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Why can't we unlock more quickly? BBC News
• Matt Hancock: 'This is on everyone to act together to hit deadline dates' BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Confidential offer for HIV patients BBC News
• Schools reopening: How at risk are children? BBC News
• Coronavirus: What Europeans have learned from a year of pandemic BBC News
• No10 urged to pick up the pace of its Covid vaccine drive The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Revaccination may become regular thing, admits government The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson finally reveals his roadmap out of lockdown The Daily Mail
• Covid cases are UP for first time in SIX WEEKS with 10,641 new infections The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson considers 'Covid status certificates' to unlock England The Guardian
• Life back to normal by 21 June at earliest, Boris Johnson announces The Independent
• Lockdown roadmap: What is reopening and when? The Independent
• UK still at risk from new Covid wave despite vaccines, warns Sir Patrick Vallance The Independent
• Long-COVID likely to put 'significant strain' on NHS in coming years, scientists say Sky News

High-cost lenders 'exploit NHS workers on pandemic frontline'

High-cost lenders 'exploit NHS workers on pandemic frontline' Study claims thousands of mainly lower-paid workers have relied on loans charging up to 1,333% interest to survive. The Guardian