Covid live: Italy and Spain to ease mask mandate; UK records 66,183 new cases – as it happened

A global initiative to get Covid-19 tests, treatments and vaccines to poorer nations is “running on fumes” because of a budget shortfall.

“,”elementId”:”3697d287-06d3-4bfb-b711-cfc78f8b02c0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other aid groups, the initiative has only received 5% of the donations sought to deliver on its aims this year.

“,”elementId”:”dfd52d41-240d-4105-b6b7-be69978253bd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Reuters reports that the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator budgeted $23.4 billion (£17.27 billion) for its efforts from October 2021 to September 2022, of which it hoped $16.8 billion (£12.4 billion) would come in the form of grants from richer countries.

“,”elementId”:”cb0d8647-19c0-400e-aa7d-00707a340056″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

However, so far it has had just $814 million (£601 million) pledged, leaders of the initiative told a media briefing on Tuesday.

“,”elementId”:”ab592332-5942-4df3-8d2f-ff2f7e2fbc16″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The ACT-Accelerator hub encompasses the COVAX initiative, which has focused on equitable access to vaccines. It also involves providing tests and treatments to low and middle-income countries, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

“,”elementId”:”d007ab73-7da1-447a-9b2a-35bd7a3e30e4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In addition to the WHO, the project is backed by organisations including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, The Global Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“,”elementId”:”0e915b92-e824-4725-8630-d74502f67315″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

WHO’s global ambassador for health financing and former UK prime minister Gordon Brown said: “That’s just a minuscule 5% of what we require. It is time to awaken the conscience of the world.”

“,”elementId”:”138860e7-2cbd-48ff-ab40-93a8a4876c83″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Bruce Aylward, a senior WHO official who acts as coordinator for the initiative, said: “The global response is running on fumes.”

“,”elementId”:”264e0b30-ae32-494c-b0ca-8ed893cea017″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

On Wednesday, a number of world leaders are set to support publicly the push for more funding, calling for the investment to end the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic this year.

“,”elementId”:”49afecf0-b6cb-47b1-9922-b4a5672c85f7″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644362035000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”23.13 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644364628000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”23.57 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644363016000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”23.30 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”23.30″,”title”:”Global Covid response program ‘running on fumes’ amid budget shortfall”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”6202ab138f08c5e031079a83″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Italy has lifted coronavirus restrictions which require people to wear masks outdoors under most circumstances in response to an improving coronavirus situation, with Italy’s government also saying that they aim to raise attendance limits at stadiums.

“,”elementId”:”032f05e9-b825-43b9-bb25-812c8bf57991″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Reuters reports:

“,”elementId”:”8de867f7-dc38-4955-8b54-93d0be1c3641″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Under new rules set by Health Minister Roberto Speranza, from 11 Feb until at least 31 March it will be necessary to wear protective masks only in crowded areas and at indoor public venues.

n

Earlier, Speranza and Sports Minister Valentina Vezzali said the government aimed to steadily increase the attendance limits at sports stadiums from March 1.

n

The ministers said in a statement that from that date they intended to raise attendance ceilings to 75% of capacity for outside stadiums and 60% for indoor ones. The limits currently stand at 50% of capacity outside and 35% inside.

n

Italy’s rate of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations has been gradually declining in recent weeks, but the death toll remains stubbornly high, with between 300 and 450 fatalities on most days.

n

“,”elementId”:”2656deaa-c4e2-48ee-83ce-d4134dcbbc90″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644342035000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”17.40 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644344646000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.24 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644342117000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.41 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.41″,”title”:”Italy to ease mask mandate in most outdoor spaces”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620296098f08142faaa8f3d6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A further 314 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the UK total to 158,677, the government said. These figures now include deaths in England following possible reinfections of Covid-19.

“,”elementId”:”be2f8c60-19ba-4193-a754-535d99097be1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 182,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

“,”elementId”:”f7b8d72a-7d55-4e64-9164-77ea6bf34e55″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

There were 66,183 cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK on Tuesday, the government said, which includes reinfections in England and Northern Ireland that are more than 90 days after a previous positive test.

“,”elementId”:”a8217bfa-ab76-478a-8aa4-50cb43e74f7d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The total is based on positive lab-confirmed PCR tests in all four nations of the UK, plus most positive lateral flow tests reported in England and all lateral flow tests reported in Northern Ireland.

“,”elementId”:”38216252-5dbc-467a-90b5-a08e2d3ad48e”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644336649000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.10 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644344692000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.24 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644336818000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.13 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.13″,”title”:”UK records 66,183 new cases and 314 Covid-related deaths”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”6202907b8f086aa9176b3a95″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Spain is scrapping a mandate to wear masks outdoors, as COVID-19 infection rates drop and hospitals report lower admissions, AP reports.
Mask-wearing will not be necessary outside beginning Thursday, a government spokeswoman said on Tuesday after a weekly Cabinet meeting.
The rule change includes children at school during their breaks outside between classes.
However, masks remain mandatory in indoor public spaces, including public transportation, and when people are unable to keep a safe distance of 1.5 metres (4 feet) between them.

“,”elementId”:”a91934bb-7298-4fe4-8381-d0610153e7b1″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644335227000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.47 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644344667000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.24 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644335383000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.49 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.49″,”title”:”Spain scraps outdoor mask rules”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620249858f081628ce71a035″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n
• England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, has written to NHS staff telling them it is their “professional responsibility” to get vaccinated. He tweeted a copy of the letter.

n

• Japan reported 155 daily deaths today – a new daily record. The country also recorded more than 100,000 new infections, a level it last hit on Saturday.

n

• Poland has pushed back indefinitely a deadline for teachers, police, armed forces and firefighters to be vaccinated because it cannot be met. Last year, the government said those workers and medics must be vaccinated by 1 March to continue in their jobs.

n

• A quarter of British employers cite long Covid as the main reason behind long-term sickness absences, a survey has found. Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that 26% of employers include long Covid as a main cause of long-term sickness absence.

n

• Hundreds of people blocked streets outside New Zealand’s parliament today to protest against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions, inspired by demonstrations in Ottawa, Canada. The “convoy for freedom” – formed of trucks and campervans – gathered outside the Beehive in Wellington ahead of prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s first speech of the year.

n

• Deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales have fallen for the first time this year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. There were 1,385 deaths registered in the week ending 28 January mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, down 7% on the previous week.

n

• The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has defended his government’s pandemic response over the last two years, citing high economic growth and middling inflation. Growth is estimated at 9.2% for the fiscal year ending in March, reports Reuters, and at 8% to 8.5% for the next, following a contraction of 6.6% in 2019/20. Retail inflation is around 5.5%, within the central bank’s target of 2-6%.

n

• Scientists in China say they have developed a new coronavirus test as accurate as a PCR that gives results within four minutes. Researchers at Fudan university in Shanghai say they have a solution, in the form of a sensor that uses microelectronics to analyse genetic material from swabs.

n

“,”elementId”:”72673d1b-2c54-48a1-a7a2-5754a2222188″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

That’s it from me for today. Handing over now to Tobi Thomas. Thanks for reading.

“,”elementId”:”c7003699-c02c-41ee-abe3-90146c052bf7″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1644317061000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.44 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644318362000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.06 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644318362000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.06 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.06″,”title”:”Here’s a summary of the latest developments…”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”62024cf38f081628ce71a068″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

England’s chief medical officer has written to NHS staff telling them it is their “professional responsibility” to get vaccinated.

“,”elementId”:”0217bd97-0a76-4d17-a327-c3fef4eae8dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Prof Chris Whitty tweeted a copy of the letter today, saying:

“,”elementId”:”d262ff1a-5417-40c1-985b-ed8f7171e9af”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I have written to NHS colleagues about the professional responsibility to protect patients from Covid-19. This includes getting vaccinated, as the great majority have.

n

“,”elementId”:”10954e7c-0c65-47aa-b2c0-92f01775ac1c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The letter was also signed by chief midwifery officer Prof Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief nursing officer Ruth May, and NHS medical director Prof Stephen Powis.

“,”elementId”:”014a0fe4-0526-4ea0-8dab-abde16e80014″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

With the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Midwifery Officer, Medical Directors and others, I have written to NHS colleagues about the professional responsibility to protect patients from COVID-19. This includes getting vaccinated, as the great majority have. pic.twitter.com/1MxfWWP9OQ

— Professor Chris Whitty (@CMO_England) February 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/CMO_England/status/1490975576676769794?s=20&t=VqP6UjUQEfIiyAlvRAHOaA”,”id”:”1490975576676769794″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”cb58909f-1fcc-464a-a9d8-4717d0648cb3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It comes after health secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons last month that ministers plan to scrap the legal requirement for frontline NHS staff in England to be vaccinated.

“,”elementId”:”c411f8f3-5664-4a7e-a7ce-5bd403a139a7″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644317939000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.58 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644318233000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.03 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644318233000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.03 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.03″,”title”:”England’s chief medical officer tells NHS staff it’s their ‘professional responsibility’ to get vaccinated”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”62024a7e8f0843b97ecf91e8″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Japan reported 155 daily deaths today – a new daily record.

“,”elementId”:”7c1899b8-a0d2-4c79-a4b2-b479bdbf1518″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The country also recorded more than 100,000 new infections, a level it last hit on Saturday, reported Reuters.

“,”elementId”:”e4b39132-6841-45d7-98c5-d123500ca065″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3602″,”width”:”6000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/6000.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3602″,”width”:”6000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”A coronavirus awareness sign in Tokyo today.”,”caption”:”A coronavirus awareness sign in Tokyo today.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7ad38baf071d87d768b71c8ee6bc4b81″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c656e2c72ca8fd1c2b3a07916c141b76″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d0a3ffc5d57f3f1b24c3a975dc46e90″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c8102b4d8eae228e4d098a9d53c78a0f”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f0ddbb9a730c063a542a83d58c45c517″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4bf0eae51994dfa0d604dabbdfc7e3ca”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2c9d0a21234569938f052eb9ea067819″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8a62e15925f6a5c93d2cd51aec3a3b7a”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d4d3e1819f11a9baabf9dd3dd4492ef5″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eb21fc09b2fdea78a433e1c5dcc1378f”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6df6d799dd334051b78563a2c8027fc5″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0311eee8baa58cf865be05d1e99db58b”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7316134f7090025a3b8f7e13b76c2512″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8a6a443cb147e3ea7671d2ab71ada38d”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7ad38baf071d87d768b71c8ee6bc4b81″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c656e2c72ca8fd1c2b3a07916c141b76″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d0a3ffc5d57f3f1b24c3a975dc46e90″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c8102b4d8eae228e4d098a9d53c78a0f”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f0ddbb9a730c063a542a83d58c45c517″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4bf0eae51994dfa0d604dabbdfc7e3ca”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7e3e5b2e43c57980c5e987e47f3238ca”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0258c5a457354eff578280c4544690a4″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0748d84319970e0063f4cbcca3882bff”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9b15d2a5d0cf485d5afb0bfe3b927d0d”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7ad38baf071d87d768b71c8ee6bc4b81″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c656e2c72ca8fd1c2b3a07916c141b76″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d0a3ffc5d57f3f1b24c3a975dc46e90″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c8102b4d8eae228e4d098a9d53c78a0f”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f0ddbb9a730c063a542a83d58c45c517″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4bf0eae51994dfa0d604dabbdfc7e3ca”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7ad38baf071d87d768b71c8ee6bc4b81″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c656e2c72ca8fd1c2b3a07916c141b76″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d0a3ffc5d57f3f1b24c3a975dc46e90″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c8102b4d8eae228e4d098a9d53c78a0f”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f0ddbb9a730c063a542a83d58c45c517″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4bf0eae51994dfa0d604dabbdfc7e3ca”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=69fc58d52af30a88f724ca7b41a62d67″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=235945ea1539fce4700ad04ecdb00e5d”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7547b94d7bd23450348b82d85470318f”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f49c9f2a3157d4b1d737e58afd22c3e1″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=db11c034f329c6a1ed45190b41d7d4d5″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e52c8160d5a24756823e9bfd2c2f80ba”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=595115fd181392d56888e175993381d6″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e1d88864efeddbd685d5d6e1a50763d3″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0e8c15e9aedf454678f38baa589ae26a”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=58c48425723c6d3afd2a1be91ccd4e6a”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c03ef2cb4bb5f750c0203981f07c1837″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=404dcc70fac22c9ec208aba9cc4c60ef”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=df55e46934d70d13394eed9537ccb523″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7a2ef1d0b36bc758afcd9bce0db3297724e5c328/0_275_6000_3602/master/6000.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=969660bb8b84b1e1af9573c7d490dd7b”,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”088616eb-acd7-4370-b8ff-6e71dd95c2a8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644317310000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.48 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644320657000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.44 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644317526000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.52 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.52″,”title”:”Japan reports record 155 daily Covid deaths”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620247718f086aa9176b358b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Poland has pushed back indefinitely a deadline for teachers, police, armed forces and firefighters to be vaccinated because it cannot be met.

“,”elementId”:”04a98f60-6eb8-4995-95bb-abf78eded5d9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Last year, the government said those workers and medics must be vaccinated by 1 March to continue in their jobs.

“,”elementId”:”546536ba-5a01-4343-9ab8-01f0f019f0db”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But today health ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz said the pace of vaccination means the deadline cannot be met, reports the Associated Press. The requirement remains only in force for medical staff.

“,”elementId”:”753fde7a-4a2d-40d7-8fce-2b72dfdf60ba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Poland is undergoing its fifth pandemic wave, with 36,000 new cases and nearly 290 Covid-related deaths reported today. 57% of the population of 38 million is fully vaccinated.

“,”elementId”:”b60846f9-0233-4267-b76a-5cfc9095ddda”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644316529000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.35 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644317012000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.43 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644316918000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.41 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.41″,”title”:”Poland indefinitely pushes back vaccination deadline for all but medical staff”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”6202449e8f0833e58fffed75″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A quarter of British employers cite long Covid as the main reason behind long-term sickness absences, a survey has found.

“,”elementId”:”f29a8a84-d5e4-45c4-aec8-35a3a62e61c1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that 26% of employers include long Covid as a main cause of long-term sickness absence, reports Reuters.

“,”elementId”:”18869d6c-b554-417c-81e3-397429c833ac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The study analysed 804 organisations representing more than 4.3 million employees. The CIPD said 46% of the organisations had employees that had experienced long Covid and called for employers to do more to help workers with the condition.

“,”elementId”:”d473e447-c621-440c-842b-e67fe20d88cf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“Long Covid remains a growing issue that employers need to be aware of, and they should take appropriate steps to support employees with the condition,” said Rachel Suff, the CIPD’s senior policy adviser for employment relations.

“,”elementId”:”aa5098f3-a48e-4baf-a724-dfcc972889a7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The UK has reported nearly 18 million Covid cases in total. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that at the start of the year, 1.3 million people were living with self-reported symptoms of long Covid.

“,”elementId”:”e36ec882-dd0a-4998-96cf-b16ff7ec2b63″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644315806000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.23 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644316740000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.39 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644316433000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.33 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.33″,”title”:”Quarter of UK employers cite long Covid as main cause of long-term absence”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”62023f678f08543429ccc1e7″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hundreds of people blocked streets outside New Zealand’s parliament today to protest against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions, inspired by demonstrations in Ottawa, Canada.

“,”elementId”:”0a021f56-5ac0-46c7-85af-ee9f65c94ce9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The “convoy for freedom” – formed of trucks and campervans – gathered outside the Beehive in Wellington ahead of prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s first speech of the year, reports Reuters.

“,”elementId”:”c41875b1-b59c-47f0-be51-b1edccf51d56″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Mostly not wearing masks and holding placards calling for “freedom”, the protesters said they would camp outside parliament until the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

“,”elementId”:”24290748-4c91-45c0-baed-c3ce50940f52″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Ardern said the protesters did not represent the views of the majority. “I think it would be wrong to in any way characterise what we’ve seen outside as a representation of the majority,” she said in a press conference.

“,”elementId”:”bed6571d-4730-4c11-8480-0c2d08a27548″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“The majority of New Zealanders have done everything they can to keep one another safe.”

“,”elementId”:”94abdde0-8773-47e3-890c-1d2ec9ad09a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In her parliamentary speech earlier in the day, Ardern said the pandemic would not end with Omicron and that the country needed to prepare for more virus variants this year.

“,”elementId”:”3cba6411-f891-494d-b671-cb9dbb65dc2a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2956″,”width”:”4928″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/4928.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2956″,”width”:”4928″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”The “convoy for freedom” protest in Wellington, New Zealand today.”,”caption”:”The ‘convoy for freedom’ protest in Wellington, New Zealand.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Dave Lintott/REX/Shutterstock”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e0c4c044cdcfb46f770843e211893b93″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f8855aa43e5475179d3f69f3c28e2963″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f2044767f36c18cc3edff012f03fa78e”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=788708f46d73f6d9cf73744c6641366c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1c2dcd6a4a03415ca5802c5e5b890968″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=daf9f24aab25bd391e5533154b189664″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e94b7e07b32ebc2ab99768d1d02309cc”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dccbdcab692436cf93ad179430170d56″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7aea49eea46ca6958019659f943e853f”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=da46c5fc876a5263b56a589edbc407a8″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc3a5ea87505ef6add8fc8c9e4ef6f84″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2f38fb71feee8346a389de7ddbd9648b”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1fb100f7ac13de4800d8be3e393eb064″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=af1d316e2959f0bcd78efa97c70212a4″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e0c4c044cdcfb46f770843e211893b93″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f8855aa43e5475179d3f69f3c28e2963″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f2044767f36c18cc3edff012f03fa78e”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=788708f46d73f6d9cf73744c6641366c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1c2dcd6a4a03415ca5802c5e5b890968″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=daf9f24aab25bd391e5533154b189664″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e8d7677ef5181ebaadc6128317c3a5f0″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d3d2d0b32871ea3b3dbe7904b3b25244″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fc2beec728abd7ab0bd540b1d63430c3″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7b0dff5314f95e3484b245560afd2778″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e0c4c044cdcfb46f770843e211893b93″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f8855aa43e5475179d3f69f3c28e2963″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f2044767f36c18cc3edff012f03fa78e”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=788708f46d73f6d9cf73744c6641366c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1c2dcd6a4a03415ca5802c5e5b890968″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=daf9f24aab25bd391e5533154b189664″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e0c4c044cdcfb46f770843e211893b93″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f8855aa43e5475179d3f69f3c28e2963″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f2044767f36c18cc3edff012f03fa78e”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=788708f46d73f6d9cf73744c6641366c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1c2dcd6a4a03415ca5802c5e5b890968″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=daf9f24aab25bd391e5533154b189664″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=631dddf00e22203484abca8d20f448bc”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=89a13ac3186003f17960fe0c687b44e6″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7804856dfa6daa2b71cf4343cbab6e25″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=75260d16effef40af43f700fd3d41e92″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a29aefba7e2ef9c23e7cddaf8f1f1905″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4682cb6e6e8e09765991ea667ed53f87″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0849ebb2faec21632373b226e60ce8b9″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e3c5997726b7f19c64a7ce20447146c9″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=69fb2618f2e524fd0ec73d4637310c59″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=28cacd49dd82949c4d1f1e7a0ad44972″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=61fbde98a388301c977fbf891d5ad5e7″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=666d07dd601ae05c1bef4be991bf2bbd”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=836c04a7ce112b08270cad9655796238″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ee7100454f450aa6b2580624158eea16ff295a4d/0_324_4928_2956/master/4928.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=cf9838782d30ce214b40ff330b10dfbf”,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”1b4defb9-cf59-40f0-8a63-f21d7968466a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”4414″,”width”:”7360″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/7360.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”4414″,”width”:”7360″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”The “convoy for freedom” protest in Wellington, New Zealand today.”,”caption”:”The ‘convoy for freedom’ protest in Wellington, New Zealand.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Dave Lintott/REX/Shutterstock”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d82221fba8b6c84039962c852bb490b7″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e68babd07fe66f13700fc256d8b1caf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd64583118c011b13493641a931cca82″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f539f64f3eefe7e63fc0dd6f552c6936″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9e2cfc167fadb462a4212e6d0018a144″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9a3c8548b9c6e04e20cfb84d7dbb815c”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f43bfb9eca7effaa64b0b4386b995abe”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=886df6aa1d37ea47aaf30804cd98d363″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1ed0e78e331147dc776c7a44a7c8b4a5″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1941661d852d45e88754d40db2be4d17″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4bedf7bc300339cfd6d6b30b95c98dd0″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f2258f79eac51ae0d4d67e55811e908f”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8e86220c67100f8908d1eb3e1b4325c0″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b47826a768361c4468aaf8498d56faf7″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d82221fba8b6c84039962c852bb490b7″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e68babd07fe66f13700fc256d8b1caf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd64583118c011b13493641a931cca82″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f539f64f3eefe7e63fc0dd6f552c6936″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9e2cfc167fadb462a4212e6d0018a144″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9a3c8548b9c6e04e20cfb84d7dbb815c”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4149055f3c0aa80bac2521ff8c4444d3″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8af562d1fe5559bfbc1d456cd1e7dacb”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6423986abaa2b7cfeb273d9fb7b8e47f”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2e0ceaa5f8e73d06821e3af11d9b95e4″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d82221fba8b6c84039962c852bb490b7″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e68babd07fe66f13700fc256d8b1caf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd64583118c011b13493641a931cca82″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f539f64f3eefe7e63fc0dd6f552c6936″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9e2cfc167fadb462a4212e6d0018a144″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9a3c8548b9c6e04e20cfb84d7dbb815c”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d82221fba8b6c84039962c852bb490b7″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e68babd07fe66f13700fc256d8b1caf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd64583118c011b13493641a931cca82″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f539f64f3eefe7e63fc0dd6f552c6936″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9e2cfc167fadb462a4212e6d0018a144″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9a3c8548b9c6e04e20cfb84d7dbb815c”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0c399cd5daafd5dbceeb6055856402ad”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=86ecfd40fd68ce94ae4d86b725e63e0d”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5c0c061ed79c6461fc8aab8994821cfc”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=433f2fb345f0acb14559d4de987fc196″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fec5ae1142d71a3a0db28b138f1538bc”,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d3d6d3c2c8555a2782cf98e7c2dff06″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8ba18bfcf760fe5901a69ac5bf209895″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c08830aa25c1bb5e7355080ab73ccddb”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=17d4eb07c62af5d2f4d9a6eeb5cc14fa”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ca7f051fa13e6eb3a597c42995fc8eee”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4d347b72e5896a863940c91e08139dfa”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ab34c7ed5c1bfdbde88d847316ed9bb7″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=585cd172860647283b1f88779d3dd383″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9c6e496a0482420dc6f6362aed36304a6f1cd13b/0_488_7360_4414/master/7360.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5fd602dea843d3fb8e5e62faf6c6ca0e”,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”23fab36f-0769-4ca9-8919-fed55d531534″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644314471000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.01 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644316989000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.43 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644314990000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.09 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.09″,”title”:”Hundreds block streets outside New Zealand parliament, inspired by Ottawa”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”62023b1c8f0836c3c583322e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

By Niamh McIntyre and Georgina Quach

“,”elementId”:”13fa7077-3264-4c6f-a89e-aab65eb3a5a1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales have fallen for the first time this year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

“,”elementId”:”808a62aa-50bb-40a7-a157-13794accc866″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

There were 1,385 deaths registered in the week ending 28 January mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, down 7% on the previous week.

“,”elementId”:”e13923f2-9e82-40a3-87e5-600bd5746e28″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

About one in nine (11.2%) deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to 28 January mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate. This brings the overall death toll across the UK since the start of the pandemic to over 180,000.

“,”elementId”:”ca1cf5ca-e19d-4ca7-8b48-e2dc0dfe44c4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Care home resident deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales have also fallen slightly. There were 333 deaths in the week to 28 January, compared with 363 a week earlier. This takes the total number of care home resident deaths to almost 45,000.

“,”elementId”:”6276fdbb-3382-48ca-9042-db7fc10dc79f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

12,401 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 28 Jan 2022.

This was

▪ 375 fewer than the previous week
▪ 9.3% below the five-year average (1,269 fewer deaths)

➡️ https://t.co/mcmW0Nceit pic.twitter.com/PeXxiN8p20

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) February 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/ONS/status/1490981735999623172?s=20&t=VqP6UjUQEfIiyAlvRAHOaA”,”id”:”1490981735999623172″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”779804f6-a87b-446a-92be-ed9cdbad0db6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

11.2% of all deaths registered in the week ending 28 Jan 2022 mentioned #COVID19 on the death certificate in England and Wales (1,385 deaths).

This was a decrease in the number of deaths from the previous week (1,484 deaths, 11.6% of all deaths).

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) February 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/ONS/status/1490981848255713280?s=20&t=VqP6UjUQEfIiyAlvRAHOaA”,”id”:”1490981848255713280″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”be95f247-5200-404b-8df2-57148c9a4ede”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644313372000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.42 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644316946000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.42 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644313649000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.47 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.47″,”title”:”England and Wales record first weekly fall in deaths this year”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620234718f0833e58fffec9b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has defended his government’s pandemic response over the last two years, citing high economic growth and middling inflation.

“,”elementId”:”9ca6ee95-e26c-4f16-9635-29d901226bd4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Growth is estimated at 9.2% for the fiscal year ending in March, reports Reuters, and at 8% to 8.5% for the next, following a contraction of 6.6% in 2019/20. Retail inflation is around 5.5%, within the central bank’s target of 2-6%.

“,”elementId”:”0efad6ca-be41-4dc3-b218-08e97921f384″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“I want to assure everyone that while the pandemic lasts, we will protect the poor,” Modi told the upper house of parliament, and accused opposition parties of creating panic.

“,”elementId”:”e8baa6bb-293d-4dfa-80c2-70a83174918e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“We have moved further on the growth path,” he said.

“,”elementId”:”7d2b9567-8254-4131-a9f7-4ff383060758″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

India’s official Covid death toll exceeded 504,000 on Wednesday – a figure that some analysts say was reached last year.

“,”elementId”:”137b28c3-38bd-4595-a75c-d49ee620c3b2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Modi has been criticised by the opposition for his handling of the pandemic who have cited that last year the country fell from 94 to to 101 on the Global Hunger Index.

“,”elementId”:”c5565215-9f2b-4ebf-b766-00104874b98c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

P Chidambaram, a senior leader of the main opposition Congress party, said: “Welfare has been thrown to the wind.”

“,”elementId”:”8906d139-771d-48bc-b065-d7295e7514cf”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644311665000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.14 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644314034000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.53 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644312394000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.26 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.26″,”title”:”Indian prime minister defends government’s pandemic response”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620220cf8f0833e58fffeb99″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hong Kong is to limit social gatherings to maximum two people and close more public spaces including churches and hair salons amid record Covid infections.

“,”elementId”:”17e6b52f-25cf-4c26-a80c-7a667e89fc44″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Leader Carrie Lam announced today that the government will make HK$26bn available to support people, including small companies hit by the pandemic, reports Reuters.

“,”elementId”:”49b3e0ea-bcf8-4c1d-acac-c7433ad3aabe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She also said that existing social distancing measures – including a ban on dining in restaurants after 6pm and the closure of gyms and cinemas – will be extended until 24 February.

“,”elementId”:”1211f269-7cc7-4ba2-b56d-b7401e63a606″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”4093″,”width”:”6822″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/6822.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”4093″,”width”:”6822″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, pictured last week.”,”caption”:”Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, pictured last week.”,”credit”:”Photograph: EyePress News/REX/Shutterstock”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c06a2dbe8fb0b39e5600aaa74c39363″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c9dacd8be66c3a43d0b9870214dbd2c3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5fffdf1d795b29eca7a299a8d75fcb20″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0cdf0a5c72c215546d13ae6adb1c651d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40fc05e091ade51b922f970bc7ead688″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=24a0d1f7ff0be6d8aa8df213c5eaa53b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b7d84967e5a5e50fdd04df30fd997a1″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7c116b594801eeb7d367913457267fea”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e936c90a0687deb6c70eabf30d0f3cf0″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6a85523842190f6d5916923c8bfbaa85″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=74c52dbebe68d06c049c1b549a81dae9″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6cec579924a7585f811f43013321353a”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b9aecff32e440986a3fbcc316aa9da0e”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=869a17339e8f8bcef3004a04f0d5083b”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c06a2dbe8fb0b39e5600aaa74c39363″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c9dacd8be66c3a43d0b9870214dbd2c3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5fffdf1d795b29eca7a299a8d75fcb20″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0cdf0a5c72c215546d13ae6adb1c651d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40fc05e091ade51b922f970bc7ead688″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=24a0d1f7ff0be6d8aa8df213c5eaa53b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2bcef44877a2df7e9a7e968769ccd643″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7eb3c80a799300a66098bbbaa5f8e1af”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=337102a0c06583cc23fd87ed43095938″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f0813964f0c9d6d0e40f295c649b2ab1″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c06a2dbe8fb0b39e5600aaa74c39363″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c9dacd8be66c3a43d0b9870214dbd2c3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5fffdf1d795b29eca7a299a8d75fcb20″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0cdf0a5c72c215546d13ae6adb1c651d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40fc05e091ade51b922f970bc7ead688″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=24a0d1f7ff0be6d8aa8df213c5eaa53b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c06a2dbe8fb0b39e5600aaa74c39363″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c9dacd8be66c3a43d0b9870214dbd2c3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5fffdf1d795b29eca7a299a8d75fcb20″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0cdf0a5c72c215546d13ae6adb1c651d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40fc05e091ade51b922f970bc7ead688″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=24a0d1f7ff0be6d8aa8df213c5eaa53b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=de97ac478e69e2857b7574b40308519c”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=59fe77fe13d38096bf94620b0d1a342e”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d95bd1102372780d0b8687e85a229417″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0365feb128c1e6c8795b00dc73ffe885″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3fc246628fd53b2046b357050c4d0ed0″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=416527ed137d435cf88305992fc7b792″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0458ef79ffe1a21c143072cc18881607″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7642445632a830d8fbd64246b4532a9e”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd30ebed1d0c11ea6324a30c79bb09aa”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9445a26b5d6b66cab159e44a5b5a71ca”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ea793e7815b7d37bac670898049df78f”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=41cd4e2f44053bbda04dece572550aca”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=44f11e6873f2698fa7f255ecc3caae66″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f7693ffc27fda8518e5aea939adaced8b06a0d2a/160_707_6822_4093/master/6822.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe908a42926f2b9886f6e49d9dbb5b95″,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”c7e0cefb-af15-483a-a249-f695b061e54c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It comes after Lam said Hong Kong will stick to a “dynamic zero” Covid strategy to contain the virus, which she said on Monday hit a “shocking” new record of more than 600 infections (see 05:18).

“,”elementId”:”48e994f2-cbf9-4cae-83ca-a3cd1c49db29″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644306639000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.50 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644308137000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.15 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644307129000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.58 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.58″,”title”:”Hong Kong to limit social gatherings to two and close churches and hair salons”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”620217df8f08543429ccbfff”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Scientists in China say they have developed a new coronavirus test as accurate as a PCR test that gives results within four minutes.

“,”elementId”:”1293cf07-1300-4cd8-b0a1-846efb421a74″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

PCR tests are seen as the most accurate and sensitive method of checking for Covid, but usually it takes several hours to get results.

“,”elementId”:”d8190afc-ce57-450f-ae4a-543c5bb9c102″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Researchers at Fudan university in Shanghai say they have a solution, reports AFP, in the form of a sensor that uses microelectronics to analyse genetic material from swabs.

“,”elementId”:”f5a5b016-7cad-4f08-9ddc-353afac9cb05″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The findings were published in a peer-reviewed article published on Monday in the Nature Biomedical Engineering journal.

“,”elementId”:”efacdeda-b130-4d7e-bb13-81b3c5262a80″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“We implemented an electromechanical biosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 into an integrated and portable prototype device, and show that it detected (virus RNA) in less than four minutes,” the paper said.

“,”elementId”:”29e24321-6364-4fe6-a074-bd43d87a2646″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The trial took samples from 33 people in Shanghai who were infected with Covid and were also tested using PCRs.

“,”elementId”:”49da7a9d-4d76-4072-9a83-3fd8223293c0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hi, I’ll be looking after the Covid blog for the next few hours. Please get in touch with any tips or suggestions: miranda.bryant@guardian.co.uk

“,”elementId”:”94610d03-2a95-495d-8855-cfc20ab53745″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644304351000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.12 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644308169000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.16 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644304798000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.19 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.19″,”title”:”Chinese scientists develop new Covid test which they say is accurate as a PCR”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”},{“id”:”6201ed8f8f0836c3c5832e98″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Livingstone.

“,”elementId”:”dd7ffafc-5a44-45d8-b67b-a9d54198e74f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has said the Asian financial hub will stick to a “dynamic zero” Covid-19 strategy to contain the virus a day after the city saw a “shocking” new record of over 600 infections. “We should contain the spread of the virus as much and as fast as possible,” she said.

“,”elementId”:”454f70a7-7572-454c-ad83-4022eab390bf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Canada’s public safety minister has said US officials should stay out of his country’s domestic affairs, joining other Canadian leaders in pushing back against prominent Republicans who offered support for demonstrators protesting Covid-19 restrictions who have besieged central Ottawa for more than a week.

“,”elementId”:”ef96a0ad-8ea0-4636-b044-3dae604325e1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s what else has been happening over the past 24 hours:

“,”elementId”:”d59ff855-d94a-480e-ad4d-f015b3390e6d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n
• In the UK, MPs from all sides have angrily rounded on Boris Johnson and accused him of whipping up political poison after the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, was set upon by protesters who accused him of protecting the paedophile Jimmy Savile. Johnson provoked widespread fury last week when he falsely suggested Starmer had protected Savile during his time as director of public prosecutions.

n

• Sweden will lift its travel restrictions for foreign nationals travelling to Sweden from Nordic countries and the rest of the European Union and European Economic Area from Wednesday, the government has announced.

n

• The German government is working on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions after the peak in new cases has passed, most likely by the end of February.

n

• Australia will open its border for fully vaccinated tourists and all visa holders on 21 February, almost two years after borders were first closed.

n

• Democratic leaders in the US Congress are holding a moment of silence on Monday to commemorate the 900,000 American lives lost to the Covid-19 pandemic.

n

• Turkish prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for former Olympic swimmer Derya Buyukuncu over tweets appearing to express relief that president Recep Tayyip Erdogan tested positive for Covid-19.

n

• The number of positive Covid-19 cases in the English Premier League, the most watched sports league in the world, has doubled in a week to 22 cases, but with a far higher number of tests being carried out.

n

• Hong Kong has reported a record 614 cases and many of its residents have begun to crowd supermarkets in an effort to stock up on food and other necessities. One vegetable vendor told Reuters supplies had dropped by 30%.

n

• Prof John Bell, an Oxford scientist who worked on the AstraZeneca vaccine, has accused scientists and politicians of having “probably killed hundreds of thousands of people” by damaging its reputation.

n

“,”elementId”:”2615e2e9-2a22-4b19-bec8-4311de99fcc6″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1644296813000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.06 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1644296807000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.06 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1644296813000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.06 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.06″,”title”:”Welcome and summary”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 9 Feb 2022 00.28 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 8 Feb 2022 05.06 GMT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:{“display”:0,”theme”:0,”design”:11},”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}”>

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Here’s a summary of events:

• Global Covid response programme ‘running on fumes’ amid budget shortfall, WHO says
• Canadian truckers block bridge to US as Trudeau demands end to protest
• Hamsters can transmit Covid to humans, data suggests
• Pfizer accused of pandemic profiteering as profits double
• France, Greece and Portugal relax Covid travel restrictions
• Italy to ease mask mandate in most outdoor spaces
• UK recorded 66,183 new Covid-19 daily cases and 314 Covid-related deaths
• England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, has written to NHS staff telling them it is their “professional responsibility” to get vaccinated
• Japan reported 155 daily deaths today – a new daily record
• Poland has pushed back indefinitely a deadline for teachers, police, armed forces and firefighters to be vaccinated because it cannot be met
• A quarter of British employers cite long Covid as the main reason behind long-term sickness absences, a survey has found.
• Hundreds of people blocked streets outside New Zealand’s parliament today to protest against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions, inspired by demonstrations in Ottawa, Canada
• The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has defended his government’s pandemic response over the last two years, citing high economic growth and middling inflation
• Scientists in China say they have developed a new coronavirus test as accurate as a PCR that gives results within four minutes

Mexico’s health ministry reported 132 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country since the pandemic began to 309,884.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the half a million Covid-19 deaths recorded since the Omicron variant was discovered is “beyond tragic”.

The WHO’s incident manager Abdi Mahamud said that 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths had been recorded globally since Omicron was declared a variant of concern in late November, reports Agence France-Presse.

Mahamud told a live interaction on the WHO’s social media channels:

In the age of effective vaccines, half a million people dying, it’s really something.

While everyone was saying Omicron is milder, (they) missed the point that half a million people have died since this was detected.

It’s beyond tragic.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said the sheer number of known Omicron cases was “astounding”, while the true number would be much higher.

“It makes the previous peaks look almost flat,” she said.

“We’re still in the middle of this pandemic. Many countries have not passed their peak of Omicron yet.”

She added she was extremely concerned that the number of deaths had increased for several weeks in a row.

“This virus continues to be dangerous,” she said.

Global Covid response program ‘running on fumes’ amid budget shortfall

A global initiative to get Covid-19 tests, treatments and vaccines to poorer nations is “running on fumes” because of a budget shortfall.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other aid groups, the initiative has only received 5% of the donations sought to deliver on its aims this year.

Reuters reports that the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator budgeted $23.4 billion (£17.27 billion) for its efforts from October 2021 to September 2022, of which it hoped $16.8 billion (£12.4 billion) would come in the form of grants from richer countries.

However, so far it has had just $814 million (£601 million) pledged, leaders of the initiative told a media briefing on Tuesday.

The ACT-Accelerator hub encompasses the COVAX initiative, which has focused on equitable access to vaccines. It also involves providing tests and treatments to low and middle-income countries, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

In addition to the WHO, the project is backed by organisations including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, The Global Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

WHO’s global ambassador for health financing and former UK prime minister Gordon Brown said: “That’s just a minuscule 5% of what we require. It is time to awaken the conscience of the world.”

Bruce Aylward, a senior WHO official who acts as coordinator for the initiative, said: “The global response is running on fumes.”

On Wednesday, a number of world leaders are set to support publicly the push for more funding, calling for the investment to end the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic this year.

A further 18 companies were given so-called “VIP lane” access in the rush to supply the UK with an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the first Covid-19 wave, according to a campaign group.

The Good Law Project said it had been leaked information which suggested the additional firms, which are on top of the 50 acknowledged by the government, were awarded contracts worth almost £1 billion without competition.

REVEALED: Ministers have misled Parliament about the size of the VIP lane 🚨https://t.co/vpkjdI4dEe

— Good Law Project (@GoodLawProject) February 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GoodLawProject/status/1491064204157403138?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet”,”id”:”1491064204157403138″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”612ff32b-a772-4d61-8853-0c276c1adff6″}}”>

It comes after the high court last month ruled that the government’s use of a so-called “VIP lane” to award millions of pounds’ worth of contracts for protective gear was unlawful, PA Media reports.

And last week, the Department for Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) annual accounts stated that £8.7 billion spent on PPE during the pandemic had been written off, with around £673 million worth of equipment found to be totally unusable.

Declaring that it had discovered a further £984 million in “VIP lane” agreements, Good Law said PPE contracts worth £173 million had been awarded to Chinese suppliers which have been “linked to the Uyghur human rights abuses in Xinjiang”, while another £96 million deal was agreed with a firm that “operated out of a hotel room in Beijing”.

The not-for-profit group said a Hong Kong-based firm was handed a £25 million contract in June 2020, but the details of the agreement with the UK government has yet to be disclosed.

Jo Maugham, director of the project, said: “The Department of Health’s annual report revealed that of every £13 we spent on PPE, £10 was wasted.

“How long must hard-working taxpayers carry the heavy burden of this government’s waste and sleaze?”

Labour’s Angela Rayner said:

We already know in a minister’s own words that the Government was ‘paying dramatically over the odds’ for contracts that lined the pockets of Tory donors and cronies.

Today’s revelation suggests that the so-called ‘VIP lane’ for the politically connected was even bigger than they have admitted.

They must now come clean and tell us the truth about these new contracts, and if ministers have misled Parliament, there must be consequences.

Some of the suppliers may not have been aware they were in the “VIP lane” for PPE deals, Good Law said, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is inaccurate to claim that all of these companies were referred by the High Priority Lane route.

“The purpose of the High Priority Lane was to efficiently prioritise credible offers of PPE, and our efforts have helped deliver over 17.5 billion items of PPE to the frontline to protect healthcare workers during the pandemic.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stands by its mask-wearing guidance for pupils aged 5-12 at public schools.

CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky told Reuters on Tuesday:

Right now our CDC guidance has not changed … We continue to endorse universal masking in schools.

She added that she is “cautiously optimistic” that Covid-19 cases will fall below crisis levels at some point, but “we are not there right now.”

On Monday officials in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, California and Oregon said they plan to lift indoor mask mandates for schools and other public places in the coming weeks.

Walensky noted the US is currently seeing around 290,000 Covid-19 cases each day and higher rates of hospitalisation than it did during the peak of cases caused by the Delta variant in 2021.

Hospital capacity is “one of the most important barometers” for whether Covid-19 should be considered a pandemic-level public health crisis, she said and right now, US hospitals remain “overwhelmed” by Covid-19 cases.

Protests in Canada that have blocked a key bridge to the United States have broadened beyond their original focus on vaccine requirements, the White House said.

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary said:

It is clear these disruptions have broadened in scope beyond the vaccine requirement implementation.

We are of course in touch with our Canadian counterparts.

The busiest land crossing from the United States to Canada remained shut on Tuesday after Canadian truckers blocked lanes on Monday in protest at their government’s pandemic control measures.

While traffic in both directions was initially blocked, US-bound lanes have since reopened, Windsor Police tweeted.

U.S. bound is open at the Ambassador Bridge and can be accessed from the Wyandotte St. West entrance. dg 12833.

— Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) February 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/WindsorPolice/status/1491001948799057923?cxt=HHwWhoCq2e2XjbEpAAAA”,”id”:”1491001948799057923″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”6520558e-171d-4b1f-9d9c-4cd924f79e17″}}”>

U.S. bound is open at the Ambassador Bridge and can be accessed from the Wyandotte St. West entrance. dg 12833.

— Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) February 8, 2022

The so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’, which is demanding an end to federal Covid-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border traffic, began blocking the streets of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, on 28 January.

Since Sunday night, police have started slowly taking back control, seizing thousands of litres of fuel and removing an oil tanker truck.

Ottawa deputy police chief Steve Bell said on Tuesday that police have immobilised many of the heavy vehicles taking part in the blockade.

He said about a quarter of the 418 protest trucks in the downtown area have children in them, and police are concerned for their welfare in relation to cold, noise, carbon monoxide risks and access to sanitation.

Canada’s public safety minister Marco Mendicino said he had been in touch with the mayor of Windsor and local legislators about the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, connecting Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario.

He said: “We will continue to work…so that we can keep the supply chains moving across the Ambassador Bridge, as well as the wheels of our economy turning.”

Canada sends 75% of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles around 8,000 trucks a day.

On Monday Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau denounced the demonstrators’ tactics at an emergency debate in the House of Commons.

Trudeau said:

Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens’ daily lives. It has to stop.

New York is considering making outdoor dining a permanent fixture, reports Reuters.

Pavement dining was first allowed in 2020 as a temporary measure to help blunt the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants were quick to set up makeshift structures, “sheds”, of plywood and plastic sheeting, and many later installed more elaborate structures, some with heaters.

The New York City Council held a hearing on Tuesday to consider the plan to give permanent status to thousands of “streateries” outside of restaurants and bars.

It has the support of the mayor, Eric Adams, and the New York Hospitality Alliance, an industry association.

However, opponents say outside dining created unsanitary conditions, encouraged more rats, drew noise complaints in some neighbourhoods and reduced the number of available parking spaces.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association has complained that the sheds have narrowed streets so much as to delay their response and prevent them from safely raising ladders to windows.

The Coalition United for Equitable Urban Policy, an alliance of local businesses and residents, held a “Chuck the Sheds” protest rally over the weekend.

The 51-member council body will vote on the bill at a later date if it makes it through a committee vote.

Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said he has tested positive for the coronavirus, but was continuing to work remotely, Reuters reports.

In a Facebook post he wrote: “I feel good, self-isolating, but working.”

Brazil recorded 177,027 new coronavirus cases and 1,189 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.

Brazil has registered 26,776,620 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 633,810, according to the ministry.

A Conservative MP has accepted it was incorrect for him to claim more people were dying in road accidents than of Covid-19, reports PA Media.

Former minister Sir Desmond Swayne raised a point of order in the House of Commons to correct the record this evening.

On 14 December, Sir Desmond told a debate on coronavirus restrictions: “Notwithstanding the carnage on our roads, which is certainly killing more people than Covid at the moment, some of us still decide to drive. It is a matter of opinion.”

There were an estimated 1,390 reported road deaths in the year ending June 2021, a smaller number when compared to those people who died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

Sir Desmond told the Commons this evening:

On 14 December in a debate on the Covid regulations, I said that more people were dying in the carnage on the roads than of Covid-19.

I’ve now seen the statistics, that was incorrect. I thought it appropriate to correct the record.

Nazia Parveen

As more of us are considering heading abroad again, travel restrictions in a number of popular tourist destinations have been relaxed.

France, Portugal and Greece have each updated their entry requirements for fully vaccinated travellers, with changes coming into effect in time for half-term.

Read the full report here:

PA Media reports health secretary Sajid Javid has said there needs to be “more investment in staff” in the NHS.

Javid was speaking during a hospital visit in east London today hours after setting out in the Commons how the NHS would tackle the backlog of care built up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked about what is being done to increase staff and why a workforce plan has not been published, Mr Javid said:

I can not thank staff enough throughout the NHS and social care for how they have handled the huge challenge, probably the biggest in a lifetime, throughout the pandemic. They are all heroes in what they have done.

There needs to be, of course, more investment in staff. The workforce is at the heart of the NHS and that is why we have seen 10,000 more nurses over the last year and 5,000 more doctors.

We have got more doctors and nurses than ever before in the NHS’s history but we will continue to invest, that is also why I have asked the NHS for a long-term workforce plan.

He also spoke of the Government’s commitments to tackle waiting times adding:

What we have committed to is that by 2025 the NHS, in terms of total activity, will be at least 30% more a year than what it was pre-pandemic.

Linda Geddes writes:

Pet hamsters can transmit Covid to humans and are the likely source of a recent outbreak of the Delta variant in Hong Kong, data suggests.

The research confirms fears that a pet shop was the source of a recent Covid outbreak in the city, which has seen at least 50 people infected and led to the culling of more than 2,200 hamsters.

However, virologists emphasised that, although the pet trade could provide a route for viral spread, existing pet hamsters are unlikely to pose a threat to their owners and should not be harmed.

Read the full report here: