BORIS Johnson's baby daughter was badly-hit by Covid when she was just five weeks old, it has been reported.
The Prime Minister, 57, vanished from the public eye last Thursday after a member of his family tested positive for the virus.
It's now claimed little Romy was poorly with the illness.
She's believed to be "on the mend", the Daily Mail reports.
It comes amid a difficult few weeks for the embattled Prime Minister.
Read our covid live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
PM denies accusations
BORIS Johnson today insisted he has seen "no evidence" of accusations that No10 are blackmailing mutinous MPs into backing his troubled leadership.
On a visit to Somerset today the PM said: "I've seen no evidence, heard no evidence to support any of those allegations.
"And what I'm focused on is what we're doing to deal with the number one priority of the British people – which is coming through Covid."
Downing Street also said it was not aware of any evidence to support the backbencher's "serious allegations".
Senior Tory William Wragg, who has called for the PM to quit, said some of his colleagues were facing "intimidation" that could be a matter for the police.
- Milica Cosic
Changed: The full list of 20 Omicron symptoms
THE list of the top 20 Omicron symptoms has been updated, with two new signs of the variant you shouldn't ignore.
The top 20 symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Persistent cough
- Hoarse voice
- Other
- Unusual join pains
- Chills or shivers
- Fever
- Dizzy
- Eye soreness
- Brain fog
- Unusual muscle pains
- Altered smell
- Skipped meals
- Swollen glands
- Chest pain
- Earache
The 3 most common Omicron symptoms
Most Brits have said the illness feels like a common cold and data suggests that there are three main symptoms people are suffering with.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) states that the most commonly reported symptoms have been a cough, fatigue and headache.
These vary from the three main symptoms of coronavirus set out by the NHS which have not changed since Covid reached our shores in March 2020.
The NHS still lists a new persistent cough, a loss of taste and smell and a high temperature as the key signs of Covid.
It's important that if you think you have Covid you get a test and follow isolation guidelines, which state you need to isolate for five days.
- Milica Cosic
Boosters best way to avoid more Covid restrictions
Top-up boosters are considered the best way to avoid more Covid restrictions, and The Sun’s Jabs Army is dedicated to getting jabs in Brits’ arms.
Almost two-thirds of Brits over the age of 12 have had a booster, while almost 84 per cent are double-jabbed.
Omicron has been shown in multiple studies to be more mild than its predecessor Delta.
- Milica Cosic
'We’re now battling 2 different types of Covid disease'
THE NHS is battling two different types of Covid disease in the population, a top doctor has said.
Matthew Trainer, chief executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, explained not all patients are facing the same outcomes.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We've now effectively got two types of Covid really.
“There is Covid amongst vaccinated people, and Covid amongst the unvaccinated.
“And if you're unlucky enough to get severe illness, vaccination is the difference between probably a short stay on a ward with oxygen and potentially a bit critical care, and that puts all these conversations on restrictions to a very different light.”
Mr Trainer said the “vast majority of Covid patients who are in critical care continue to be unvaccinated”.
- Milica Cosic
Exact reason Novak Djokovic was booted out of Australia
A JUDGE has revealed Novak Djokovic was booted out of Australia because it was feared he could incite anti-vax protests.
The tennis world number one was deported on Sunday following a humiliating vaccine row that rumbled on for almost two weeks – ending with him being barred from the country for three years.
Now Federal Court Chief Justice James Allsop has revealed exactly why judges backed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to revoke Djokovic's visa.
A ruling released today says: “An iconic world tennis star may influence people of all ages, young or old, but perhaps especially the young and the impressionable, to emulate him.
“This is not fanciful; it does not need evidence. It is the recognition of human behaviour from a modest familiarity with human experience.
“Even if Mr Djokovic did not win the Australian Open, the capacity of his presence in Australia playing tennis to encourage those who would emulate or wish to be like him is a rational foundation for the view that he might foster anti-vaccination sentiment.”
The judges also pointed to reports that Djokovic is an anti-vaxxer after he was quoted in April 2020 saying he was "opposed to vaccination".
- Milica Cosic
Sajid Javid defends Boris Johnson
Mr Javid said Mr Johnson is "not going anywhere".
Asked if he was getting sick of having to defend the PM, he added: "I’m not getting tired of doing my job, which is I think is a pretty important one.
"Rightly, I support this government in everything we are delivering on.
"I want to play my role in that. I support our Prime Minister and I accept his call to give the time and space for this investigation to be done.
“And when it is done and the facts are established, as he’s said he will come to Parliament, he will take full responsibility and he will subject himself to scrutiny by all MPs from all parties, and I think that will be the right way forward."
- Milica Cosic
Sajid Javid demands Christian Wakeford must hold a by-election
TORY turncoat Christian Wakeford MUST hold a by-election after switching to Labour, Sajid Javid blasted today.
The Health Secretary threw down the gauntlet to the Bury South MP and urged him to put his defection decision to the voters.
Mr Wakeford previously supported a law-change requiring MPs who cross the floor to fight a fresh ballot.
Challenging him to stick to his word, confident Mr Javid said: "It should be up to the people of Bury South. Let them choose. Let them decide."
But senior Tories are privately petrified of the prospect of a by-election for fear of being hammered.
Further to this, Mr Johnson is not yet out of the woods and is nervously awaiting the Sue Gray report into Downing St parties.
Mr Javid said Mr Johnson is "not going anywhere".
Asked if he was getting sick of having to defend the PM, he added: "I’m not getting tired of doing my job, which is I think is a pretty important one."
- Milica Cosic
The full list of reasons to get a PCR test
In England, the reasons for ordering a PCR test are:
- You have Covid symptoms
- You’ve been in contact with someone who’s tested positive and you must self-isolate
- You’ve been asked to get a test by a local council or someone from NHS Test and Trace
- A GP or other health professional has asked you to get a test
- You’re taking part in a government pilot project
- You’ve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result
- You’ve received an unclear result and were told to get a second test
- You need to get a test for someone you live with who has symptoms (you can order tests for up to three household members)
- You’re in the National Tactical Response Group
- You are due to have surgery or a procedure (in some occasions)
Exceptions to the lateral flow test rule:
- People who are eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP) will still be asked to take a confirmatory PCR so they can access financial support
- People participating in research or surveillance programmes may still be asked to take a follow-up PCR test
- Around one million people in England who are at particular risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid are involved in new research of treatments
- Milica Cosic
How Cola can give a false positive lateral flow
As the pandemic has gone on, people have decided to do experiments on the tests, leaving many confused when they then show a positive result with different liquids.
Taking to Instagram, one doctor explained why liquids such as cola and citrus really show a positive line on a lateral flow test.
NHS doctor and nutritionist Dr Joshua Wolrich, explained that the solution you put the swab into after it's been in your nose/throat is what's known as a buffer solution.
He explained: "It has a controlled pH that allows the test to work accurately.
"Pouring any other sort of liquid without controlled pH (tap water, coke, etc) on the test is completely and utterly pointless.
"If it comes up with two lines after that, it's not proof that the test has always been pointless or whatever nonsense the anti-vaxxers are claiming.
"It's simply a visual representation that medical tests are only valid when the instructions are followed and the pH of your solution is giving you a meaningless result."
During a Q&A on Instagram, one NHs doctor revealed why putting other liquids on the tests is pointless Credit: Instagram/drjoshuawolrich - Milica Cosic
When you can and can’t leave Covid isolation
It is a requirement to self-isolate when you test positive for Covid, or get symptoms, to stop the virus spreading further.
But in a glimmer of hope, the Covid-control strategy, which has been in place for almost two years, may soon be scrapped.
The standard self-isolation is ten full days.
If you are unvaccinated, there is no option to leave quarantine early – you must always isolate for ten days.
For those who are vaccinated, they may have freedom much earlier based on their lateral flow test results.
In a change to self-isolation guidance from January 17, people in England can leave quarantine after five full days, so long as they test negative on days five and six.
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
Explained: Vaccine Passports
Brits will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter large venues like football grounds and nightclubs.
All domestic use of vaccine passports is being dropped from next Thursday morning in a move that will please many Tory MPs.
Boris faced a huge Commons rebellion when the measure was introduced last month and only got it through thanks to Labour.
The current restrictions covere indoor events of more than 500 people and outdoor arenas hosting more than 4,000.
At the time the Government justified jabs papers by saying they were "preferable to closing venues entirely or reimposing social distancing".
- Milica Cosic
Face masks – ditched
In a surprise move the PM also announced that rules on wearing masks in public places in England are also being ditched from midnight next Wednesday.
He had been widely expected to keep face covering guidance in place until cases of Omicron further subsided.
Currently, people have to cover up on public transport and in shops, post offices, banks, beauty salons, hairdressers, theatres and cinemas.
The PM also announced that rules requiring kids to wear masks in classrooms have been immediately ripped up ahead of lessons on January 20.
Wider guidance advising children and teachers to wear coverings in communal areas like hallways and canteens will also go next Thursday.
- Milica Cosic
Explained: Major changes to Covid restrictions from TODAY
The PM said yesterday he's binning all of the Plan B measures which were introduced last month to help fight off the Omicron wave.
That means people can head back to the office from this morning.
Kids also no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms from today.
Vaccine passports, used by people to prove their vaccination status or a negative test to enter large venues, will also go from midnight next Wednesday.
And in a surprise move the PM also declared wearing masks in public spaces like trains, buses, and shops will fall away at the same time.
Plus, the current isolation rules requiring everyone who gets the virus to quarantine are set to expire on March 24 – or even sooner.
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
Britain first few countries to head to exit door
Conservative MP Bob Seely said BoJo deserved credit for taking the country out of lockdown.
He added: “We are one of the first countries in the world to head for the exit door. We have repeatedly seen how the modelling and forecasting has been exaggerated. I’m delighted that Boris and the Cabinet got there at last.”
Mr Seely urged Boris to set out a plan to avoid more curbs next winter. Last night, Mr Javid batted off claims BoJo had “just got lucky” by deciding against imposing a Christmas lockdown as Omicron struck.
He said: “The central decision he made — to focus on boosters — has been vindicated. That is the main reason we are where we are today.” With cases in freefall, he said Omicron is now firmly “in retreat”.
- Milica Cosic
Vaccine programme to take the chains off Covid restrictions
The PM said Britain’s world- beating vaccine programme means the country can finally cast off the chains of Covid restrictions.
And he reminded his mutinous party that he faced down Sage scientists’ calls for a Christmas lockdown and took a “different path” to most of Europe — including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
He added: “We kept England open and we supported those businesses that faced reduced demand because of the response to Plan B measures. Although we must continue to remain cautious, the data are showing that, time and again, this government got the toughest decisions right.”
- Milica Cosic
'Start to see the light at the end of the tunnel'
Declaring that the pandemic is in its final days, Boris became the first world leader to promise all curbs will soon be confined to the dustbin of history.
He told MPs: “The United Kingdom can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That is no accident of history.
"Confronted by the nation’s biggest challenge since the Second World War and the worst pandemic since 1918, any government would get some things wrong, but this government got the big things right.”
- Milica Cosic
PM pledges to end ALL Covid laws
BORIS Johnson scrapped work-from-home rules and pledged to end all Covid laws by spring as he launched the political fightback of his life yesterday.
The PM said the country was overcoming its biggest challenge since the Second World War and there was “light at the end of the tunnel” after two years of sacrifice.
Working from home and masks in class are being axed from today.
The hated vaccine passports and masks in shops and public transport will go after January 26.
All Covid laws will be ditched on March 24 at the latest as Brits learn to live with Covid like flu.
This means Brits who catch the bug will not be legally required to self isolate at home for five days.
- Milica Cosic
Covid PCR tests could be replaced with X RAYS (Continued…)
It is hoped that this technology could be used to help aid Accident and Emergency departments, especially in countries where PCR tests are not readily available.
Professor Naeem Ramzan, Director of the Affective and Human Computing for SMART Environments Research Centre at UWS, led the three-person team behind the project, which also involved Gabriel Okolo and Dr Stamos Katsigiannis.
He said: "There has long been a need for a quick and reliable tool that can detect Covid-19, and this has become even more true with the upswing of the Omicron variant.
"Several countries are unable to carry out large numbers of covid tests because of limited diagnosis tools, but this technique utilises easily accessible technology to quickly detect the virus.
"Covid-19 symptoms are not visible in x-rays during the early stages of infection, so it is important to note that the technology cannot fully replace PCR tests.
"However, it can still play an important role in curtailing the viruses spread especially when PCR tests are not readily available.
"It could prove to be crucial, and potentially life-saving, when diagnosing severe cases of the virus, helping determine what treatment may be required."
- Milica Cosic
Covid PCR tests could be replaced with X RAYS
COVID PCR tests could be replaced with X-rays that are almost 100 per cent accurate and can give results within minutes, boffins claim.
Scientists at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have pioneered the groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme which is able to detect the virus faster than a PCR test.
The process uses X-ray technology to compare the scans to a database of close to 3,000 images belonging to patients with Covid-19, healthy people and others with viral pneumonia.
An AI process then uses an algorithm to analyse visual imagery and make a diagnosis.
In testing, this technique was found to be 98 per cent accurate, MailOnline reports.
- Milica Cosic
Vaccine passports will be DUMPED next week
Hated vaccine passports will be dumped along with requirement to wear face masks anywhere indoors next week.
The guidance to work from home has been dropped effective immediately – meaning Brits can go back to the office tomorrow.
The remaining rules will expire on January 26 meaning the changes will kick in next Thursday morning.
Mr Javid said Omicron is “in retreat” but warned that now is not the “finish line” in the fight against coronavirus.
Saying there is a fall in infections and hospital admissions, Mr Javid said: “This plan has worked and the data shows that Omicron is in retreat.
- Milica Cosic
Boris & Carrie Johnson’s baby daughter was ‘hit quite badly’ with Covid
BORIS Johnson's baby daughter was badly-hit by Covid when she was just five weeks old, it has been reported.
The Prime Minister, 57, vanished from the public eye last Thursday after a member of his family tested positive for the virus.
It's now claimed little Romy was poorly with the illness.
She's believed to be "on the mend", the Daily Mail reports.
Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson was born on December 9 at University College Hospital in London. She's the second child shared by Mr and Mrs Johnson, following the birth of Wilfred 20 months ago.
- Louis Allwood
Boris said he was 'proud' of his staff
Boris also said he was "proud" of the work his staff in No 10 have done on fighting the pandemic.
He said: "Throughout the pandemic people across Government have been working flat out to protect the British public."
And in a barb at Sir Keir he suggested the Labour leader "tell the House" about pictures of him drinking a bottle of beer with staff last May.
During the powder keg session the Commons Speaker had to repeatedly intervene and threaten to throw out raucous MPs.
- Louis Allwood
Holiday boost
Brits returning home from holiday currently have to take lateral flow tests to stop the spread of Covid.
But these are widely set to be scrapped for those who have had their vaccines – as the nation moves into a post-Covid world.
Mrs May asked today why there was no mention of travel tests in his Plan B announcement today.
And the PM replied there would be a statement "in the next few days" on the issue, stressing: "I think it's very important everybody in the country understands that getting your booster, wherever you want to go in the world, getting your booster is going to be a pretty crucial thing to do."
It's likely that any measures will apply to anyone who has been tripled jabbed.
Ministers have said they will update the isolation rules for "fully vaccinated" to mean anyone who has had three vaccines in the future – but hasn't said when this will kick in.
The government has already scrapped the pre-departure tests day two tests can now be lateral flow tests instead of expensive PCR tests.
Lateral flow tests cost around £60 less than PCR tests – saving £240 per family.
This means families can save hundreds of pounds on their holidays, with the £22 pre-departure scrapped saving £88 for a family of four.
- Louis Allwood
‘Epicentre’ shifts as cases fall
All 377 local authority areas have seen a fall in infections in the last week and the interactive map shows how your local area fares.
It was yesterday reported that Covid infections were down 22 per cent on last week and the Prime Minister is today poised to announce the end of some Plan B restrictions.
A cluster of infections has been detected in the North East of England, which also currently has the highest R rate in the country, sitting between 1.4 and 1.7 with the English average between 1.1-1.5.
Areas in Northern Ireland had previously made up the most infected areas, but that has now shifted to the North East.
The top three most infected areas in the country are all in the North East and the region also makes up the majority of the top ten infected places in the country.
South Tyneside has the highest rate in the UK, with 2,526 new cases in the seven days to January 14 – the equivalent of 1,671.4 per 100,000 people.
This is down from a rate of 2,738.6 for the seven days to January 7.
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