Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

23 Mar

23 March 2021

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements:

  • A minute silence is being held today at midday to mark a year since the first coronavirus lockdown was announced by Boris Johnson.
  • On Thursday, MPs will vote on new coronavirus law which will make it illegal to for anyone in England to travel abroad on holiday, backed up by a £5,000 fine. The Labour party have said they support the new measure.
  • Care home staff could soon face compulsory Covid vaccinations, according to a leaked cabinet report. The Telegraph reported that Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson requested the change in law to address low vaccination uptake amongst staff. The Health Secretary also told BBC breakfast this morning that no decision had been taken, although the plans were indeed being considered.

Devolved

  • In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said that life was not likely to return to normal in 2021. Drakeford has said Boris Johnson’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England was “at the very optimistic side of the spectrum.”
  • Businesses in Northern Ireland have called for clarity after having criticised the Executive’s blueprint for lockdown restrictions.
  • A leading scientist in Northern Ireland has warned there could be another surge in Covid infections following a spread of cases in workplaces.

International

  • Lockdown measures have been extended in Germany for three weeks to address the ongoing wave of coronavirus infections. Over the five days of Easter, food shops will only be able to open on Saturday 3 April.
  • Boris Johnson is expected to call on EU leaders to dismiss any plans to block coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK.
  • The WHO said yesterday that global vaccine inequity was “grotesque” and has urged vaccine producers to follow in the footsteps of AstraZeneca.
  • The president of Venezuela has said there will be a “radical quarantine” for two weeks over Easter due to rising covid cases.
  • Taiwan’s vaccination campaign began yesterday with Premier Su Tseng-chang being the first to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca jab.

Stakeholders

  • A report from the National Audit Office has found that as of 19 February 2021, DCMS disbursed £454m of £459m made available to support charities during the pandemic. The full report can be accessed here.
  • A study from the Mental Health Foundation has indicated that a year on from the pandemic, there has been a deep and emotional impact on Scottish adults.