Covid news: Gove says EU recognises mistakes over NI row as vaccines ‘already slowing spread’ of virus
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Cabinet office minister Michael Gove has said the European Union recognises it made a mistake over Northern Ireland in a row with the UK over coronavirus vaccine supplies.
On Friday, the EU backtracked on a threat to trigger a Brexit deal clause to stop the unimpeded flow of coronavirus vaccines into Northern Ireland.
In an act that blindsided the UK and Ireland, the EU invoked Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, allowing it to override parts of the deal under which trade from the EU into Northern Ireland is unrestricted.
A U-turn came late on Friday night after the threat was met with fierce backlash from Boris Johnson, the Irish government and even the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The vaccine row was prompted by delays to the EU supply of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, the UK’s mass vaccination rollout already appears to be having an easing effect on the Covid crisis, according to data.
Research due to be published in days is set to provide evidence that Britons are receiving some protection from the virus, The Times reported.
Algeria begins vaccinations
Algeria has launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign after receiving its first shipment of Russia's Sputnik V doses, the government said.
The government said the first jabs were given in the Blida province, 40 km (25 miles) southwest of the capital, Algiers, where the country's first confirmed cases of the coronavirus were reported last March.
Algeria received 50,000 doses of Sputnik V on Friday, said Djamel Fourar, head of the Scientific Committee in charge of dealing with the pandemic.
The North African country will receive a shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Sunday, Communication Minister Ammar Belhimer said.
The vaccine campaign will prioritise health workers, people with chronic diseases and the elderly.
Algeria has so far reported 107,122 confirmed cases of COVD-19, with 2,888 deaths.
Overnight rush to vaccinate 1,600 people after freezer fails
The last shots were given at about 3.45am, out on the street, with literally no time to spare.
All night, staff and volunteers with Seattle's Swedish Health Services had been rushing to administer hundreds of doses of the coronavirus vaccine set to expire early in the morning after a freezer malfunction. Finally, they had only a few dozen shots left and about 15 minutes to get them into people's arms.
Failed freezer forced overnight dash to give out more than 1,600 doses of coronavirus vaccine
Healthcare worker remembered as ‘force for good’
A healthcare worker who fought Covid-19 disinformation before he died with the virus has been remembered as "an extraordinary force for good".
Elias Phiri, from Zambia, died aged 53 on Wednesday after three weeks in intensive care at St George's Hospital in London, leaving a wife and three children.
Mr Phiri, who was a campaigner for several charities and a health adviser with Barts NHS Trust, has been described as a family man who showed "incredible kindness" to others.
Denis Onyango, 46, Mr Phiri's close friend at the Africa Advocacy Foundation, a charity which helps people access HIV services, said: "So many of us adored him."
Mr Onyango said: "He touched hundreds and hundreds of lives in a very unique way.
"He touched people who are challenged in many respects, such as poverty, and health outcomes and racism.
"What he was very good at was to counter fake news and the negative narrative about Covid - about it not being real, or the vaccine not being made for Africans."
UK offers to ‘help’ EU over vaccine crisis
The UK has sought to calm tensions in its ongoing row with the European Union over the supply of coronavirus vaccines, even offering to “help” the bloc with its current crisis.
Just hours after the EU was forced to back down over incendiary plans to control exports to Northern Ireland, cabinet office minister Michael Gove said it recognised it had made a mistake.
Gove strikes conciliatory note with offer to ‘help’ EU in coronavirus vaccine supply row
Maternity staff facing ‘extreme burnout’
Maternity staff are facing extreme burnout during the pandemic as staff shortages and longer, busier shift patterns lead to the workforce becoming increasingly overwhelmed, healthcare leaders warned.
Senior figures working in pregnancy services told The Independent healthcare professionals are working longer hours, covering extra shifts around the clock, and spending more time on call to compensate for increasing numbers of employees taking time off work after getting coronavirus.
Maternity staff facing extreme burnout over staff shortages and longer busier shifts, warn healthcare leaders
That’s it for our live coronavirus coverage today. Thanks for reading.
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