Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Mass vaccination under way as London stadiums become pop-up centres

Mass vaccination under way as London stadiums become pop-up centres

STADIUMS and football grounds in London got transformed into mass vaccination centres over the weekend to administer thousands of Covid-19 jabs after Britain opened up it's vaccine drive for over-18s on Friday (18).

Mass vaccination centres have been set up at the Olympic Stadium Stamford Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur FC Charlton Athletic FC, Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace Athletics Centre. Smaller events are also taking place in local community venues in a drive to vaccinate as many Londoners as possible.


Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that it is great news that more than eight million doses of the life-saving Covid-19 vaccine have been given to Londoners, and now all adults over the age of 18 are able to get the jab.

"We are seeing the big difference that the vaccine is making in our fight against the virus, so I strongly urge all adult Londoners to book their appointments or attend a walk-in centre as soon as possible, and to ensure you get your second dose,” Khan said.

More than 42 million people in the UK have had their first jab and more than 31 million are now double-jabbed, according to the latest figures.

With the vaccine drive, the country is moving  towards a situation where people who have been double-vaccinated could be exempt from quarantine, Public Health England’s chief Covid-19 adviser Dr Susan Hopkins has said. 

Saying that the impact of vaccination can be seen in key infection hotspots, Hopkins said that a decision will be made soon after analysing the results of a study that uses daily lateral flow tests as an alternative to isolation for 10 days after coming into contact with a positive case.

Meanwhile, experts feel that the “60 per cent more transmissible” Delta variant is fueling a third wave of infections in the country. Prof Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government, said that the race is on between the vaccine programme and Delta variant.

“We can conclude that the race is firmly on between the vaccine programme, particularly getting older people's second doses done, and the Delta variant third wave,” Finn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

On Saturday (19), the UK recorded more than 10,000 new coronavirus infections for the third day in a row - with 10,321 cases and 14 new deaths. The previous time the number was higher than 10,000 was on 22 February.

More For You

Modi meets Vance, family in Paris

Narendra Modi in a group picture with US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance and their children Ewan and Vivek, at Elysee Palace in Paris. (ANI Photo)

Modi meets Vance, family in Paris

US vice president JD Vance and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi spoke on Tuesday (11) about how the US can assist India in diversifying its energy sourcing through investments in US nuclear technology, the White House said.

The meeting between Vance and Modi in Paris, where they were both attending an artificial intelligence summit, came ahead of the prime minister's US visit later this week in which topics like trade, investment, technology and immigration are expected to be discussed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heathrow to submit third runway proposal by summer

A British Airways passenger plane takes off behind houses next to land earmarked for a third runway at Longford near Heathrow Airport. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Heathrow to submit third runway proposal by summer

LONDON's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs, will submit its proposal for a third runway to the British government by summer, its chief executive Thomas Woldbye will say in a speech on Wednesday (12).

The move comes after chancellor Rachel Reeves said last month the government would back the construction of a new runway at Heathrow to boost trade and economic growth.

Keep ReadingShow less
trump-musk-

Musk, standing alongside Trump in the Oval Office with his 4-year-old son, said he was leading the effort to cut government waste. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump, Musk move to cut federal workforce under new order

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to work with Elon Musk to identify government jobs that can be cut and functions that can be eliminated.

The move is part of an effort to reduce the federal workforce and align it with Trump’s policy priorities.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ed-Miliband-India

Miliband said his meetings with Indian officials reinforced the commitment to work together in key areas, including grid modernisation, offshore wind, and industrial decarbonisation.

Exclusive: UK-India energy partnership strengthens as Miliband backs clean transition

BRITAIN sees India as a “crucial partner” as both countries aim to deepen their cooperation on clean energy, with a focus on renewables and climate action, UK secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, said.

On a visit to India this week, Miliband highlighted India’s ambitious renewable energy targets and its commitment to achieving net zero by 2070.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh's former government accused of 'crimes against humanity'

Sheikh Hasina (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Bangladesh's former government accused of 'crimes against humanity'

BANGLADESH's former government was behind systematic attacks and killings of protesters as it strived to hold onto power last year, the UN said Wednesday (12), warning the abuses could amount to "crimes against humanity".

Before premier Sheikh Hasina was toppled in a student-led revolution last August, her government oversaw a systematic crackdown on protesters and others, including "hundreds of extrajudicial killings", the UN said.

Keep ReadingShow less