Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Surge testing expanded in Lancashire after spike in Covid-19 Indian variant cases

Surge testing expanded in Lancashire after spike in Covid-19 Indian variant cases

SURGE TESTING is being expanded across parts of Lancashire following the recent spike of Covid-19 Indian variant cases in the area, Britain's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said on Friday (28). 

NHS Test and Trace in partnership with local authorities has launched additional testing and genomic sequencing across Lancashire. Additional mobile testing units are being deployed to higher educational settings while door-to-door testing is also taking place to find and isolate cases, DHSC said. 


People who are tested positive for the Indian variant reportedly told to self-isolate and their contacts are being identified.

Along with increased testing in the Lancashire boroughs, “enhanced contact tracing”, where tracers look back over an extended period of time to determine the route of transmission, will be used for those who will test positive for a variant of concern.

Cases of the Indian variant have more than doubled in a week, with 6,959 confirmed up to Wednesday (26), as health secretary Matt Hancock revealed that up to 75 per cent of all new Covid infections being recorded in the country are the new variant cases.

The highest Covid-19 rates are currently in Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Rossendale, which respectively saw 403, 355, and 212 cases per 100,000 people during last week.

The new variant, which is considered one of the reasons behind the ongoing deadly second wave in India, is also thought to be the cause behind the recent spike seen in Britain's fresh Covid numbers, with daily new cases crossing 3,000 for the first time since mid-April.

The increase in the Indian variant cases has sparked fresh concerns over stage four of prime minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown though experts have said that vaccines are effective against the Indian variant as well.

More For You

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
modi-ai-summit-getty

Modi stressed the importance of open-source AI ecosystems and quality data sets free from biases. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Modi calls for global AI framework, India to host next AI summit

INDIA will host the next international summit on artificial intelligence, following its co-hosting of the AI Action Summit in Paris with France.

The announcement was made by French president Emmanuel Macron’s office after prime minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s willingness to host the event.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ed-Miliband

Miliband’s Delhi visit this week is aimed at increasing UK clean energy investment opportunities and placing British businesses at the forefront of the global race for renewables.

Miliband pushes clean energy ties in India

SECRETARY of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, arrived in New Delhi on Monday (10) for the fourth UK-India Energy Dialogue and to promote UK business interests at the India Energy Week global exhibition.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the aim of the visit is to unlock economic growth from clean energy transition, support new jobs, create export opportunities and tackle the climate crisis in partnership with India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salman Rushdie

Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rushdie attack trial begins as jurors shown graphic details

JURORS heard how a knife attack on novelist Salman Rushdie unfolded in a matter of seconds at a 2022 New York talk and how close he came to death, in the prosecutor's opening statement on Monday (10) at the trial of the man accused of trying to murder the author.

A poet introducing the talk, on the subject of keeping writers safe from harm, was barely into his second sentence when defendant Hadi Matar bounded onto the Chautauqua Institution open-air stage and made about 10 running steps towards a seated Rushdie, Chautauqua District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the jury.

Keep ReadingShow less