UK STATISTICS
There have been over *18 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and nearly 160,000 people have died, government figures show. Over 52 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, 91% of people in the UK aged 12 and over. More than 48 million, 85% have had their second and more than 37 million, 65% have had a booster.
*Government case figures now include people in England and Northern Ireland who have tested positive for a second time – after at least a 90-day gap – rather than just first infections.
Total UK Cases: 18,162,199 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 66,638 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 13,126
New deaths across UK: 206
Total UK deaths: 159,158
England Cases per 100,000: 837.3
R number in UK: 0.8-1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 52,468,730 – 91% of UK aged 12+
Total 2nd doses: 84.6%
Daily 1st doses: 10,523
Daily 2nd doses: 24,725
Daily Booster doses: 32,476
The R value and growth rate
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The R range for England is 0.8 to 1.1; the growth rate for England is -3% to +1% per day as of 4 February
COVID-19: estimated administrative vaccine uptake for people aged 18 and over
Daily percentage of the UK population aged 18 and over who have received a first dose, second dose, or third or booster dose to date.
Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.
Latest Cheshire East data:
Total Cheshire East cases: 104,657
New cases in past 7 days: 3,125 to 5 Feb
Total deaths: 1,006
Cases per 100,000: 808.2
UK NEWS UPDATES:
Self-isolation law could be scrapped in England this month
All remaining Covid restrictions in England – including the legal rule to self-isolate – could end later this month, Boris Johnson has said. Under the current rules, anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for at least five full days. The current restrictions are due to expire on 24 March. But Mr Johnson told MPs he expected the last domestic rules would end early as long as the positive trends in the data continued.
He said he intended to return after parliamentary recess – which runs from Thursday to 21 February – to outline the government’s strategy for living with Covid.
Gove: “the North is where the action is”
The secretary of state reiterated his promise to give more powers to local leaders in a bid to speed up the government’s sluggish levelling up agenda. “We simply can’t allow the gulf between rich and poor, and North and South to grow,” Michael Gove told a room of political and business leaders. Gove was speaking at the Convention of the North at The Spine in Liverpool, where figures from across the North gathered to discuss the region’s future following the publication of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper last week. On a day of enthusiastic speeches from Northern stakeholders around the ambitions they have for their areas, Gove acknowledged that the North would act as the crucible for levelling up over the next decade.
“This is where the political action will be for the next nine years and beyond,” he said. “Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, or whatever your background, [levelling up the North] has to be the central economic, social and moral mission.”
UK economy bounces back with 7.5% growth last year
The UK economy rebounded last year with growth of 7.5% despite falling back in December due to Omicron restrictions, official figures show. It was the fastest pace of growth since 1941, although it came after a dramatic 9.4% collapse in 2020 as the pandemic forced parts of the economy to shut. In December, the economy shrank 0.2% as Omicron restrictions hit the hospitality and retail sectors.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the economy had been “remarkably resilient”.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that in the last three months of 2021 growth was 1%, which ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said was “pretty healthy” given Omicron’s spread. The ONS numbers exceeded many economists’ predictions, with their average forecasts of 7.3% growth for the year and a 0.5% contraction in December.
Italy is easing its strict outdoor mask mandate amid falling infections and hospitalisations.
The tough Covid restrictions were introduced in December as the Omicron variant spread rapidly across Europe and required Italians to wear face masks in all outdoor areas where social distancing was not possible.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza signed the relaxation of the rules into law on Tuesday, though masks will still be required in some crowded areas and at indoor public venues.
Spain relaxes rules for unvaccinated UK teenagers
Unvaccinated British teenagers will be allowed into Spain from Monday with a negative PCR test, Spanish tourism minister Fernando Valdés has told the BBC.
At the moment everyone over 12 has to be double jabbed to enter the country.
Some families had already cancelled half term holidays to Spain and the Canary Islands because their children had not yet had their second jab. People aged 18 and over must still be vaccinated to get into the country. Mr Valdés said that 12-to-17-year-olds who have not been vaccinated against Covid will be allowed into the country from Monday 14 February, if they present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival to Spain. The restrictions will be lifted from 23:00 GMT on 13 February. All other UK travellers, excluding children under 12, will need to present a Covid certificate showing proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival in Spain.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Cheshire East Council closes discretionary Covid-19 grant schemes
The council has paid out over £15 million to businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and is closing applications to grants at midnight on 11th February.
Mixed office, retail and leisure plans in development for Macclesfield M&S store
A brochure obtained by Place North West has revealed ambitions for a five-storey building with retail and leisure spaces on the ground floor, and offices and coworking space above.
Bumper half term predicted for Manchester Airport as travel testing restrictions ease
The relaxation of travel rules has seen demand for travel soar at Manchester Airport, with 1.5 million passengers expected to travel through MAG airports 11-27 Feb.
One in six North West retailers cancel contracts over ethical and sustainable concerns
A new report has suggested around one in six (15%) of retailers in the North West have cancelled contracts with suppliers across the last 12 months who don’t meet stringent ethical and sustainable standards. Barclays Corporate Banking’s ‘Reshaping retail: how ethics and sustainability are changing retail’s ecosystem’ concludes that the pandemic and an increasing focus on Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) are shifting business priorities. In a study of more than 300 retail decision makers, 53% in the Northwest say sustainability is more important now than it was two years ago and 53% say the same about ethical standards.
Businesses create hundreds of opportunities in National Apprenticeship Week
Companies from across the North West have been marking the 15th annual National Apprenticeship Week over the last few days. Businesses of all sizes have been in touch with BusinessLive with news about how they are supporting apprentices as well as announcing plans to create more opportunities in the future. Among the firms to shine a light on apprentices this week were some of the largest companies in the region such as EG Group, Lookers and Electricity North West.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test kit instructions: SureScreen
How to do a SureScreen rapid nose-only test for COVID-19 and report the results. This test is usually for people without symptoms of COVID-19.
CARE:
Monthly statistics for adult social care (England)
Experimental statistics on a range of topics including infection control measures, COVID-19 vaccinations, flu vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in adult social care settings.
COMMUNITY:
EDUCATION:
Letter to heads about the release of Advance Information
A letter from Chief Regulator Jo Saxton after Advance Information for GCSE, AS and A level exams was released on 7 February.
PROPERTY:
Asking prices show no sign of levelling-up
Average asking prices in Britain have risen by 53 per cent over the past 10 years according to Rightmove. They have risen from £222,989 to £341,019, with significant differences by region. And broadly speaking the most expensive regions have performed most strongly – flying in the face of the new Levelling Up agenda.
SPORT:
Small businesses received £21.3 billion in COVID-19 support from local authority grants 
Two year extension announced for Covid Recovery Loan scheme 
Research finds Covid-19 has not fundamentally changed the UK labour market