Coronavirus: The 10 major developments that happened on Friday

Rebecca C. Taylor
·2 min read

Watch: Seven of the areas in Tier 3 with the lowest rate of coronavirus

Here’s what you need to know on 27 November. This article was updated at 4.30pm.

Deaths: There were 12 more coronavirus deaths recorded in Northern Ireland, 37 in Scotland and 21 in Wales. The UK as a whole recorded 521 deaths.

There were an estimated 28,300 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in the winter of 2019/2020, according to ONS. It’s nearly 20% more than the excess winter deaths of 2018/19, but less than the same stat in 2017/18. Read more here.

R rate: The R rate has dropped to below one for the first time in three months. It’s now at between 0.9 and 1.0 across the UK. Read more here.

Wales: Wales is to introduce stricter rules, soon after coming out of a two week lockdown. Cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues will close again and there will be new rules for hospitality venues. Read more here.

Northern Ireland: A two-week circuit breaker lockdown has been imposed in Northern Ireland. Most shops will operate as click and collect by appointment only during the period. Read more here.

Watch: UK’s R number falls to 0.9-1.0

Tiers: Arguments about the new tier system for England, which MPs will vote on next week, have continued. Boris Johnson defended the system saying it would bring simplicity and clarity. Read more here.

Those living in Tier 2 areas will have to leave the pub once they have finished their drinks, a spokesman for Number 10 confirmed. Pubs and bars in Tier 2 can’t serve alcohol without a substantial meal. Read more here.

Parts of England could have their coronavirus tier changed before Christmas, a government adviser has said, potentially allowing people in more places to meet friends and family indoors. Professor John Edmunds, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said it was “feasible” for an area to move from Tier 3 or 2 to a more lax one during the first review on 16 December. Read more here.

Vaccines: Downing Street has attempted to get doses of the Oxford University coronavirus vaccine labelled with Union Jacks. Huffington Post reported No.10′s newly-formed “Union unit” wanted injection kits to bear the flag. Read more here.

Schools: An independent group of scientists has called for “urgent action” in schools as it’s emerged infection rates among secondary pupils have soared 50-fold since September. While many teens show no symptoms from COVID-19, the Independent Sage group warned that they risk bringing the virus home to parents and grandparents, who are more vulnerable to developing serious health problems. Read more here.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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