Headlines
Japan extends state of emergency to 30 September
• Urgent cancer referrals up 25% YoY in July
• WHO urges booster moratorium until 2022
• New South Wales sets out roadmap out of lockdown
• France grants 12,000 express citizenships to frontline workers
World news
• Japan said it will extend emergency restrictions in Tokyo and 18 other regions until 30 September.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a moratorium on booster vaccines until 2022, in order to help reduce vaccine inequality.
• France has granted citizenship to more than 12,000 frontline workers, whose jobs put them at risk during the pandemic, under a special fast-track scheme.
• Compulsory Covid-19 and flu vaccines for frontline NHS and care workers in England are being considered in a six-week government consultation. Plans are already in place to make it mandatory for care home workers in England to be fully vaccinated.
• At the end of July, 5.6 million people were waiting to start treatment, according to figures from NHS England, with 7,980 patients waiting more than two years for routine operations and treatment. Analysis of the data by the Royal College of Surgeons says this represents a 39% increase on the previous month.
• At the end of July, 1.6 million people were still on furlough, down from the peak of nearly 9 million. In total, 11.6 million workers have benefited from the government programme since March 2020.
• NHS England figures show that 224,086 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in July, up 25% from the 179,274 reported in July last year.
• New South Wales’ government has released its roadmap to ending restrictions today, which sets out new freedoms for people once 70% of adults in the state have had two vaccine doses. Shops and restaurants will be able to reopen with customer limits, and schools will reopen from 25 October. Fully vaccinated people will have access to other privileges:
• Five visitors allowed in a home
• 20-person outdoor gatherings
• Carpooling
• Travel around the state
• Ferry operator Stena Line has cancelled four sailings between Scotland and Northern Ireland after one of its crew members tested positive.
• Scotland's health secretary has announced a new £10m long Covid-19 support fund, which will aim to help health boards respond to the condition.
• The RMT union have warned London transport staff about anti-vaccine posters found with razor blades on the back.
• The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are safe to use as booster, according to the MHRA.
