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Africa & World

‘Deceitful business’: Texas sues Meta’s Facebook over facial recognition system

by Leading Reporters February 15, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

The state of Texas on Monday sued Facebook’s parent company Meta over privacy protection issues stating that its facial recognition system collected biometric data of citizens without their consent.

The Texas lawsuit alleged that Facebook captured biometric information from photos and videos without the users’ consent as Attorney General Ken Paxton said it was an example of “big tech’s deceitful business practices”.

However, Meta spokesperson said the “claims are without merit” while vowing to “defend itself vigorously”. 

Mark Zuckerberg’s company had declared last year that it would be shutting down its facial recognition system and would delete people’s information. Two years ago it had agreed to pay $650 million in a similar privacy case. It was said to be the largest ever settlement of a privacy lawsuit at the time.

The Illinois lawsuit was filed in 2015 over Facebook’s photo-tagging feature as it used the facial recognition system as attorney Edelson asserted that “biometrics along with geolocation were the two primary battlegrounds”.

In a similar move, the Texas lawsuit said Facebook had captured biometric identifiers of Texans “without consent not hundreds, or thousands, or millions of times but billions of times.”

“Facebook will no longer take advantage of people and their children with the intent to turn a profit at the expense of one’s safety and well-being,” Paxton said.

Facebook has been under fire over various issues. Last year whistleblower Frances Haugen had alleged that adults perceive Facebook content as “boring, misleading, and negative” after she leaked documents highlighting the social network’s effect on teens and users’ well-being. Facebook however dismissed Haugen’s charges.

(With inputs from Agencies)

February 15, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Appeal of the All-Russian Officers’ Assembly to the President and citizens of the Russian Federation

by Folarin Kehinde February 12, 2022
written by Folarin Kehinde

Chairman of the “All-Russian Officer’s Assembly” Colonel-General Leonid Grigorievich Ivashov wrote an Address to the President and citizens of the Russian Federation “Chanle of War”:

Today humanity lives in anticipation of war. And war is the inevitable human sacrifices, destruction, suffering of large masses of people, destruction of habitual lifestyles, violation of the systems of life of states and peoples.

The big war is a huge tragedy, whose serious crime is. It so happened that Russia was at the center of this threatening catastrophe. And perhaps this is the first time in her history.

Previously, Russia (USSR) waged forced (just) wars, and, as a rule, when there was no other way out, when the vital interests of the state and society were threatened.

And what threatens the existence of Russia itself today, and are there such threats? It can be argued that there are really threats – the country is on the verge of completing its history.

All vital areas, including demography, are steadily deteriorating, and the rate of extinction of the population is breaking world records. And degradation is systemic, and in any complex system, the destruction of one of the elements can lead to the collapse of the entire system.

And this, in our opinion, is the main threat to the Russian Federation. But this is a threat of an internal nature, based on the model of the state, the quality of power and the state of society.

And the reasons for its formation are internal: the inviability of the state model, complete incapacity and unprofessionalism of the system of power and management, passivity and disorganization of society. Any country does not live in this state for a long time.

As for external threats, they are certainly present. But, according to our expert assessment, they are not at the moment critical, directly threatening the existence of Russian statehood, its vital interests.

In general, strategic stability persists, nuclear weapons are under reliable control, NATO force groups are not increasing, there is no threatening activity.

Therefore, the situation escalated around Ukraine is, first of all, artificial, selfish in nature for some internal forces, including the Russian Federation.

As a result of the collapse of the USSR, in which Russia (Yeltsin) took a decisive part, Ukraine became an independent state, a member of the UN, and in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter has the right to individual and collective defense.

The leadership of the Russian Federation has not yet recognized the results of the referendum on the independence of the DPR and LPR, while at the official level more than once, including during the Minsk negotiation process, stressed the belonging of their territories and population to Ukraine.

It has also been repeatedly said at a high level about the desire to maintain normal relations with Kiev, without distinguishing it into special relations with the DPR and LPR.

The issue of genocide committed by Kiev in the south-eastern regions was not raised either in the UN or in the OSCE. Naturally, in order for Ukraine to remain a friendly neighbor for Russia, it was necessary for it to demonstrate the attractiveness of the Russian model of the state and the system of power.

But the Russian Federation has not become so, its development model and foreign policy mechanism of international cooperation repels almost all neighbors, and not only.

Russia’s acquisition of Crimea and Sevastopol and their non-recognition by the international community (and, therefore the vast majority of countries in the world still consider them belonging to Ukraine) convincingly shows the failure of Russian foreign policy, and the unattractiveness of domestic policy.

Attempts through an ultimatum and threats of use of force to “love” the Russian Federation and its leadership are meaningless and extremely dangerous.

The use of military force against Ukraine, firstly, will call into question the existence of Russia itself as a state; secondly, it will forever make Russians and Ukrainians deadly enemies. Thirdly, there will be thousands (tens of thousands) dead young, healthy children on the one hand, which will certainly affect the future demographic situation in our endangered countries.

On the battlefield, if this happens, Russian troops will face not only Ukrainian servicemen, among whom there will be many Russian guys, but also with servicemen and equipment of many NATO countries, and member states of the alliance will be obliged to declare war on Russia.

President of the Republic of Turkey R. Erdogan clearly stated on whose side Turkey will fight. And it can be assumed that two field armies and the Turkish fleet will be ordered to “liberate” Crimea and Sevastopol and possibly invade the Caucasus.

In addition, Russia will definitely be classified as countries threatening peace and international security, subject to the most severe sanctions, turn into an outcast of the world community, and is likely to be deprived of the status of an independent state.

The president and government cannot understand such consequences, the Ministry of Defense cannot, they are not so stupid.

The question arises: what are the true goals of provoking tension on the verge of war, and the possible unleashing of widespread hostilities? And what will be, says the number and combat composition of the groups of troops formed by the parties – at least one hundred thousand servicemen on each side. Russia, bare the eastern borders, is transferring connections to the borders of Ukraine.

In our opinion, the country’s leadership, realizing that it is not able to lead the country out of a systemic crisis, and this can lead to an uprising of the people and a change of power in the country, with the support of the oligarchate, corrupt officials, fed media and security forces, decided to intensify the political line for the final destruction of Russian statehood and the extermination of the country’s indigenous population.

And war is the means that will solve this problem in order to retain its anti-national power for a while and preserve the wealth looted from the people. We can’t assume any other explanation.

From the President of the Russian Federation, we are Russian officers, we demand to abandon the criminal policy of provoking war, in which the Russian Federation will be alone against the combined forces of the West, to create conditions for the implementation in practice of Art. 3 Constitutions of the Russian Federation and resign.

We appeal to all reserve and retired servicemen, Russian citizens with a recommendation to show vigilance, organization, support the requirements of the Council of the All-Russian Officers’ Assembly, actively oppose propaganda and the outbreak of war, prevent internal civil conflict with the use of military force.

February 12, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Canada dropping all COVID restrictions, vax passports by end of month

by Folarin Kehinde February 3, 2022
written by Folarin Kehinde

The province of Saskatchewan in Canada has become the first province to announce it will be dropping all COVID-19 restrictions, including proof of vaccination requirements.

Premier Scott Moe made the announcement during a press conference Monday evening, stating restrictions would end on Feb. 28 and recognizing Canadians’ desire “for a return to normal.”

“Our caucus MLAs are hearing this from the people that they are talking to across the province and the people that they ultimately represent, and people are asking their government for a return to normal – a removal of public health restrictions – and we most certainly are looking at how we can do that in the weeks ahead here in Saskatchewan,” said Moe.

The announcement comes after a significant shift in public opinion among Canadians against pandemic restrictions.

A new poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that 54% of Canadians agreed or strongly agreed that restrictions should be ended and for people who are at risk to self-isolate. All regions except for Atlantic Canada reported majority support.

Both Alberta and Ontario have also hinted at some signs of further opening up.

Most recently, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stated that he hopes to see an end to the proof of vaccination program by March.

“I did say when we brought in the proof of vaccination program back in early September that I did not foresee it going past the first quarter of 2022. That would be the end of March,” Kenney said last week.

Ontario’s top doctor Kieran Moore also said last week that it was time for people to “learn to live with COVID-19,” anticipating that the threat of the virus will die down in the near future.

“I think we have to start to understand we have to learn to live with this virus,” Moore said.

As for Quebec, Premier Francois Legault has now walked back his plan to tax the province’s unvaccinated after facing wide public pushback.

“I understand that this divides Quebecers, and right now we have to build bridges,” said Legault on Tuesday “My role is to try to bring Quebecers together to stay united as a people.”

February 3, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Denmark: first EU country; announces the removal of all COVID-19 curbs

by Leading Reporters January 28, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announce on Wednesday the removal of all COVID-19 restrictions by the end of this month..

Denmark loosened all restrictions two weeks ago after a month-long lockdown, allowing cinemas and music venues to reopen, but some rules remain, including limited opening hours for restaurants and mandatory face masks.

The sudden shift was based on recommendations from an expert panel that also recommends removing the classification of COVID-19 as a disease that is a critical threat to society, which has allowed the current restrictions.

Frederiksen gave a media briefing on Wednesday evening and make the long-awaited announcement. Her office declined to comment on the report.

The Nordic country registered 40,348 new cases on Monday, down from a peak of 47,831 on Friday. The number of coronavirus-related hospitalisations rose to 894, the highest in a year.

But health authorities said it estimated between 30 percent-40 percent of those currently in hospital with a positive coronavirus test are there for other reasons than COVID-19.

Since a peak of 82 on Jan. 6, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has fallen steadily to 43 on Monday.

January 28, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Trump vs Biden: Gun violence doubles in Joe Biden’s first year in office

by Leading Reporters January 25, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a US gun violence monitoring group, reported that there were over 5,000 more fatal shootings during Joe Biden’s first year in office compared to Donald Trump’s first year as president.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States saw 44,868 gun deaths in Biden’s first year as president.

The total number of murders, justifiable self-defence homicides, and accidental homicides involving firearms were 20,783 in 2021, compared to 15,727 in 2017 when Trump took office. 

This means that in the past few years alone, gun violence has increased by 32 per cent.

It is alarming to note, that there were 693 mass shootings in 2021, up from 348 in 2017. In addition, there were 1,060 deaths or injuries among children, compared to 724 in 2017.

In 2021, there were 24,090 suicides committed using a firearm in the United States. Prior to 2019, no national suicide statistics are available, but the site uses an estimate of 22,000 for previous years.

As of January 21, there had been 2,627 shootings in the United States, of which 1,518 were suicides and 1,109 intentional homicides, including 26 mass shootings and one mass murder. 

Based on the current trend, the United States may end the year with over 19000 killings and 450 mass shootings.

In response to the sharp increase, a school gun control group March For Our Lives (M4OL) has called on Biden to put an end to the bloodshed.

The M4OL group, founded by the survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, stated that Biden has only “tinkered” with gun control measures in his first year in the White House.

Activists from a student-led group said that they were horrified by the escalating epidemic of violence that have continued under his administration.

“As a candidate, the president pledged to end the epidemic of gun violence, but as our leader in the White House, he has simply tinkered at the edges, rather than coordinating a whole-of-government response that treats this crisis like the emergency that it is.”

Taking to Twitter the group said “While @POTUS  has taken welcome and overdue steps to address this epidemic, he has not met the bare minimum of what’s necessary to reverse this trend.”

As 44,855 gun deaths loom over @POTUS 1st year in office, we demand to know… what's the plan?

We were hopeful that his administration would be as bold and progressive as the gun violence prevention platform he ran on – but that’s not what we’ve seen so far. 1/4

— March For Our Lives ☮️🟧 (@AMarch4OurLives) January 20, 2022

On the President’s anniversary, on the heels of a year where gun deaths broke historical records, we must ask @POTUS bluntly: Have you done enough? We fear his answer is "yes", and boldly demand action for the sake of our lives. 4/4

— March For Our Lives ☮️🟧 (@AMarch4OurLives) January 20, 2022

In its statement, the group noted that 2021 is one of the deadliest years in American history for gun violence, and asked bluntly: “Mr. President, have you done enough?”

Gun violence has become a persistent social issue in the United States without any apparent solution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that 17 million guns were sold between January 2021 and November 2021. In the first four days of 2022, around 400 Americans were killed in gun violence, according to the GVA. 

In 2018, Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured the same number during a rampage on Valentine’s Day, at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He used a semi-automatic military assault rifle to commit the crime.

In light of the event, more people have called for restrictions on gun ownership and purchasing, with Trump calling on state legislatures to act – where the federal Congress has failed to act for decades. Credit Wion

January 25, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Video: Breaking No more mandatory wearing of mask

by Leading Reporters January 21, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

Credit: GBNEWS.UK

January 21, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Trump Says Joe Biden’s Remarks Gave Russia the ‘assent’ on Ukraine

by Leading Reporters January 21, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

Donald Trump has accused President Joe Biden of giving Russia the “green light” to invade Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, the former president criticized Biden’s remarks during a press conference about the buildup of Russian troops next to the border with Ukraine.

Biden suggested on Wednesday that a “minor incursion” ordered by President Vladimir Putin would result in a softer response from Washington than a full-scale invasion. The comments sparked alarm in Kyiv and were quickly walked back by the White House.

Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity: “Really what he said last night when he said, ‘They may go in, they will go in,’ and he talked about a minor incursion. I said, ‘I don’t believe he said that,’ because that’s like giving them, they use the term ‘green light.’ He was green-lighted.”

He added that the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, “could not believe what he heard. He couldn’t believe what he heard, and I couldn’t believe what — it’s whether you are for strong stoppage or not, you’re really telling them ‘You might as well go in.'”

Zelensky tweeted on Thursday that “there are no minor incursions.”

Biden later clarified his remarks, telling reporters that if any “assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.”

He added: “It will be met with [a] severe and coordinated economic response that I’ve discussed in detail with our allies as well as laid out very clearly for President Putin. But there is no doubt—let there be no doubt at all—that if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price.”

During the Fox News interview, Trump also suggested that Biden should be doing more to de-escalate tensions as the number of Russian troops massed at the border nears 130,000.

“You also can’t just talk in terms of sanctions. Sanctions don’t mean too much to Russia. If you want to stop somebody, you are not going to just be talking about sanctions,” Trump said.

“But he really told them ‘Go in.’ I think this is a whole different ball game right now.”

The former president added” “If you look at what’s going on with Russia and Ukraine, what they’ve done at the border, they’ve loaded up with soldiers—that would’ve never happened with me. I had a very good relationship with Putin.”

As fears mount over a potential invasion, an opposition politician from Ukraine has suggested how President Zelensky will respond in the event of conflict.

“I know for sure that those in power, who led the country to a situation with the threat of war, will definitely stand aside or the first convenient plane will leave its borders with their families,” Illia Kyva wrote on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to meet Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva for talks on Ukraine.

January 21, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

What Exactly Do Nigerian Music Industry Promote? The ZaZoo Zehh Chronicle

by Folarin Kehinde January 21, 2022
written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

It is no longer news that the Nigerian music industry is now a dumping ground for all sort of music as Nigerians with little or no cash has stormed the industry with no foresight of making positive impact with their music but with vision of making money, fame and attention from teeming Nigerian Youth.

Sadly, many of them do not even know the meaning of what they singing, but just go into the studio and sing whatever comes to mind since Nigerians only dance to beats .

Back in the 80s, the Nigerian music industry was agog with inspiring, knowledgeable songs that teaches, informs and educates the public and some of this songs still reminisce till date.

Songs such as Seun Rere by Christy Igbokwe, Shakara by Fela Kuti, Under Pressure by Ras Kimono, Time na Money by Mike Okiri, Iyogogo by Onyeka Onwenu, and Osondi Owendi by Osita Osadebe to mention but a few are evergreen but the industry is now occupied with nothing but visionless artistes, no wonder there music cannot stand the test of time.

The regulators of the music industry like the toothless dog that cannot bite keeps mum and watch meaningless music and immorality being displayed on national television, rather than instill sanity, they invite some of them to even perform at national events.

No wonder likes of Terry G, Cynthia Morgan, Damoche and a host of others are nowhere to be found again after many years.

To add salt to injury, some Nigerian Nollywood artistes decided to join the music industry but could not even stand the test of time all because maybe because music is not there “calling”.

Without mincing words though, the Nigerian music industry still pride herself among nations with inspiring songs that has transcended the borders of the country, with nominations and awards won globally, yet what their counterpart sing is nothing to write home about.

Recently, The ZaZoo Zehh Crooner, Habib Olamilekan popularly known as Portable joined the industry with
ZaZoo Zehh, which according to him means using Zazoo as a motivation, to educate all hustlers to keep striving and stay focused on their hustling.

“By his words. Using Zazoo as a Protection, to educate people should not lose guard and find a way to protect themselves”.

So what comes to a right thinking mind is the connection of motivation and protection as claimed by him and the lyrics of his song

Paka, paka, Poco Lee (zehh)
Poco Lee gbemi trabaye (zehh)
Jek’a jo zehh oh (zehh)
Poco Lee, ogba dancer oh (zeh nkan to t’eri e)
Set awon werey onijo (shoe gbengben)
Zazoo (zehh)
Koko tua (shoe gbengben)
(‘Ishe lo jawon l’aya oh)
Chain timo wo is a gadu (zeh nkan to t’eri e)
Ago timo wo is a gadu (zehh)
(Zazoo) zazoo (zehh)
OPF, o por fa (zehh)
O ma wo lo school (zehh)
Shoe gbengben, bata Yahoo (zehh)
Zeh nkan to t’eri e (zehh).

Fortunately for him, his song has brought him to limelight such that popular nigerian artistes now align with his style of music with TikTok abuzz with different skits by Nigerians and celebrities showcasing their own style with ZaZoo Zehh.

With the ever increasing rate of unemployment bedeviling teeming Nigerian Youth, the music industry is not an option, rather Nigerian Youth should engage in meaningful things that there own children will be proud of years to come.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, despite the harsh economic situation, many Nigerian Youth are still making waves legitimately in their chosen endeavors as many of them still cut their clothes according to their coats.

It is high time sanity is instilled in the music industry by the regulators and music legends rather than keep silent and watch upcoming artistes sing whatever comes to mind should also braced up to the challenge of sanitizing the industry.

January 21, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Stop mask and vaccine mandate: Europe starts considering Covid-19 as ‘flu’, endemic

by Leading Reporters January 20, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

Slowly but surely several governments are coming around to the idea that Covid may be endemic like the flu and asking people to live with it. 
While WHO is against such a conclusion, Spain became the first European country to move towards ending mask mandates. 

The idea has gradually been gaining traction and could prompt a re-evaluation of government strategies on dealing with the virus. British Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi Sunday told the BBC that the U.K. is “on a path towards transitioning from pandemic to endemic.”

The omicron variant’s lower hospitalization and death rates despite record infections prompted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to hold out the tantalizing prospect of Europe moving beyond pandemic-style restrictions on normal life.

“We have to evaluate the evolution of Covid from pandemic to an endemic illness,” Sanchez said in a radio interview Monday, adding that European governments may need to assess the disease with different parameters than ones used so far.

Despite having some of the highest Covid rates in Europe, Ireland will maintain a system of voluntary vaccination, according to Prime Minister Micheal Martin. The Belgian government wants to give people a “free choice,” Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said.

Travel restrictions have also shown their limits. The U.K. was the first country to ban flights from southern Africa, where omicron was first identified. Yet it was the first place in Europe to suffer an omicron wave. Similarly, France overtook the U.K.’s case rate despite slapping limits on travel from Britain.

The Spanish government has been working on a new monitoring approach in the last weeks, and Health Minister Carolina Darias has brought the matter up with her European counterparts, Sanchez said.

The effort came as Spain reported almost 692,000 new cases in the last seven days, with 13.4% of hospital beds used for Covid patients, according to Health Ministry data. That compares with 13.8% a year earlier, when the number of recorded weekly cases was just above 115,000.

If European countries manage to relax restrictions in the coming weeks, last year’s experiences will remain a cautionary tale. Denmark removed all Covid restrictions last fall, while the Netherlands dropped all masking requirements.


January 20, 2022 0 comments
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Africa & World

Bye to Covid! All restrictions in England to be scrapped by 26th January

by Leading Reporters January 18, 2022
written by Leading Reporters

The news comes as Boris Johnson continues to fight for his political life as fury rages over lockdown parties in Downing Street and a member of his own cabinet demands an end to the drinking culture in his Government.

The end of restrictions means mandatory mask wearing at schools, on public transport and at indoor events, controversial covid passports, and demands that people work from home will finish on January 26.

All that will remain will be a requirement to isolate for five days with a positive covid test and the need to take lateral flow tests for international travel.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid was last night said to be “sure” that the restrictions will not be needed after the January deadline.

The Sunday Express learnt that the Prime Minister had already been handed an ultimatum before Christmas by senior Conservative backbenchers that he would face a leadership vote of confidence if he tried to bring in more restrictions.

The threat came after 101 Conservative MPs opposed the current restrictions in a Commons rebellion on December 14.

Conservative MPs have made it clear to Mr. Johnson that restrictions needed to end as soon as possible.

In recent days amid the revelations about parties, some have stressed that Mr Johnson’s resistance to scientists pushing for greater restrictions and “getting the policy right” was what prevented them from submitting a letter to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady calling for a vote of confidence in his leadership.

But even close allies of the Prime Minister last night warned Mr Johnson that there needed to be a change of culture.

Writing for the Sunday Express, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg urged people to stand by the Prime Minister for delivering on Brexit and getting the country through the pandemic.

But he added: “It is clear that there is a drinking culture in Downing Street that would be questionable in ordinary time let alone during a period of restriction.”

Meanwhile, former Conservative minister Tobias Ellwood said the Prime Minister must “lead or step aside”, saying: “We need leadership.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “We’ve got a Prime Minister who is absent – he is literally in hiding at the moment and unable to lead, so that’s why I’ve concluded that he has got to go.

“And of course there is a party vantage in him going, but actually it is now in the national interest that he goes, so it is very important now that the Tory party does what it needs to do and gets rid of him.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to formally announce in the coming days that he will not renew the restrictions when their sunset clause ends on January 26.

A source said he “feels confident about the decision” because of the falling number of cases and evidence that Omicron is not as dangerous as other variants.

The source added: “Sajid [Javid] is sure now that the restrictions will not go beyond the sunset clause date.”

The Health Secretary had already reduced isolation times for positive tests down to five days from 10.

It is understood that Downing Street had wanted to make an official announcement this weekend but high figures in the North West which is behind London in seeing cases fall meant that they felt it was too early.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a former pandemic government advisor and expert in social science at Nottingham Trent University, said of the propsed lifting of the rules: “This would be very welcome news.

“However, the experience of ‘Freedom Day’ last summer means we should wait to see the small print. Does this mean an end to lateral flow tests for asymptomatic people or for access to community events?

“Will the Department for Education remove all interventions in schools? Will there be a positive campaign to reverse two years of stimulating fear and anxiety?”

Leading scientists said they were more “optimistic” about the trajectory of coronavirus cases as a Government health advisor said cases appeared to be “plateauing” in the south of England.

Dr Susan Hopkins, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chief medical adviser, said London, the South East and East of England were seeing the number of infections flatten, cases rising much slower in the north and there was a slowdown in hospital admissions.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme cases were still relatively high, with one in 15 people in England infected and one in 20 elsewhere in the UK.

She said: “We see that infections are plateauing in the community, which is good, in London and the south east and the east of England.

“There are still risings, but much slower in the northern parts of the country.”

She added hospitals had been able to discharge patients “faster” due to Omicron being milder than previous coronavirus variants but that, with around 15,500 people in hospital last week, the NHS remains under “a lot of pressure”, with some trusts “unable to do much of their elective care”, a situation exacerbated by staff absences.

Her comments came as other experts said they were hopeful about the coronavirus situation, while the Welsh Government began to ease restrictions.

There were 81,713 cases and 287 deaths recorded on Saturday, compared to 146,390 cases and 313 deaths last week.

Consultant virologist and Cambridge University lecturer Dr Chris Smith said current coronavirus data gives him “great cause for optimism”.

He explained there could still be an uptick Omicron or “it may be that we are following the trajectory of South Africa, which we seem to be so far, which is they saw a much fewer translation of hospital cases into intensive care beds cases.

“So let’s hope that carries on.

“This gives me great cause for optimism because I think we are getting to a point now where thanks to vaccination, where 96 percent of the country we’re told now have antibodies against the coronavirus, thanks to vaccinations thanks to infection rate reinforcing our immunity we are getting to a point where the population have sufficient immunity that we can fend off the infection when we get it much better than we could previously.

“So we don’t see that strong connection of cases turning into consequences.”

Chief social policy adviser to the Scottish government Professor Linda Bauld added Omicron cases appear to be “stabilising”.

January 18, 2022 0 comments
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