NEWS
Prime Minister keeping schools closed unnecessarily
Boris Johnson is being ‘over-cautious’ in keeping all schools closed until March 8 because there ‘really isn’t a case’ for refusing to open them earlier, some of the Government’s own scientific advisers have said. They argue that there is no risk of an ‘explosive third wave’ if primary schools start to reopen after half-term. However, Downing Street has insisted it will only be safe to begin opening schools from March 8, when the over-70s will have built up immunity through vaccines — Telegraph
How the goalposts have shifted since January 4 — Telegraph
Risk of catching coronavirus by touching surfaces such as cash machines, petrol pumps and pedestrian crossings is low, scientists say — Mail
Covid survivors are twice as likely to suffer side effects from Pfizer’s vaccine, data shows — Mail
Government attempts to reserve 28,000 airport hotel rooms as its quarantine scheme will begin on February 15 — Mail
Ofcom pulls the plug on Chinese television station CGTN — Times
France rejects a third lockdown, saying the ‘economic, social and human’ cost cannot be justified — Mail
Trump lawyers dismiss request for former president to testify during impeachment trial — Epoch Times
COMMENT
We need dissenting voices in the lockdown debate more than ever — Fraser Nelson, Telegraph
Why I refused to clap for Captain Tom. I applaud Britain’s hero, but I refuse to bow to the clapping brigade who wag their fingers at empty doorsteps and fail to see the damage caused by endless lockdowns — Beverley Turner, Mail
Starmer’s going to need to do better than that — Tom Harris, Telegraph
