Boss of No10’s new pandemic-fighting agency admits UK has ‘an awful lot to learn’ from Covid

The UK was too slow to ramp up its coronavirus testing capacity and introduce masks and, the boss of Britain’s new pandemic-fighting body admitted today. Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, conceded that officials have ‘an awful lot to learn’ after a series of failures early in the crisis. She said … Read more

UK Health Security Agency: Matt Hancock unveils new Covid-fighting body to replace PHE

Matt Hancock today unveiled a new pandemic-fighting body that will replace Public Health England and protect the UK in the face of future disease outbreaks. The Health Secretary said the UK Health Security Agency will begin work next month and its ‘sole job’ will be to ‘plan, prevent and respond to external threats to health’. … Read more

Matt Hancock unveils new pandemic-fighting body the UK Health Security Agency

Matt Hancock today unveiled a new pandemic-fighting body that will replace Public Health England and protect the UK in the face of future disease outbreaks. The Health Secretary said the UK Health Security Agency will begin work next month and its ‘sole job’ will be to ‘plan, prevent and respond to external threats to health’. … Read more

Dr Jenny Harries is favourite to take over England’s National Institute of Health Protection

England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, is the odds-on favourite to run No10’s National Institute of Health Protection — which will replace Public Health England. PHE is set to be disbanded when the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over and replaced by the NIHP, which will be bigger and more powerful. Dr … Read more

Jenny Harries says face coverings evidence is ‘not very strong’

The evidence on face coverings ‘is not very strong in either direction’, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said, leaving Britons confused once again over experts’ changing attitudes to masks. Government guidance released late last night ahead of the return of children to classes next week said teachers and students may need to wear face … Read more

Boris Johnson says ‘absolutely every pupil needs to be back in school next week’ during virtual Q&A

Boris Johnson says ‘absolutely every pupil needs to be back in school next week’ during virtual Q&A with parents as Dr Jenny Harries says evidence on face coverings ‘is not very strong in either direction’ Boris Johnson said ‘absolutely every pupil’ needs to return to school next week He added that schools will be the … Read more

Jenny Harries: Pupils more likely to be hit by bus than catch Covid

Pupils are more likely to be hit by a bus on their way to school than catch coronavirus in the classroom, the deputy chief medical officer claimed today.  Dr Jenny Harries said the risk of children being involved in a traffic accident or of catching the flu are ‘probably higher than the current risk’ posed … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Top medic says kids more at risk outside school

Hard-pressed parents juggling childcare and work were told to ‘control your teenagers’ tonight as the Government pushed ahead with plans to force schools to reopen fully in September. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said that schoolchildren, especially older ones, were more likely to contract coronavirus by hanging out with mates than they were … Read more

Pupils won’t be allowed to take a pencil case to school when they return

Pupils won’t be allowed to take a pencil cases to school when they return but they can take a lunchbox because children are ‘less likely to share them’, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Speaking at Saturday’s Downing Street briefing, Dr Jenny Harries said that pencil cases were ‘easier to control’ than lunchboxes. She added … Read more

Britain’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer believes she had coronavirus

Britain’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer believes she had coronavirus: Jenny Harries reveals she was ‘knocked out’ during ‘very unpleasant 10 days’ Dr Jenny Harries said she didn’t have some of the respiratory symptoms Said she knew she was unwell and was out of action for around 10 days  Followed advice issues to the whole of … Read more