Coronavirus
Council secures more testing kits for Birmingham COVID hotspots
Birmingham City Council has secured almost 30,000 additional lateral flow testing kits following a successful door-to-door operation in COVID hotspots across the city. Three quarters of the 80,000 rapid testing kits supplied by the Department of Health and Social Care when Birmingham became an area of enhanced support on 14 June have now been distributed…
Birmingham COVID testing to be increased in Alum Rock to suppress South African variant
COVID-19 testing is to be increased in two Birmingham wards in order to monitor and suppress the South African variant, Birmingham City Council has announced. Extensive surveillance of COVID-19 has identified one case of the COVID-19 variant first discovered in South Africa within the Alum Rock and Glebe Farm & Tile Cross wards.
Valentine weekend rave at ‘The Covid Arms’ with 150 drinkers raided in Jewellery Quarter
An illegal makeshift nightclub nicknamed ‘The Covid Arms’ – constructed for a Valentine weekend of revelry with DJ, bar and VIP lounge area – was raided by police in the early hours of Sunday in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Police were pelted by the angry revelers as the crowd tried to escape the building in Buckingham…
Police warn public not to break lockdown to attend planned protest in Birmingham tomorrow
West Midlands Police have urged people not to attend a protest in Birmingham tomorrow while providing zero details as to what the protest is about, who is behind it or when and where it is even taking place. In a vague statement issues earlier today, the force said: “We’re aware of a planned protest taking place…
BBC launches Wolverhampton radio station to help people through latest lockdown
The BBC is to launch new temporary local output in Wolverhampton as the country continues to deal with the COVID crisis. BBC Radio Wolverhampton and will provide more localised news and information to people living in the West Midlands city. It follows the launch of BBC Radio Bradford, which began broadcasting last month.
Police defend decision to fine Birmingham pub bombings campaigners £200 for attending memorial
Police in the West Midlands have defended a decision to fine campaigners attending a memorial to the Birmingham pub bombings for breaching coronavirus restrictions. Six people were issued with fixed penalty notices after attending the event last November, including Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 attack.
New police measures could land individuals £6,400 fine for breaking lockdown restrictions
As the nation’s third lockdown in less than a year is underway, police forces across the country have received revised government’s regulations to enforce COVID-19 safety restrictions on the public, with maximum fines of up to £6,400 per person. Although there has been confusion at times during the previous two lockdowns as to who can be out and about, as…
Supermarkets urged to step up COVID-19 safety measures as virus infections surge
West Midlands council leaders are calling on supermarkets and businesses that remain open during this national lockdown to step-up their COVID-19 safety measures to help combat the surge of infections With cases continuing to rise across the region and the UK entering a new lockdown, people are now required to stay at home except for…
Lockdown January 2021: What are the new tougher national restrictions and rules?
As Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces a new lockdown for England to be enforced from Tuesday, what exactly are the updated restrictions? According to the latest government statement, the lockdown – beginning today and potentially ending in March with restrictions lifting slowly from mid-February – is similar the first one enforced across England in March last year, but with…
PM Boris Johnson announces third national lockdown amid surge in coronavirus cases
A new lockdown for England will be enforced from midnight, the UK Prime Minister has announced. In a bid to curb the continued and increasing spread of COVID-19, everyone in the country must stay at home except for especially permitted reasons, according to a statement from Boris Johnson this evening.