Were suspended because of threats against staff. Does it matter what mask you wear . We examine the difference between the various makes as one expert suggests we should be double masking. And travel disruption in parts of the north of england and scotland, with some motorists stranded as heavy snow brings chaos. And coming up in sport on bbc news. The government meets with campaigners to discuss the issue of Head Injuries in sport, with concerns over the number of former players being diagnosed with dementia. Good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. Just when the government said it was trying to get on top of one variant the South African Variant Of Coronavirus now comes another one. The kent variant of coronavirus which has been spreading around the uk now appears to be undergoing some new genetic changes and Scientists Say theyre worried. All this as a door to door Testing Blitz of 80,000 people is under way in a number of areas around england, as the government says it wants to Come Down Hard on the spread of the south africa variant. There are calls now for Stricter Border controls to ensure no more cases of the variant are brought into the uk. 0ur Health Correspondent Sophie Hutchinson reports. Kent where it is thought the new bore Infectious Uk variant of coronavirus evolved late last year. Nowjust coronavirus evolved late last year. Now just a few coronavirus evolved late last year. Nowjust a few months on, Scientists Say it has mutated again. The new kate Kent Mutation is called e484k, worrying because it is the same changes seen in the brazilian and South African variant is thought to make vaccines less effective. Effectively what we now have is we have to different variants with both the increased infectious mutation associated with the early kent strain and the increased resistance to vaccine that is associated with the South African strain. Mutations of the virus occur randomly but Scientists Say they are more likely to happen where there are high infection levels, and ensuring as many people as possible are vaccinated is key. Let us get everybody immunised, that makes let us get everybody immunised, that makes a let us get everybody immunised, that makes a huge difference in these variants. Makes a huge difference in these variants, you cant really hold them back variants, you cant really hold them back you variants, you cant really hold them back. You can slow them with Border Controls back. You can slow them with Border Controls but back. You can slow them with Border Controls but all the experience is eventually they arrive. The eventually they arrive. The South African variant continues to cause concern here. These other Testing Centres set up this week to track it down after more than 100 people were discovered to be infected by it in the uk. We have identified those areas where it is prevalent and there are 11 cases that have not been directly linked to travel and our message in those areas has been clear, stay at home, get a test. This Testing Centre in walsall is hoping to pick up any more infections. Of the enhanced testing across england. In the walsall area there has been one isolated case. We hope we have contained it, the individual acted incredibly responsibly, let us hope the chain has been broken. Ensuring people infected with the South African variant minimises contact is vital. Scientists in south africa say they have real concerns about the impact it could have on the current vaccines. I had to say i am very deeply concerned~ i had to say i am very deeply concerned. It i had to say i am very deeply concerned. It is i had to say i am very deeply concerned. It is deeply i had to say i am very deeply concerned. It is deeply concerning that we concerned. It is deeply concerning that we have concerned. It is deeply concerning that we have a concerned. It is deeply concerning that we have a vaccine concerned. It is deeply concerning that we have a Vaccine Result concerned. It is deeply concerning that we have a Vaccine Result that| that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 efficacy that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 efficacy in that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 efficacy in the that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 efficacy in the uk that we have a Vaccine Result that has 89 efficacy in the uk but. That we have a Vaccine Result that. Has 89 efficacy in the uk but only 49 efficacy has 89 efficacy in the uk but only 49 efficacy in has 89 efficacy in the uk but only 49 efficacy in south has 89 efficacy in the uk but only 49 efficacy in south africa. 49 efficacy in south africa. That 49 efficacy in south africa. That should 49 efficacy in south africa. That should be 49 efficacy in south africa. That should be worrying 49 efficacy in south africa. That should be worrying to l 49 efficacy in south africa. That should be worrying to everyone. Home that should be worrying to everyone. Home testing that should be worrying to everyone. Home testing kits that should be worrying to everyone. Home testing kits being that should be worrying to everyone. Home testing kits being dispatched l Home Testing Kits being dispatched in working today. It is too early to know whether this push will catch the new variant in time. Sophie hutchinson, bbc news. 0ur correspondent Frankie Mccamley is in woking. 0ne one of the front lines against the South African variant. We are in a car park next to woking fire station which has become the hub of this operation. An operation while under way, its starting at 8am when 150 volunteers came here to join Police Officers and members of the fire service to get their initial briefing, they came to these red welfare tents, you can see one behind a fire engine, another being blown up as we speak. They came here for an initial briefing. They were given ppe and testing kits. And for door to door testing they did just that, knocking on doors offering anyone over the age of 18 a testing kit. They drop them off this morning. This afternoon they will return to pick them up. 0ver morning. This afternoon they will return to pick them up. Over the next three days they hope to test 9500 people in this area, this area specifically to track down the South African variant because two people have already tested positive. A tiny number but very important because these two people had no association with south africa. Health experts are worried this variant is spreading within the uk. Notjust here, there are other big Testing Projects in london, kent and herefordshire. The main focus, trying to test 80,000 people to stop the spread of this South African virus as quickly as possible. Our medical editor fergus walsh is here. How worried should we be about the news . Viruses evolve, and the reason why we have viruses evolve, and the reason why we have been to woking, and for these we have been to woking, and for these door to door test, is to work out for these door to door test, is to work out for the these door to door test, is to work out for the South African variant whether out for the South African variant whether it out for the South African variant whether it has established itself silently whether it has established itself silently within the community, and trying silently within the community, and trying to silently within the community, and trying to damp back down. Secondly, with the trying to damp back down. Secondly, with the mutation in the kent variant, with the mutation in the kent variant, the aim there is to try to keep variant, the aim there is to try to keep that variant, the aim there is to try to keep that at variant, the aim there is to try to keep that at bay for as long as possible keep that at bay for as long as possible while we have the Immunisation Progress process. We do not Immunisation Progress process. We do not want Immunisation Progress process. We do not want a Immunisation Progress process. We do not want a crucible for different variants do not want a crucible for different variants to do not want a crucible for different variants to mix together and provide a virus variants to mix together and provide a virus that variants to mix together and provide a virus that could evade the vaccine a virus that could evade the vaccine it a virus that could evade the vaccine. It is vital we buy as much time vaccine. It is vital we buy as much time for vaccine. It is vital we buy as much time for the vaccine. It is vital we buy as much time for the millions and millions more time for the millions and millions more people to get immunised. The mutation more people to get immunised. The Mutation E484k is the one that come in tests Mutation E484k is the one that come in tests with novavax and janssen, their vaccine was less effective against their vaccine was less effective against the South African strain, but still against the South African strain, but still very effective against keeping people out of hospital. Ultimately that is the main thing, vaccines ultimately that is the main thing, vaccines seem to be still effective against vaccines seem to be still effective against serious disease. Labour has accused the government of behaving irresponsibly by not introducing Hotel Quarantining for all arrivals from abroad. 0ur political correspondent, damian grammaticas, is in westminster. What does the government say . That they are putting in place an effective policy following scientific advice. What has given this argument added impetus is the roll out of the Vaccine Programme but also the discovery of these South African variant circulating in the uk and the priority to protect the uk and the priority to protect the Vaccine Programme that it can be rolled out to develop immunity around the country without these variants coming in. On top, we have had a report today saying scientists have been advising a couple of weeks ago the only way to keep out variants was either complete Border Closures or hotel quarantine. Today, labour sensing a point of weakness because they have all along said the government was slow to act or inadequate acting. We have had the chair of the Home Affairs Select committee saying the government should be learning from countries that have put in policies a year ago, like australia and south korea, with Hotel Quarantining or output with hotel Quara Ntining or output testing. With Hotel Quarantining or output testing. The Shadow Home Secretary said the government should be bringing in an Airport Quarantine for all arrivals. Bringing in an Airport Quarantine forallarrivals. But bringing in an Airport Quarantine for all arrivals. But the government today saying, no, its policy is a mixture, and is following the scientific advice. The important thing is part of that policy is not yet in place and that is the Airport Hotel quarantining, we do not know yet how that will work, we expect news this week. Nicola sturgeon is preparing to announce whether scotlands lockdown will last beyond the middle of this month. The First Minister is also expected to give details about the reopening of schools and nurseries. 0ur correspondent lorna gordon, is in glasgow. What are you expecting her to say . The authorities here say the Infection Rates in scotland are still high but the lockdown is working and progress has been made in recent weeks. The Scottish Government has met this morning to decide what restrictions might be eased and the timing for that. Schools have been closed here since christmas to all but children of key workers and vulnerable children. The Scottish Government has previously indicated younger children come in nursery and early years and primary school, and those doing their qualifications, would be prioritised in any return. If there was an easing of restrictions, there might be a tightening in other areas to keep Infection Rates low. So look to see whether there is a enhanced Community Testing announced this afternoon, and in schools, and in workplaces where there is a high risk of infection. Also look to see what Nicola Sturgeon says about Nonessential Travel and quarantine in hotels. The Scottish Government has already indicated they do not think the uk government goes far enoughin think the uk government goes far enough in their plans for those hotels. Checks on food arriving at the ports in belfast and larne have been suspended because of fears for the safety of staff working there. The inspections are carried out on goods arriving from the british mainland, under the terms of the brexit deal but grafitti opposing the checks has appeared in some loyalist areas. Chris page is in larne. How worried are the police there . Police are in discussions with Government Agencies and with trade unions to give an assessment of the risk. To put it in context there has been political controversy here over the brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland and the practical outcomes in larne. Since new year there have been checks politically on food arriving from england, scotland and wales because of the part of the brexit deal known as the Northern Ireland protocol which means Northern Ireland remains in the eu Single Market for goods while the rest of the uk has left. Unionist politicians in particular are strongly opposed because they see it as being an economic border in the irish sea. Yesterday, the council here withdrew its staff from Inspection Duties at larne, because of concerns about safety. Graffiti had appeared in town describing them as targets. Staff were suspicious people were gathering personal information like numberplates. The government instalment, it has decided to suspend all physical checks on food here at larne and in belfast airport. We heard from brussels, the European Commission has told officials at the site is not to come into work. At the moment there is no indication loyalist paramilitaries are involved in this intimidation being seen as perhaps an indication of unease within unionist and loyalist communities. The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on myanmar, following a Military Coup in the country. Troops are on the streets of the capital and the biggest city, yangon, where a curfew has been put in place. The army is stationed at key checkpoints around the countrys parliament and the main roads have been blocked. The Main International airport has also been closed down. Jonathan head reports from bangkok. All along the Oversized Boulevards of myanmar� s capital, the soldiers are still making their presence felt, a day after they seized power. Nay pyi taw was built by the military as its own citadel in the days before it allowed myanmar� s democratic experiment to begin. An experiment its now abruptly halted. Somewhere behind these army units, dozens of elected politicians are still being detained. Among them, aung sang suu kyi, whose enduring popularity won her party a third decisive election victory just three months ago. She hasnt been seen since she was detained. In the Main Commercial city of yangon, a stronghold of her party, there were few signs of open opposition to a coup which caught most by surprise. But there is plenty of anger over what many see as a cynical power grab by the burmese generals. Translation i thought the Military Lwould Step back after it happened. L the duty of the military is to protect the country, not to rule it. Translation we can only say we are very sorry about what has happened, but dare not say we do not accept the coup. The new Biden Administration in washington hasjoined a chorus of western disapproval, and threatened new sanctions. The response from myanmar� s neighbours has been more muted notably, from china. Translation china is a friendly neighbour of myanmar. We hope all parties in myanmar will handle their differences under the constitution, and within the legal framework, to maintain political and social stability. With diplomatic cover from china, there is Little International pressure can do to make the military change course. Its coup risks dragging myanmar back to a dark age of repression and international isolation. The generals do not appear to care. Jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. Our top story this lunchtime. Scientists say the kent variant of coronavirus has mutated again, and is showing worrying genetic changes. And the Financial Services watchdog is planning a crackdown on � buy now, pay later� offers in shops amid fears of rising debt. Coming up on bbc News Australia pull out of their cricket tour to south africa next month due to Safety Concerns with a new strain of coronavirus spreading in the country. They say they have no choice but to do this. Hundreds of schools have closed and travel has been disrupted after heavy snow fell across parts of Northern England. It also led to the cancellation of Coronavirus Vaccinations in some areas. The met office has issued an amber weather warning, saying up to six inches of snow could fall on higher ground. Danny savage reports. The snow started before dawn this morning in some areas. 0n the m62 where it climbs over the pennines, a jackknifed lorry blocked the eastbound carriageway on the Greater Manchester side. Despite lighter traffic than normal, there were Numerous Accidents and road closures. The roads, though, was far from empty. This was the view from the cab of a snowplough near huddersfield. You cant clear the roads if you cant get through. A large part of Northern England is affected. The snow is forecast to turn to rain later, but Weather Warnings are in place for herr and scotland until midnight. The hilly roads in leeds proved too much of a challenge for some vehicles. Local authorities across the north appealed to people to stay at home. Those who couldnt get to their Vaccine Appointments were assured they wouldnt miss the opportunity to have their injection. Late morning in this part of North Yorkshire and the unscientific measurement of the snow depth is somewhere around the 11 centimetre mark. Now, normally, this sort of weather would close scores of schools and stop people getting to work. But because of covid restrictions, most pupils are learning at home and most adults arent going anywhere either, so the problems arent as bad as they normally would be. Ok, so hopefully you are looking at my screen at the moment. 0nline Learning means theres no chance of an Old Fashioned snow day for school pupils. Lessons carried on as normal eating into valuable sledging time. This appears to be the most widespread and heaviest snow of the winter so far. Theres the possibility of more to come later this week. Definitely, then, not the weather for unicycles. Danny savage, bbc news. Buy now pay later agreements which let customers borrow interest free in shops are going to be regulated. The financial watchdog says the deals allow people to build up debt too easily and many of them are already in arrears elsewhere. Five Million People in the uk used the arrangements to borrow last year, buying goods worth more than £2. 5 billion. Vivienne nunis reports. Slick marketing and celebrity endorsements promising a Repayment Plan that is hassle free, but the financial regulator isnt convinced. It says there is a significant risk buy now, pay later products could harm vulnerable consumers such as low earners, and they need to be regulated. I didnt have the money in my bank at that point, so i thought, you know what, if i can pay for it in a couple of months, i kind of pushed it to the back of my head. Ive done it numerous times before and ive never had an issue with it, but on this occasion i didnt make the payment in time. Splitting payments at the checkout is present hugely popular. Last year the industry quadrupled in size and is now worth £2. 7 billion a year. The main providers are clearpay, laybuy and swedish firm klarna. Together they have 5 million uk users. Big name retailers such as marks spencer, asos, boohoo, h m andjd sports embraced the products. Unsurprising when one study found nearly a quarter of users spent more than they planned. People will say, right, ive exhausted the credit i can get with one buy now, pay later lender, but it is ok, ill go onto the next one. And so it is pretty easy, even though perhaps each lender is only extending £200 or £300 in credit each, it is pretty easy as a consumer to rack up something much more like £1000. Missed payments can lead to debt collectors getting involved, but the lenders say they offer a cheaper alternatives to credit cards or overdrafts. We already have in place robust Eligibility Checks and additional affordability checks to make sure that consumers are protected. I think, that said, there is more that we can do across the industry. We are working with the credit reference agencies, for example, to ensure that there is visibility of buy now, pay later products across all providers. Some consumers have decided it is simpler to pay upfront. Now if i want to buy something, i know i have got the money for it and i prefer to just pay it outstanding, just so i dont have that, i dont know, that debt that idea that i have got to owe something. There is pressure on the government to act quickly, given the speed with which this predominantly younger market is growing. Vivienne nunis, bbc news. Face coverings are compulsory in shops or on public transport here in the uk and in many other countries. But around the world, there is differing advice about which masks offer the best protection. 0ur science editor, david shukman, has been looking at the range of masks on offer, and the Science Behind them. All over the world, people are now covering their faces in a million different ways. There is a lot of choice about what type to wear, and in some countries the advice is changing, as we learn more about how the virus spreads. So what are the options . Well, a home made Face Covering is the simplest and cheapest and it was promoted in 2020 because of worries about shortages of professional masks that medics desperately needed. This one is made from an old t shirt, its got three layers so should do a reasonable job of stopping any virus that i might release, which really matters, because up to one in three people may be infected without even realising. And to make it more effective, theres the idea of doubling up, having two coverings, one on top of the other, because that gives you more layers to stop the virus getting through. So if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on. Itjust makes common sense that it likely would be more effective. We saw a lot of these double masks on Inauguration Day in washington. They are not recommended by the Us Government or by the world health organization, but they are catching on. Next up in quality is the surgical mask. These are water resistant so if someone coughs right at you, the virus should be blocked. They should provide you with some good protection, and others around you, but they dont fit very well, there are gaps at the side that tiny Virus Particles called aerosols could get through. You can see how that happens in these lab tests. They show how air and aerosols can escape from around the masks. So to guard against that there are better grades of mask. They are called n95 in the us or ffp2 or ffp3 in the uk. In austria, they are now required on buses and in other public areas, while in germany elderly people have been given them for going shopping. These have a much closer fit, no gaps, which means you should be safer, but they are a lot more expensive. All the adults in the uk we have no protected almost nine out of ten people over 80 and a half of people in their 70s. I am delighted to be have been able to visit every eligible care home, 10300 and total. I want to thank everyone involved in that including the nhs, our dedicated staff and social care, and residents forthcoming for want and pay tribute to the Minister Of State for care who has what so hard to help us meet this ambitious target. I know many of us are playing our part and the National Vaccination effort and today we have published a new resource that provides more information on the vaccine roll out and how all colleagues can play such and how all colleagues can play such an important part and increasingly the take up of the vaccine and their area because the take up of this vaccine go directly impact how effective the vaccines are and how fast we can safely get out of this. We are confident we have the supplies to meet our targets to offer the vaccine to the four most vulnerable groups by the 15th Of February and we know have over 1 00 million doses on order including a0 million doses on order including a0 million doses on order including a0 million doses ordered yesterday. That we find ourselves in this position is no accident. 0ur position is no accident. Our strategy has been to invest early and at risk. We backed many horses no matter where they were from and also built up our Vaccine Manufacturing Capability here at home. As a result today be have the astrazeneca tab manufactured in oxford and staffordshire, the vax and teesside and also in livingston in scotland, a great example of what we can achieve together. Despite this optimistic backdrop we must continue to act with caution. Not least because of the renewed challenges posed by new variants of the coronavirus. We have found here 105 cases of the invariant first identified in south africa including 11 cases which do not appear to have any links to international travel. As with invariant first identified in the uk that is, no evidence to suggest it is any more severe but we have to come down on it hard. 0ur have to come down on it hard. Our mission must be to stop its spread altogether and break those chains of transmission. In those areas where this variant has been found parts of london, maidstone, warsaw and woking we are putting an extra testing and sequencing every possible test, working with local authorities going door to door to test everyone in those areas and Mobile Testing Units will be deployed Offering Tests to people who have to leave their homes for work or other essential reasons. We have also seen 11 cases of mutations of concern in bristol and 32 and liverpool and are taking the same approach. In all these areas it is imperative that people must stay at home and only leave home at is absolutely essential. When your local authority offers you a taste you should take up the offer because we know that our own one and three people with coronavirus have no symptoms but can still pass it on. We are Offering Testing to everyone aged 16 and over even if you have been vaccinated and a few 11 one of those areas but have not been contacted and an assured if you have a taste i encourage you to visit your local Authority Website to find out. Anyone who must leave home to go to a workplace should get tested. All local employers should encourage their workers to get tested and the message as more than ever to stay at home and maintain social distancing and get tested. Across the whole country we are expanding Workplace Testing including here in parliament itself. This morning we visited the new Covid Testing Site in parliament which offers all those who work here these chance to get tested. I took a test this morning, thankfully negative. It is quick and easy and you get the result fast and i encourage colleagues who have to be here in person to do the same. For all of us no matter really level we need to continue to follow those rules because whilst more scientific work is under way to learn more we know with absolute certainty that social distancing works. It denies the virus the social contacted needs to spread. We must all keep at it. We have sacrificed too much and come so far with the vaccine to give it up so far with the vaccine to give it up now and i know we will not. And closing whilst we have been working Night And Day to fight can i have often drawn inspiration from our fight against another Killer Pandemic of hiv, a disease that also took many people before their time and this is hiv test week to remind us of how important it is to get your free hiv test but also a reminder of the progress we have made tackling that terrible pandemic that we can credible commit to no new transmissions by the end of this decade and today i am sure the whole house willjoin me in wishing lord Norman Fowler a very happy 80th birthday. He was in inspirational form than health secretary, a fearless advocate for tackling hiv and knows the importance of tackling early and the power of testing. As we face these difficult weeks we can draw inspiration from that great struggle that even iam i am grateful to the Secretary Of State for advanced sight of his statement. Can i thank you mr speakerfor statement. Can i thank you mr speaker for putting statement. Can i thank you mr speakerfor putting in place facilities for testing on the estate. We are extremely grateful for that initiative. I also extend my best wishes to the lord speaker as well on his birthday today. The news that the South African variant has been identified in eight different local