Youre watching bbc news with me, tim willcox. The latest headlines at 2. A warning of mounting pressure on hospitals and staff by the head of nhs england i think the facts are very clear and i am not going to sugar coat them. Hospitals are under extreme pressure. And staff are under extreme pressure. Mass vaccinations begin at another ten centres in england from tomorrow as the foreign secretary lays out the governments targets for the rollout. The Adult Population, entire Adult Population we want to have been offered a firstjab by september. And the government moves to head off a rebellion by backbench mps, who could support a labour proposal to extend the temporary £20 a week
increase in universal credit. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. The head of the National Health service in england has warned the service has never been in a more precarious position. Outlining the extreme pressures facing the nhs, Sir Simon Stevens said a new patient was being admitted into hospital with coronavirus every 30 seconds. The good news is four times as many people are now being vaccinated in england as are contracting covid with 140 people being given the jab every minute. In the last hour, the health secretary, matt hancock tweeted that more than half of the over 80s have been given at least one dose of the vaccine. Another ten new Vaccination Centres have been unveiled by the government, and will be operational from tomorrow. Speaking to the bbc, the foreign secretary, dominic raab said he hoped all adults in england would be offered the vaccine by september. Lets get the latest from our health correspondentjim reed. The pressure on hospitals this winter shows no sign of easing up. The person in charge of the nhs in england said the service is now in the most precarious position in its 72 year history. Since christmas day, weve seen another 15,000 increase in the in patients in hospitals across england. Thats the equivalent of filling 30 hospitals full of coronavirus patients. And staggeringly, every 30 seconds across england, another patient is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus. New figures show of the 100,000 nhs workers off sick in england last week,
half either had the virus or were self isolating. Tomorrow, this Vaccination Centre at blackburn cathedral will open, offering thousands ofjabs a day to nhs staff, as well as care workers and those over 80 all by invitation only at this stage. We felt it would be really appropriate to offer this space up as a place where people could come and feel safe and secure. A place that they know. Its one of ten new regional Vaccination Centres opening across england next week. As well as blackburn, sites are in taunton, st helens and bournemouth, and theres slough, norwich, wickford in essex, lincolnshire, york and wembley in london. Theyjoin the existing seven sites already opened in places from manchester, in the north west, to surrey, in the south east. Large vaccination hubs are already open across wales, scotland and Northern Ireland, with many more planned. Its part of a uk wide drive to vaccinate the 15 Million People most at risk from the disease by the middle of next month, with all adults in england offered
the jab by september. There are some early signs that lockdown measures might be working, and infections are starting to fall back in some places. It is more positive news, but will take time to be reflected in hospital admissions, meaning the pressure on nhs services is likely to continue for weeks to come. Jim reed, bbc news. Lets talk to the gp, dr ellie cannon, who practices in london. Thank you forjoining us, how is it going, how many people, how smoothly . It going, how many people, how smoothly . Going, how many people, how smoothl . ,. , , smoothly . It is going very well, my ractise is smoothly . It is going very well, my practise is involved smoothly . It is going very well, my practise is involved in smoothly . It is going very well, my practise is involved in a smoothly . It is going very well, my practise is involved in a primary practise is involved in a primary care network, with our own vaccination hub in north london. Yesterday morning alone between nine and onepm, we vaccinated 400
patients, very smoothly, very quickly, all elderly patients who are vulnerable. That was with the astrazeneca vaccine, we have had more arrive this week, so, it is going very well, in general practise. It going very well, in general practise going very well, in general ractise. ,. , practise. It is interesting though, because a couple practise. It is interesting though, because a couple of practise. It is interesting though, because a couple of days practise. It is interesting though, because a couple of days ago practise. It is interesting though, because a couple of days ago we | practise. It is interesting though, because a couple of days ago we were looking at shortages of vaccines in different parts of the country, and the east of england only 29 of over 80s had vaccine, 31 in london, 46 over the east and north east and yorkshire, are you saying that as far as your supply chain is concerned there are no problems . H0. Concerned there are no problems . No, absolutel concerned there are no problems . Iifr, absolutely not. In fact, on friday, i tweeted about the fact that our supply that we were expecting had not arrived and it in fact arrived 24 hours later, there does seem to be a lot of inconsistencies round the country and that is partly due to supply and distribution, but it is also to do with workforce, and
the number of people who can be mobilised to vaccinate, these vaccination programmes particularly in primary care do take a lot of personnel, the patients who we need to get vaccinated now cannot be texted or e mailed on mass, they are often vulnerable, frail people who only have a land line. Each patient needs to be phoned and booked it. It takes a lot of time so all of these different parts of the journey do make them to be inconsistencies round the country. I5 make them to be inconsistencies round the country. Make them to be inconsistencies round the country. Is there any mix u. Round the country. Is there any mix up bureaucratically. Round the country. Is there any mix up bureaucratically. Some round the country. Is there any mix up bureaucratically. Some people l round the country. Is there any mix up bureaucratically. Some people i| up bureaucratically. Some people i know of my mothers generation for example are getting communicated with from their gp then have a Vaccination Centre and there doesnt seem to be anyjoined up thinking, is that happening where you are . There isjoined up thinking because it all comes from the gp computers, from the nhs system, so we know who is around and who is in the vulnerable age group. But because
not all gps surgeries are offering the vaccination, or because sometimes there may be delay in inputting the data a patient has had the vaccination, they may also get a National Letter to ask them to sign up National Letter to ask them to sign up to a vaccination hub, so we are just saying to patients if you have been vaccinated ignore the letter if you have been vaccinated we are trying to make sure everybody is included. D0 trying to make sure everybody is included. ,. ,. ,. , trying to make sure everybody is included. ,. , included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you ring included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you ring up included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you ring up and included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you ring up and say included. Do you have a reserve list . Do you ring up and say you might want to try now, if you live locally, very locally. Yes might want to try now, if you live locally, very locally. Locally, very locally. Yes we do, that is more locally, very locally. Yes we do, that is more relevant locally, very locally. Yes we do, that is more relevant for locally, very locally. Yes we do, that is more relevant for a locally, very locally. Yes we do, | that is more relevant for a pfizer vaccination, because they do have to be used up quickly. Less so with astrazeneca, because that can just sort of go back in to the fridge but there are often some spare doses at there are often some spare doses at the end of the vial and yes, we do have back up lists, often health
care professionals, who are eligible for vaccinations and can get to the surgery very quickly, but we also have patients locally, who can be mobilised very quickly and that is one of the beauties of operating this Service Within general practise, we know our patients, we often know where they li, we know how mobile they are. Often know where they li, we know how mobile they are. Have you had to throw any of how mobile they are. Have you had to throw any of the how mobile they are. Have you had to throw any of the pfizer how mobile they are. Have you had to throw any of the Pfizer Vaccines throw any of the Pfizer Vaccines away . Throw any of the Pfizer Vaccines awa . ,. , throw any of the Pfizer Vaccines awa . ,. , ,. , throw any of the Pfizer Vaccines awa . ,. ,. , away . No, i am very proud of the fact in our away . No, i am very proud of the fact in our vaccination away . No, i am very proud of the fact in our vaccination hub away . No, i am very proud of the fact in our vaccination hub we away . No, i am very proud of the| fact in our vaccination hub we have not thrown away a single dose. Every vaccination goes into an arm. Vaccination goes into an arm. Look, aood luck vaccination goes into an arm. Look, good luck with vaccination goes into an arm. Look, good luck with the vaccination goes into an arm. Look, good luck with the next vaccination goes into an arm. Look, good luck with the next few vaccination goes into an arm. Look, good luck with the next few week, | good luck with the next few week, weeks and months, thank you very much indeed forjoining us on bbc news. Airports are to be offered Financial Support in england, as the government closes travel corridors in the uk from tomorrow. Up to £8 million will be available to help airports cover costs such as business rates. Heres our business
correspondent, katy austin. From tomorrow, nearly all arrivals to the uk will have to quarantine for ten days because the travel corridor system will be suspended. Its another blow for travel and tourism. Last night, the aviation minister acknowledged the impact tighter restrictions would have and said a pre planned grant scheme for airports in england will open within the next fortnight. The airports trade body says this was welcome, but with traffic still extremely low, more support would be needed. We understand that it will be a grant towards fixed costs such as business rates, and it will be equivalent to business rates, but up to about 8 million. So, very, very useful for a number of our airports. But clearly, for some of the very large airports, its actually quite a small amount financially. Heathrow, they pay 120 million a year in business rates. The government has said the enforcement of quarantine will now be stepped up. Temporary stricter self isolation
rules have been in place before. Early last year, some travellers returning from wuhan in china were housed in nhs hospital facilities after police escorts. Today, the foreign secretary was asked if the government would now require arrivals to quarantine in hotels. I think there is a challenge in its workability, its deliverability, but we need to look at that very carefully, youre right, based on the experience of other countries. I dont accept that weve been too slow in this. Were broadly the same pace in terms of canada and germany. Obviously, well keep other potential measures under review, but theyve got to be workable. A requirement for travellers to show a negative covid test before travelling to the uk also kicks in tomorrow. The travel industry accepts the Public Health need for tighter rules, but it says a pathway out of the crisis needs to be mapped out. Katy austin, bbc news. A group of Business Leaders has written to the treasury and the department for transport calling on the government to offer
Financial Support to eurostar, which has been threatened by a large drop in passenger numbers. The International Rail service has transported more than 190 million passengers between the uk and mainland europe since 1994. Eurostar has said without additional funding from government there is a real risk to the survival of the service. The government says it has been engaging extensively with eurostar since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to support the safe restart of international travel. All 50 us states are on alert for possible violent protests this weekend, ahead of president electjoe bidens inauguration on wednesday. Members of the National Guard are patrolling the streets around the capitol in washington, following the storming of the building by supporters of president trump. So far, there have been none of the mass protests that had been feared. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. America on high alert like never before. The Nations Capital has been turned into a fortress, with security worthy of a warzone. The National Guard has been deployed to try to ensure a smooth transition of power Whenjoe Biden is inaugurated on wednesday. In the meantime, theres concern that armed supporters of donald trump may try to stage more protests, still refusing to accept the result of the election. The capitol building, which was stormed by a mob earlier this month, is now surrounded by a high fence, and the city is under lockdown. Its a place in our history that im sad that weve come to. American troops should not have to be armed against their fellow americans. But what we saw was an unprecedented attack on our democracy in the cradle of that democracy. By wednesday, 25,000 troops will be in the capital to try to keep the peace. The goal is to try to prevent
a repeat of the attack that led to mr trump being impeached for a second time, on a charge of incitement of insurrection. He now faces a trial in the senate. The fbi has warned Police Agencies around the country that state capitals could be the target of further protests in the coming days. A state of emergency has already been declared in maryland, new mexico and utah. State by state, members of the National Guard are being deployed overfears that extremists may infiltrate planned protests. In minnesota, armed guards are stationed at the state capitol, which has already been descended upon by protesters. In california, near the capital city sacramento, riot police are patrolling outside the home of the state governor, gavin newsom. In some cities around the country the post office has removed letterboxes from the streets as part of the security clamp down. Away from the fray, for now, as he prepares to take office,
joe biden has been to church and it has been revealed that within hours of moving into the white house, he will sign executive orders to reverse some of Donald Trumps key policies. They include rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and scrapping a travel ban on several predominantly muslim countries. But this is a nation on edge, holding its breath for the days ahead. Peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. The russian opposition activist, alexei navalny, is flying back to russia this afternoon, following his treatment for novichok poisoning in germany. He was taken ill on a flight from siberia to moscow in august, and doctors in berlin subsequently found he had come into contact with the nerve agent. Mr navalny is expected to be arrested upon his arrival in russia for breaching the terms of a suspended sentence. The uk government is moving to head off a rebellion by backbench mps, who could support a labour proposal to extend the temporary £20 a week
increase in universal credit. tx the chancellor introduced the rise last april, the chancellor introduced the rise last april, as the pandemic hitjobs and family finances, but it is due to run out in march. Conservative mps have been told to abstain on labours vote tommorrow. The foreign secretary has said this morning that the uplift was always a temporary measure. Lets discuss this further with mike brewer chief economist at the resolution foundation, a think tank focused on improving Living Standards for people on low to middle incomes. Thank you forjoining us here, i mean, politicaland thank you forjoining us here, i mean, political and economic arguments here, it is an opposition day debate, so, it is not binding, there is no statutory result to the debate tomorrow but let us look at the economics because since the pandemic, there has been this broadening, wealth gap hasnt there. Some families have saved during the pandemic, and others it has cost
them more, talk us through your research on that subject. Them more, talk us through your research on that subject. Research on that subect. Well, yes, that is absolutely research on that subject. Well, yes, that is absolutely right, research on that subject. Well, yes, that is absolutely right, so, research on that subject. Well, yes, that is absolutely right, so, across l that is absolutely right, so, across the economy, many households have been spending less this year, because there has been less opportunity to go out and spend things on sort of luxuries and social expenditure, but if you are at the bottom testify Income Distribution and you dont really have the money to spare, to spend on going out, going on holidays, and we find in our research, that while saving has been a common feature at the top of the Income Distribution at the bottom it is more likely people are running down their savings or increasing their debt just to get by this year. And savings or increasing their debt just to get by this year. And how much difference just to get by this year. And how much difference does just to get by this year. And how much difference does that just to get by this year. And how much difference does that £20 l just to get by this year. And howl much difference does that £20 up lift make . ~. ~ , much difference does that £20 up lift make . ~. , ~ ,. , lift make . Well it makes a huge difference. Lift make . Well it makes a huge difference, it lift make . Well it makes a huge difference, it is lift make . Well it makes a huge difference, it is £6 lift make . Well it makes a huge difference, it is £6 billion lift make . Well it makes a huge difference, it is £6 billion of difference, it is £6 billion of income for some the poorest Families Income for some the poorest families in our society, we went into this crisis with a not very generous welfare system, the basic rate you
get if you are unemployed was £75 week so you put 20 a week on that and that is a sizeable increase, when when we get to april this year, the crisis will not be over, the, we expect unemployment to rise next year, even with the vaccine roll out, because theJob Retention scheme will come an end and millions on that will fall on to unemployment benefit. � ,. ,. , benefit. And the people who will be takin benefit. And the people who will be taking universal benefit. And the people who will be taking universal credit benefit. And the people who will be taking universal credit will benefit. And the people who will be taking universal credit will be benefit. And the people who will be taking universal credit will be in taking universal credit will be in those jobs which taking universal credit will be in thosejobs which are taking universal credit will be in those jobs which are more at risk, it goes without saying. Yes. Those jobs which are more at risk, it goes without saying. Those jobs which are more at risk, it goes without saying. Yes, so we talked a lot it goes without saying. Yes, so we talked a lot about it goes without saying. Yes, so we talked a lot about the it goes without saying. Yes, so we talked a lot about the furlough talked a lot about the furlough scheme this year and that has been crucial at preventing unemployment but for those who werent able to benefit from the Job Retention scheme, who lost theirjob instead, universal credit has been absolutely vital, and we know that the impact of the pandemic has been to hit younger worker, those in certain sectors, harderthan younger worker, those in certain sectors, harder than before and we know that hospitality and leisure
are not ready for the new inflow of wokkers at the end of march and crisis will carry on beyond that. There is some suggestion the chancellor is thinking of a one off £500 payment. What would your response be to that . I £500 payment. What would your response be to that . £500 payment. What would your response be to that . I think there are two points. Response be to that . I think there are two points, one response be to that . I think there are two points, one is response be to that . I think there are two points, one is that response be to that . I think there are two points, one is that £500 i response be to that . I think there l are two points, one is that £500 is half as much as families would get the £20 a week were carried on all year, the second point is the crisis is no yet over and although theJob Retention scheme is carrying on, it is also due to end in april, and there are several million families on that, and we expect many of those to become unemployed so indeed the governments official forecast thinks that unemployment will rise ijy thinks that unemployment will rise by 800,000 people during next financial year. So the £500 is given out in april that will be worth nothing for the 800 thousand people who will become unemployed later on. You are carrying out regular studies into the issue, universal credit of
course had a difficult birth, politically it wasnt wanted when it was first introduced, there were a lot of teething programme, but where, where does support for the unemployed at the moment stand, in terms of proportion or in terms of Living Standards, from what it was before the era of universal credit . Well, i think the first thing to say is that universal credit performed very well at the start of the crisis, back in late march, 2020, there was unprecedented numbers of people claiming universal credit, far beyond what any of the designers would have imagined, and although there were small delays the system coped and we coped better than other countries and it proved very successful in getting money out quickly to people who need it most. I mean since then, what our researchers show, we have been speaking to people who have been claiming universal credit for the first time, is that many of those who are on universal credit never expected to become unemployed, never
expected to become unemployed, never expected to become unemployed, never expected to are lie on benefits and they were surprised to find out how little they would be getting and thatis little they would be getting and that is after the £20 a week extra. Thank you very much indeed for joining us here on bbc news. Cornwall has been chosen to host the leaders of some of the worlds biggest economies for the g7 summit injune. The seaside town of carbis bay will be the venue for discussions on debt, Climate Change and post covid recovery. Incoming us President Joe Biden is expected to attend the event, along with leaders from canada, japan and the eu. The headlines on bbc news. A warning of mounting pressure on hospitals and staff by the head of nhs england. Mass vaccinations begin at another ten centres
in england from tomorrow, as the foreign secretary pledges every adult in the uk will be offered a first dose by september. The government moves to head off a rebellion by backbench mps, who could support a labour proposal to extend the temporary £20 a week increase in universal credit. The number of coronavirus deaths in france has now exceeded 70,000. Britain and italy are the only European Countries with a higher number of deaths. All of france is now under a 6pm curfew, advancing the earlier restrictions by two hours. Daniel wittenberg has more. The shutters came down early on the Champs Elysees and deserted streets all over france, as the country met another unwelcome coronavirus milestone. At the start of the pandemic, president Emmanuel Macron said the nation was in combat with an invisible enemy. Since then, with more than 70,000 casualties, frances death rate has been higher than on the battlefields of the second world war. Its latest strategy in the battle to curb infections, the curfew has been brought forward by two hours to 6pm for the whole country for at least the next fortnight. The number of positive tests has hit 20,000 a day and the extension is being received with relative approval. Translation i am not an expert| but i suppose if so many scientists agree on the curfew, it must mean its effective. Translation well, as a parent, i think 6pm isnt a problem. Its bath time so we will be heading home. But ill probably change my mind on monday when the working week starts again. While people will be able to travel after hours for work and urgent appointments, its more bad news for shops. Parisien optician mickael levy called on the government not to lose sight
of businesses needs. Translation this is yet another restriction and once again, it is a loss of revenue for us. We need to reorganise our staffing and we dont know how we will get financial help for that. In the daytime, the fairly rare spectacle of snow coating the french capital provided light relief for some, though with hospital admissions continuing to rise and concern over new variants of the virus, it seems there is still a long winter ahead. Daniel wittenberg, bbc news. The government is planning new laws to give protection to historic statues in england. The communities secretary, robertjenrick, says monuments which have stood for generations shouldnt be in his words removed on a whim or at the behest of a baying mob. The legislation would require planning permission for any changes and a government minister would be able to veto the move. From bristol, jon kay reports. It was one of the key moments of 2020. In bristol, the toppling of Edward Colstons statue last summer. A 17th century slave trader thrown into the citys harbour. As the figure was recovered and restored, a debate ensued across the uk about how we memorialise controversial figures from our past. And now the governments planning new laws to protect statues in england, with planning permission and Public Consultation required before they can be removed by local people or councils. Writing in todays sunday telegraph, the communities secretary, robertjenrick, says. Critics question whether changing the law like this would really make
a difference, and whether it would stop impulsive moments of protest. In the last few months, the future of statues across the country has been challenged, from cecil rhodes in oxford, sir Francis Drake in plymouth, Sir Winston Churchill in parliament square. The governments plans will be outlined inside parliament tomorrow. Jon kay, bbc news. Winter in rome means starling season, when up to four million birds gather in the italian capital on their migration from europe to africa. Their murmerations in the skies are beautiful but their droppings create a hazard, and the city authorities are trying new methods to move them on. Heres our rome correspondent, mark lowen. In the roman twilight, natures great dancers flock to the stage. The acrobatic twirls like wisps of smoke. A synchronised spectacle of breathtaking beauty. The starlings migrate in winter south to africa. Nesting at night in central rome for warmth, flying in formation to avoid predators. A murmuration, its called, and this city of art marvels at the show. But beneath their charm, rome is rotting, and its a hell of a mess. In the cold light of day, the other side of these gorgeous birds is clear, and for those unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, its not exactly sightly,
it can be a safety hazard, and i can tell you that even with the mask, the stench is rancid. I slipped on the droppings when it was muddy, this man says. The world has invented everything, just not bird underpants. Beside the ancient forum, a new attempt to try and solve the problem. City officials shining lasers onto trees, which the birds dislike, prompting them to move on. The project is focused on romes tourist heart in a bid to clean up its image. Translation this doesnt cause the birds any stress. It is more like a nuisance for them. I do this work, but im actually a nature lover. We are not stopping them from sleeping. We are just telling them to find another location. And it works. This tree used to be completely full and now there are about 10 of what there were. Even the starling fans seem supportive. I personally love to see them,
like its amazing, but as long as it is not hurting the birds, i think its a good system. While the lasers are harmless, fireworks are not. This last new years eve here, starlings were caught and killed by the firecrackers, pictures going viral. Not managing the issue can end in tragedy. In ancient rome, the starlings were seen to auger the gods wishes. Centuries on, these dazzling creatures keep visiting. How man and nature can coexist is the eternal problem of the eternal city. Mark lowen, bbc news, rome. Let us show you some pictures coming
in of the mr navalny. This is five months after a near fatal poise nipping with novichock, he is flying here with a lot of media that you can see as well. He is flying back to moscow from berlin, russian authorities, have announced that he is on wanted list, for allegedly violating the terms of suspended sentence from seven years ago, and he is calling that political prosecution, so the Prison Service in moscow says it has an order to take measures to arrest him, when establishing his whereabouts so extraordinary navelly and his wife flying back to moscow following his near fatal poisoning five months ago. More on that as get it. Some weather, darren. What we are seeing today more cloud
coming in from the atlantic, so, the sunshine has turned hazey, we have thicker cloud in the north west, it is turning wetter in Northern Ireland and particularly western scotland, we close out with temperatures of six to eight degree, into this evening and it will be wet for a while across scotland and Northern Ireland, before it turns more showery, some of the cloud and showers will push down into england and wales, a bit of a breeze overnight, shouldnt get too cold, for many temperatures will be just above freezing, just a risk of a touch of frost here and there, and some icy patch, got a line of rain tomorrow, here across southern scotland for a while. It does turn more showery further north, wintriness over the hill, the odd shower after a bright start elsewhere but it clouds over quickly from the south west. We get rain as well. Misany the south west. Sign of things to come because it will be wet overnight into tuesday and wednesday, some heavy rain across england and wales, main areas of concern covers the southern pennines, northern Peak District for
the likes of manchester, leeds and sheffield, there could be flooding in particular