restrictions in england. the nhs under strain from coronavirus more trusts in england declare critical incidents and 17 hospitals in greater manchester put some non urgent surgery on hold. scotland s first minister nicola sturgeon is due to address parliament later today as covid cases continue to rise. there s a growing backlash in australia after tennis star novak djokovic is allowed to enter the country without a confirmed covid vaccination, to defend his australian open title. ajudge in new york is considering whether to dismiss a civil case accusing prince andrew of sexual assault. he s said he ll reveal his decision pretty soon . and in a rain affected fourth ashes test, england s bowlers battled hard to try to restore some pride against australia. though, good morning. hello. the government is looking to change the rules on covid tests in england to ease staffing shortages by reducing self isolation periods. under the plans if you test positive on a lateral f
Everyone to take measures to reduce the spread of covid during the christmas period as part of a let s stay safe this festive season campaign. to talk about this and winter pressures on the nhs i m joined by gp, dr ellie cannon. doctor cannon, thank you for your time today. let s pick up on the subject of staff illness. we were looking at staff absences due to a covid in acute hospital trust. how much is affecting gp practices? well, to give you the experience for my own gp practice, we have three health care professionals currently isolating with positive pcr tests. thankfully, they are all well, although they are at home, so they are actually able to work, to font patients from home and that is just one example and i m sure that is replicated around the country. hope replicated around the country. how about the campaign then? let s stay safe this festive season. i presume thatis safe this festive season. i presume that is a message you are, whatever the nature of your appointment,
Morning it s wed it s nine o clock here are the bbc news headlines for you if you test positive on a lateral flow and don t feel ill the government s finalising plans to drop the requirement in england that you need to get a pcr to confirm it. they re the teams are looking at testing and testing regimes. we have introduced so many lateral flow tests now that people are, they are very accurate, lateral flow tests. it will mean that lateral flow tests are as good as pcr tests. let me know what you think of the idea, just dealt with staff shortages and self isolation. borisjohnson will ask his top team to back his decision not to impose any further covid
Tell us more about these plans to essentially treat a lateral flow tests as good as pcr tests. there are a few meetings tests as good as pcr tests. there are a few meetings in tests as good as pcr tests. there are a few meetings in whitehall. are a few meetings in whitehall today, the cabinet meeting, the covid operations committee meeting and there are discussions at various levels above various things but one of those discussions is about changing guidance when it comes to testing. at the moment of the rules are if you have symptoms you go and get a pcr test and then isolate if it is positive. lots of people are doing lateral flow tests when they don t have symptoms. the guidance for that is if you get a little red line for a positive lateral flow test then you should get that backed up test then you should get that backed up with a confirmatory pcr test and isolate if you are positive. it s the second part that will change. ministers will say you do not have to get a pcr test to