BBC News

Newspaper headlines: Vulnerable 'to be told to shield' and 'northern fury'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionHundreds of thousands of vulnerable people face being told to stay at home this winter as ministers plan to resume shielding in infection hotspots, reports the Times. The paper says advice for clinically vulnerable people to avoid others could be included in the top tier of the government's simplified local lockdown system, which are set to be announced next week.
image captionHowever, the Guardian reports that scientists advising the government believe those new measures do not go far enough, as well as their concerns that "fringe" anti-lockdown epidemiologists are gaining too much attention. The paper says members of Sage believe a potential shutdown of hospitality venues in northern England and the Midlands is unlikely to bring infections down to a manageable level.
image captionThe Metro reports that the new three-tier system of local coronavirus restrictions are set to involve a shut-down of pubs, bars and restaurants as well as a ban on families meeting in eachother's homes. But the paper says regional leaders are "furious" with the government, after the plans were apparently leaked without consulting them first.
image caption"Northern fury" is the front-page headline on the Daily Mirror, which reflects the fears of "angry" pub and restaurant bosses that new lockdown measures in the north of England will cause mass closures. The paper quotes one pub owner as saying: "It's disgusting."
image captionBut the Daily Express reports on a poll it carried out, that found the majority of the public support tougher anti-virus measures to stem the rise in cases. Some 60% of respondents backed stricter measures, the paper says.
image captionMeanwhile, the NHS is encouraging those without Covid symptoms to access help at hospitals and GPs during the second wave of the pandemic if they need it, the Daily Telegraph reports. It comes amid fears that thousands of patients were unable or unwilling to access help during the first wave of the pandemic.
image captionOn the same theme, the Daily Mail reports that more than 110,000 people have been waiting over a year for treatment, laying bare the full impact of the lockdown on medical care. According to the paper, the number has increased almost 100-fold since February - the month before the Covid lockdown - when it stood at just over 1,100 people.
image captionEasyJet has urged the government to further prop up the travel industry as the low-cost airline went into the red for the first time in its 25-year history, reports the Financial Times. EasyJet's losses soared to more than £800m this year amid plunging passenger demand during the pandemic.
image captionAnd finally, the Daily Star reports that Britain got a "Flash" of inspiration when actor Brian Blessed explained his "robust" plans to solve the world's problems. Blessed - dubbed the world's loudest actor by the paper - starred as Prince Vultan in the film Flash Gordon.

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