BBC News

Newspaper headlines: 'Fortress Britain' and 'modern miracle workers'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionA decision to close all travel corridors to the UK from Monday morning is the focus of many of Saturday's front pages. The i newspaper declares the country will become "Fortress Britain", as it reports anyone flying into the country from overseas will have to show proof of a negative Covid test before and after travelling. It says the move comes as part of efforts to protect the public from new variants of coronavirus.
image captionThe Daily Telegraph adds that arrivals will also need to quarantine for 10 days - on top of the negative Covid test. It reports the restrictions will last until at least 15 February, but says there are "already signs" that travel will not return to normal until well beyond that date. Separately, the paper claims over-70s are expected to begin receiving coronavirus vaccinations as soon as next week.
image captionThe Daily Express also leads with what it calls the "border crackdown". Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the move at a Downing Street news conference on Friday, saying it was "vital" to take extra measures now. All travel corridors, which were introduced in the summer to allow people travelling from some countries with low numbers of Covid cases to come to the UK without having to quarantine on arrival, will close from 04:00 GMT on Monday.
image caption"Keep out!" is the message on the front of the Sun, which says the UK has shut its borders over "mutant bugs". Experts' concerns currently focus on a small number of new variants of Covid: a UK variant that has become dominant in much of Britain and has spread to more than 50 other countries; a South Africa variant that has also been found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK; and a variant from Brazil. Current vaccines were designed around earlier variants, but scientists are confident that they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. Lab studies are under way to check this.
image captionThe Daily Mirror splashes with a report from the intensive care unit at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, where it says patients fighting for life are now "much younger". It describes the NHS medics as "modern-day miracle workers".
image captionThe Financial Times says hundreds of thousands of UK businesses can now claim insurance payouts for Covid-related losses, after the Supreme Court ruled that "business interruption" policies provided cover against the pandemic and lockdown measures. In a ruling on Friday, judges unanimously dismissed insurers' appeals against a High Court ruling that they should honour most claims, it says. The original case was brought by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority on behalf of 370,000 affected policyholders.
image captionThe Daily Mail claims the Duke of Sussex is "heartbroken" over his rift with the Royal Family, citing remarks by ITV news anchor Tom Bradby in an interview with Alan Titchmarsh for an ITV show on Saturday. Mr Bradby told the broadcaster the past year had been "painful" for Prince Harry. It comes after the duke and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back as senior royals in 2020 before moving to the United States.
image captionFinally, the Daily Star pokes fun at Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, after he said he was "the last person" people should take travel advice from.

The announcement that the UK is to close all travel corridors from Monday morning makes the majority of Saturday's front pages.

"Keep out!" the Sun exclaims in its headline - as it says: "UK shuts borders over mutant bugs." "Fortress Britain", declares the i weekend.

The Daily Telegraph points out that while the testing requirements will last until mid-February there were "already signs that travel will not return to normal until well beyond that date".

The new rules could prove a "huge blow to holiday companies and airlines" if prolonged to the peak season, warns the Times, with transport bosses saying airports might have to be "mothballed".

The shadow transport secretary, Jim McMahon, tells the Guardian the announcement was inevitable but "it is closing the door after the horse has bolted".

image copyrightEPA

The Daily Mirror focuses on what it calls the "modern day miracle workers" in intensive care, who are reported to be treating men in their 30s and 40s with Covid-19.

The Mirror, like several other papers, has sent a reporter to see what it calls "the front line of the battle". But he finds no TV drama, just "professional calm".

The Daily Mail calls it "whispered purposefulness", against a backdrop of life support machines which beep like "an aviary of electronic canaries".

A senior nurse in the Guardian describes having nightmares.

In its leader column, the Times urges the government to offer health workers support by ensuring they're given the second vaccine doses now.

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The Telegraph reports that GPs are being forced to throw away vaccines if appointments are missed rather than giving the second doses to staff.

A director from the Birmingham Local Medical Committee, which represents GPs, tells the Telegraph the policy is "ridiculous, bordering on the criminal".

The BMA has raised its concerns. An NHS spokesperson says there should be no waste and that vaccination sites should have backup lists of patients and staff who can be immunised at short notice.

The FT Weekend says that what it calls London's "army of black cabs" has urged the government to let it help with the vaccination rollout. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association has offered to drive elderly and vulnerable patients to and from medical centres.

Beautiful sunlit snow-covered scenery in Derbyshire, Lancashire and West Yorkshire is pictured in the Times, Telegraph, i and Guardian. The Sun labels it "Jantartic", saying the bookmakers think this month is odds on to prove to be the coldest January on record.

And finally Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was asked by the BBC yesterday morning whether it was wise for the over-50s to book their summer holidays. His reply has been picked up by the Daily Star on its front page.

The answer "don't ask me, I haven't got a clue" is shown next to a photoshopped image of Mr Shapps in a Hawaiian shirt, sipping a cocktail next to a beach. He may be dumb, the Star jokes, but at least he's honest.