thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Local Lockdowns Need 'Strengthening' Until Vaccine Rollout, Says England Health Chief

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People from different households might need to be banned from socialising indoors until a vaccine is available, a senior Public Health England (PHE) official has suggested.
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on Monday, Dr Susan Hopkins said tier 1 restrictions had “very little effect” on the number of coronavirus cases.
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Before the current four-week national lockdown, people in areas of England in tier 1 were allowed to socialise indoors in groups of up to six, including from different households. Under tiers 2 and 3 this was banned.
But Hopkins said: “We see very little effect from tier 1 and I think when we look at what tiers may be there in the future we will have to think about strengthening them in order to get us through the winter months until the vaccine is available for everyone.”
Hopkins is deputy director and healthcare epidemiologist consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at PHE.
Boris Johnson has all but guaranteed the current national measures, which came into force on November 5, will end on December 2. The prime minister has said he wants to replace it with local restrictions.
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But this does not necessarily mean a return to the previous system, and it has been reported a fourth more severe level could be added, or that an entirely new regional approach might be introduced.
Speaking alongside health secretary Matt Hancock, Hopkins added: “We have recognised that the tiering of the country has had a different effect in each area.
“Tier 3, and especially tier 3 plus in the north, has had an effect in reducing the numbers of cases in the north-west and we can see the north-west’s declining number of cases now.
“Tier 2 seems to hold in some areas and not so well in others, and so really it depends on how fast transmission is occurring and how well the individuals in the population are taking that advice in.”
And she said if the national lockdown in England was working and the public was “doing the best we can to have reduced or no social contact with other people” then “we will start to see cases decline over the next week”.
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Hancock said it was “too early” to know the impact of the second lockdown in England on coronavirus cases.
“But we absolutely hope to be able to replace the national lockdown with a tiered system similar to what we had before,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--UK Strikes Deal For 5m Doses Of Moderna Vaccine Found To Be 94% Effective

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The UK has secured an initial agreement for five million doses of a coronavirus vaccine which has been found to be more than 94% effective at preventing the disease, the health secretary has announced.
Matt Hancock stressed that the vaccine developed by Moderna would not be available in the UK until spring but that the government had today reached an early deal with the US biotechnology firm.
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It is understood the vaccine requires two doses, similar to the Pfizer jab, meaning five million doses would inoculate 2.5m people.
The government had been facing questions about why it had not secured doses in advance of Moderna’s announcement on Monday.
Announcing the new deal struck later on Monday, Hancock said: “Across diagnostics and vaccines great advances in medical science are coming to the rescue and while there is much uncertainty we can see the candle of hope and we must do all that we can to nurture its flame.
“But we are not there yet. Until the science can make us safe we must remain vigilant and keep following the rules that we know can keep this virus under control.”
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The UK had already struck deals for 350m doses of prospective vaccines from several separate developers at various trial stages, including:
• 100m doses of University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – phase 3 clinical trials
• 40m doses of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine (found to be 90% effective) – phase 3 clinical trials
• 60m doses of Novavax vaccine – phase 3 clinical trials
• 60m doses of Valneva vaccine – pre-clinical trials
• 60m doses of GSK/Sanofi Pasteur vaccine – phase 1 clinical trials
• 30m doses of Janssen vaccine – phase 2 clinical trials
Business secretary Alok Sharma said he was “delighted” about the deal for five million Moderna jabs.
Delighted to confirm that today we concluded negotiations with Moderna & secured access to 5 million doses of its promising coronavirus vaccine, with the option to procure more.
This is on top of the 350 million doses we’ve already secured from a range of other developers. — Alok Sharma (@AlokSharma_RDG) November 16, 2020
England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said the Moderna results were “brilliant news”.
Van-Tam told the press conference: “Do I feel more encouraged in relation to another messenger RNA vaccine showing that it is making Covid-19 potentially, in the future, a vaccine preventable disease? Absolutely so.
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“It’s brilliant news, absolutely brilliant.”
Van-Tam had compared the Pfizer vaccine trial results to a goal in a penalty shoot-out and he continued the comparison following the Moderna data.
“It’s the second penalty now, that’s also gone into the back of the net.
“So we’re starting to feel in a better position.”
He added: “Pretty much all the vaccines around the world that are in development are coronavirus spike protein as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has done, as the Moderna vaccine has done.
“This really does begin to show us that the spike protein is a completely plausible and effective target for vaccines to work against.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Loose Women To Feature First Ever All-Male Panel In Honour Of International Men's Day

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ITV has announced the panellists that will be taking part in Loose Women’s first ever all-male show.
For the first time in its 21-year history, Loose Women will be inviting four men onto the panel later this week, to commemorate International Men’s Day.
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The four men will be discussing the day’s big topics and interviewing Matthew McConaughey, as well as shining a light on male mental health, as part of Loose Women’s ongoing Lighten The Load campaign.
Marvin Humes on Loose Women last year S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock
“With everything going on in the world right now there’s never been a more important time for men to be open and honest about their mental health,” Marvin said.
“I’m looking forward to anchoring the first ever Loose Men and raising awareness of the importance of men opening up like women do.”
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Iain agreed: “We know that men typically find it harder to discuss their anxieties, especially with other blokes. I’m looking forward to changing the conversation and can’t wait to join the other Loose Men.
“Hopefully we can inspire any men watching to talk about their feelings too and not keep things bottled up. Also a huge thank you to everyone at Loose Women for allowing us to use their platform for this very worthwhile cause!”
Iain Stirling S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock
However, this Loose Men special is the first time that four men have been at the centre of the show.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Ryan Reynolds Is Now Co-Owner Of Fifth-Division Team Wrexham AFC. Yes, That Ryan Reynolds

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Ryan Reynolds has been announced as the co-owner of the fifth division football team Wrexham AFC.
He and fellow actor Rob McElhenney – of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia fame – had their bid to take over the club approved by more than 90% of Wrexham Supporters Trust members, after saying they wanted to turn the small team into a “global force”.
A video posted on Wrexham AFC’s Twitter on Monday showed the two actors in a fake infomercial for Ifor Williams Trailers, who sponsor the team.
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“Why are Rob and I pitching a North Walian trailer manufacturer?” Ryan questioned.
“Well, we just became owners of Wrexham Association Football Club,” Rob responded. “And they’re our team sponsors.
“You may have never heard of Wrexham, the racecourse ground or Ifor Williams, but you will. So to the Wrexham Supporters Trust, thank you for your faith and trust in us.”
Ryan added: “We are humbled, and we’re already getting to work. Holy s***... this is really happening.”
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The actors also celebrated the move by posting the club’s official logo on Twitter:
The club then responded with a fake title card inspired by It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia:
In a statement, the Wrexham Supporters Trust said: “[We] would like to thank Mr Rob McElhenney and Mr Ryan Reynolds, and their advisors Inner Circle Sports and Walker Morris, for their professional and considered approach and for the time they have already put into the process.
“As Wrexham supporters, we would like to wish them the very best of luck in charge of our Football Club and look forward to what the future brings.”
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This isn’t the first time Ryan Reynolds has made an unusual investment, though.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Barack Obama Talks To David Olusoga: Everything You Need To Know About The New Interview

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This week will see former US president Barack Obama giving a rare interview with the BBC in what looks set to be a must-watch TV moment.
For the half-hour special, Obama has sat down with the popular historian David Olusoga to discuss all manner of issues, in a timely interview which will air just as his former running mate, Joe Biden, has been announced as the next president of America.
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Here’s what you need to know about the interview
What should we expect?
An official synopsis for the interview has said Obama speaks out about a number of issues, including systemic racism in America and “his steadfast refusal to abandon American ideals”.
Barack Obama BBC
He’ll also be speaking about being the first Black family to set up residence in the White House, in the lead-up to his new memoir, A Promised Land, which sees him reflecting on his time in office.
Of course, Obama will also be touching on his successor, Donald Trump’s presidency, and the effects he’s had on American culture.
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What does Obama have to say in the new BBC interview?
The BBC has teased a few quotes from Obama and Olusoga’s interview, which see the former president lamenting that a culture of “crazy conspiracy theories” has led to divides in America becoming even more prominent.
“We are very divided right now, certainly more than we were when I first ran for office in 2007 and won the presidency in 2008,” he says (via BBC News).
Obama says this is partly due to Trump’s willingness to, in his words, “fan division because it was good for his politics” but also says the prevalence of misinformation online, which has led to what he describes as “truth decay”.
David Olusoga David Levenson via Getty Images
“There are millions of people who subscribed to the notion that Joe Biden is a socialist, who subscribed to the notion that Hillary Clinton was part of an evil cabal that was involved in paedophile rings,” he explains.
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“I think at some point it’s going to require a combination of regulation and standards within industries to get us back to the point where we at least recognise a common set of facts before we start arguing about what we should do about those facts.”
“It’ll take more than one election to reverse those trends,” he adds.
When and where can we watch?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Black People Shouldn't Be Expected To Rescue Racists, Says BLM Hero Patrick Hutchinson

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When Black Lives Matter protests erupted around the UK back in June, Patrick Hutchinson was hailed as a hero for rescuing an injured far-right protester in London.
The personal trainer and grandfather, 50, had formed a group called Ark Security with friends to protect young Black protesters from getting caught up in violence at demonstrations.
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On that day, they were acting as “overseers” to make sure those who needed help were taken safely to emergency service workers.
Hutchinson and his friends spotted a white counter-protester, who had ventured to the Black Lives Matter crowd with friends, being dragged by young Black protesters through a crowd and thrown on the steps near the Royal Festival Hall.
They swiftly came to his aid; Hutchinson scooped him up, put him over his shoulder and started marching towards the police with him.
The fitness buff made global news headlines after a photograph of his feat was captured by Reuters news agency photographer Dylan Martinez.
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“It wasn’t just about saving a life, it was also about saving a narrative – and stopping it being derailed with something as negative as maybe someone dying, for example,” Hutchinson reflected during a candid interview with HuffPost UK.
Dylan Martinez / Reuters
The man was Bryn Male, 55, a former British Transport Police officer. “I’m not a racist – just a passionate Brit,” he told The Sun. “I would love to stand there and shake that man’s hand who saved my life.”
Hutchinson has yet to hear from Male and mass lauding of his efforts – as opposed to condemnation of the far-right protester’s antagonism – caused some Black campaigners great concern.
Parts of the media were accused of being “fixated” on this image while illustrations of it popped up on billboard spaces in gentrified areas such as Peckham and Lewisham in London.
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The Daily Mail has previously come under fire for negative portrayals of Black people, yet it described Hutchinson as a “hero”. Commentators also lauded his efforts, saying how he “represented the best of us”.
However the politics of respectability and idea that Black people must respond with kindness when faced with the threat of racism or violence does nothing to protect Black people themselves, campaigners argue.
Hutchinson agrees.
“I understand how some of us can feel that only the Patrick Hutchinsons of this world may get the media spotlight because they’ve been so benevolent, or behaved in a ‘turn the other cheek’ manner, but people need to understand that that’s just me and we’re all different,” he said.
Patrick Hutchinson, a Black protester who carried a white man to safety during clashes in London between anti-racism protesters and far-right opponents. Dylan Martinez / Reuters
“Don’t think that you can just be out there disrespecting Black people on a daily basis and expect a Patrick Hutchinson to be there at every juncture. Like I’ve said previously, if you are racist towards a Black person then as they say on the streets – ‘if you chat shit you get banged’. It can happen – and it has happened on numerous occasions.
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“I wouldn’t condone violence or tell people to react in that manner but I can definitely say that those people in those particular instances have deserved what they’ve been on the end of because of their behaviour.”
He added: “People just need to be more respectful to one another in general and you have to move with a kind heart and do what’s right in life. You can’t be disrespecting people, especially from a racial footing, and expect nothing to happen.”
In September, a mural of Hutchinson at the Black Lives Matter protest was painted by street artist Lionel Stanhope; within days it was remixed with the words: “We don’t rescue racists in Lewisham, we run them out” written over the top.
Former Met police officer Adam Pugh was responsible for the wording, which was a nod to 1977 Battle of Lewisham, and told HuffPost UK at the time: “It’s the new symbol of gentrification in Lewisham; it popped up in Peckham Rye last month and I’m seeing the way that white people are latching onto that image as a means of promoting respectable Blackness.”
Spotted in Queens road Peckham.
God help us. pic.twitter.com/0cVGCMWdke — Kimberly McIntosh (@mcintosh_kim) August 21, 2020
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On that note, Hutchinson said: “The artist [Stanhope] reached out to me to let me know about the mural. He then asked me, when it was defaced, to perhaps put a message out there.
“I told him if you put yourself in the position of Black people, what we’ve been through and are going through, I don’t think putting a mural up in a predominantly Black neighbourhood like that was going to help.
“Okay so you put it up and tomorrow we watch another Black man killed on the news? It’s not what people need to see on a daily basis.
“People get it, it was done, it was a good, kind act but people don’t need to walk past it everyday on their way to work.
“The fact that the mural got defaced didn’t surprise me at all and I said that to the artist. I was not offended in any shape or form. I understand the sentiment but you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. Black people have been mistreated for hundreds of years so you can’t really paint that in a Black neighbourhood and expect nothing to happen to it.”
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Local Artist Lionel Stanhope's artwork in Lewisham based the photo of Hutchinson carrying Male. SIPA USA/PA Images
The past six months have been utterly life-changing for Hutchinson and he is using this new-found fame to advocate for positive change.
Alongside his friends, the activist has set up a charity, United to Change and Inspire (UCI), to fight racial inequalities. He has also written a book, co-authored by a young poet, Sophia Thakur, titled Everyone Versus Racism: A Letter to My Children.
“Through UCI we’re going to be working grassroots within the community for the community, we’re gonna be tackling education, mental health, wellbeing and reform, youth development,” he explained.
“As well as doing that we want to be a part of policy change, speaking to ministers, working with the Metropolitan police and we hope to be the glue in between communities and decision makers, working with the Met. There are things happening the background at the moment. Once the cameras are off those are the things I’ll be championing.”
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Patrick Hutchinson and co-author Sophia Thakur, and (centre) the cover of their new book Supplied
Hutchinson also plans to work with pupil referral units which, to use his words, “seem to be overrun with Black children”, to help improve youth prospects therein.
Britain saw the largest civil rights movement in its history as a result of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer. Does the Londoner feel society is truly at the cusp of a new dawn?
“I definitely think it feels different. The murder of George Floyd was the worst thing I’ve ever seen – when I watched it, I cried,” said the father-of-four.
“There have been so many Black people who have murdered at the hands of the police but this incident was the straw that broke the camels back. It was an ‘enough is enough’ moment. It sent shockwaves around the world.
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“I think it’s gonna take time and I honestly believe that the younger generation, my grandchildren, will be the beneficiaries of the stuff we’re doing now which is why we’ve got to keep the struggle going.”
Hutchinson, who has four grandchildren, continued: “That’s why people mustn’t come with this attitude of ‘nothing is ever going to change’ because it may not be us who see it but I think our youngsters will. Think about it: when you go back in history, things have changed so much since then. Time does move on and things do improve.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--From A Prince Harry Cameo To A Shock Exit – It Was A Week Of Strictly Surprises | Jive Talking

From A Prince Harry Cameo To A Shock Exit – It Was A Week Of Strictly Surprises | Jive Talking
Strictly Come Dancing had a few surprises in store this week, from an unlikely Prince Harry cameo to the first 10 of the series – three times over.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Former Strictly Come Dancing Judge Arlene Phillips Slates Shirley Ballas' Scoring

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Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has admitted she was less than impressed with some of the scoring in Saturday night’s live show.
More specifically, she’s taken issue with head judge Shirley Ballas for dishing out a 10 to more than one contestant.
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Pop singer HRVY opened the most recent live show, with Shirley uttering the immortal line “it’s never too early for a 10 from Shirley” after he’d completed his Salsa routine.
Was it perhaps "too early for a 10 from Shirley" after all? BBC
After the show, Arlene retweeted a message from one viewer who wrote: “Shirley - ‘It’s never too early for a 10’… YES, it is WAY TOO EARLY (and you gave 3)”
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Arlene added: “Seriously. Some awkward footwork. Does it matter anymore?”
Arlene Phillips David Fisher/Shutterstock
The former judge also retweeted another comment suggesting the show “needs a new judge”, to which she joked: “I could send out a search party!”
I could send out a search party! https://t.co/XexGyHJ0Wm — Arlene Phillips CBE (@arlenephillips) November 15, 2020
Seriously. Some awkward footwork. Does it matter anymore ? https://t.co/gZQFv49fV3 — Arlene Phillips CBE (@arlenephillips) November 15, 2020
Arlene served as a Strictly judge for six years, until she was replaced by former winner Alesha Dixon, sparking an ageism row at the time.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Lockdown: What Might Happen When The Current Rules End

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Boris Johnson has all but guaranteed England’s four-week national lockdown will end on December 2, as the restrictions legally expire. But what happens next?
Will the national lockdown end?
The prime minister has repeatedly said the current rules will not be extended. “Whatever happens these restrictions end on December 2,” he told MPs when he unveiled the plan on November 2.
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And in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry on November 4, he told business leaders: “Believe me, we will end these autumn measures on December 2, when they expire.”
But Matt Hancock, the health secretary, perhaps gave the game away on Monday when asked if the national lockdown would really end or if it would just be “rebadged”.
“It is too early to say I’m afraid,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme. “We’ve seen in the last week that there is still a very high number of cases but we do absolutely want to come out of this national lockdown.
“That is our goal, everybody has a part to play in making that happen of course, following the social distancing rules and isolating when you need to, which is the critical thing.”
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What replaces it?
MPs have been promised a vote. Whatever happens it will not be nothing— even if rules are relaxed in an attempt to give people a more normal Christmas.
Johnson has said he wants England to return to “a” tiered system of local lockdowns. But note the prime minister said “a” tiered system not “the” tiered system.
Tier 4?
The local lockdown system in place before November 5 had three tiers of escalating severity. But this could change.
Under tier 1, people were allowed to socialise in groups of up to six people and hospitality such as pubs and restaurants could remain open.
Under tier 2, people were banned from socialising with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting. Pubs and restaurants could stay open. The rule of six applied outdoors.
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Under tier 3, people were banned from socialising with anyone they did not live with or have not formed a support bubble with, indoors or outdoors in hospitality venue such as beer gardens. Pubs were only allowed to stay open if they served a “substantial meal” with drinks.
But this previous system could be ripped up or added to. It has been reported the government could add a tier 4 to the levels, which would impose the restrictions of the current national lockdown on a local area.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the system could also be changed so larger regions of England, such as the north west or south east, are placed into tiers rather than individual towns or local council areas.
It raises the prospect that the entire country could be placed into the same regional lockdown level, a national lockdown in all but name.
What do the scientists think?
Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said in October he did not think the “base” level restrictions of tier 3 “would be enough” to slow down the number of Covid-19 infections and enable the country to “get on top of it”.
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On Friday it emerged that scientists advising the government told ministers on November 4, the day before the national lockdown was introduced, that England would likely need to impose stricter restrictions post-lockdown than were in place before.
A paper produced by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M-O), said: “If England returns to the same application of the tiering system in place before November 5, then transmission will return to the same rate of increase as today.”
What do MPs think?
A substantial number of Tory MPs are opposed to repeated lockdowns. Some 32 Conservatives rebelled against the government when the Commons approved the current restrictions.
Mark Harper, a former Tory chief whip, is a leader of the new “Covid recovery group” of backbench Conservatives who believe lockdowns risk being “worse than the disease” given the impact on the economy and other health problems.
It means the prime minister could have to rely on Keir Starmer and Labour votes to push new rules through parliament.
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Will regions return to the same tier as before?
No, not necessarily. Speaking in the Commons on November 2, Johnson said the tier that areas go into “will depend very much on the effectiveness with which we have all followed the instructions” of the national lockdown.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Graham Norton Announces New Virgin Radio Job, Days After Stepping Down From BBC Radio 2

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Graham Norton has announced he’ll present a new weekend show on Virgin Radio just days after stepping down from his post at BBC Radio 2.
Last week, Graham revealed that he was leaving his Saturday morning Radio 2 show, after 10 years with the station.
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It’s now been confirmed the Irish presenter will front a new weekend show on Virgin Radio, airing on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Graham Norton Virgin Radio
He said: “I am excited and a little surprised to be joining Virgin Radio UK in 2021.
“I was very content where I was but the opportunity to host shows across the weekend seemed too good to miss out on. Plus the energy and enthusiasm at Virgin Radio are infectious and I can’t wait to get started!”
He then joked: “Did I mention the studios are very close to my house?”
After announcing he was leaving Radio 2, Graham insisted that he would continue working with the BBC on his usual talk show and the UK’s Eurovision coverage, as well as judging the new series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
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“Happily with the chat show, Eurovision and Drag Race, the BBC continues to be my perfect TV home,” he said at the time.
Ten years after presenting his first Saturday morning show on Radio 2, @grahnort has decided to leave the network later this year.
We wish him the best of luck for the future ❤
Graham will present his last programme on Saturday 19th December. pic.twitter.com/U8hzYggebl — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) November 11, 2020
This isn’t the first time that a high-profile presenter has made the jump from Radio 2 to Virgin Radio, though.
In 2018, Chris Evans announced that he was leaving the Radio 2 breakfast show to host a new early-morning show on Virgin.
Since Chris’ departure, the Radio 2 breakfast show has been presented by Zoe Ball.
No replacement for Graham – who will present his final show on Radio 2 next month – has been confirmed as of yet.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Found To Be 94% Effective In Trials

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US biotechnology firm Moderna has announced its coronavirus vaccine is more than 94% effective at preventing the disease.
Interim data from the company suggest its jab is highly effective in preventing people getting ill and also works across all age groups, including the elderly.
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British scientists have hailed the news as “tremendously exciting”, although the UK has not yet placed an order for the vaccine – which works in a similar way to Pfizer’s – and will not be able to secure doses until spring 2021 at the earliest.
A government spokesperson said officials are in “advanced discussions” with Moderna about doing so.
Experts say the news bodes well for other Covid-19 vaccines, with the one for Oxford University and UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca due to report in the coming days or weeks.
Moderna intends to submit an application for an “emergency use authorisation” with the US Food and Drug Administration shortly and will submit further data on the vaccine’s effectiveness and safety, it said.
The firm’s final-stage clinical trial is still running, and includes more than 30,000 people in the US.
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An interim analysis found 95 of those participants had confirmed cases of Covid-19, of whom 90 had received the placebo and five the active vaccine.
The 95 cases included 15 older adults, aged 65 and over. Twelve were from Hispanic or Latinx backgrounds, four were African American, three were Asian American and one who was mixed-race. The rest were white.
Severe cases of coronavirus were also examined, including 11 severe cases in the first interim analysis.
Makers of the Moderna vaccine say it works across all age groups (file picture) picture alliance via Getty Images
All 11 cases occurred in the placebo group – none were in the group that had received the vaccine, known currently as mRNA-1273.
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Moderna said its available safety data does not indicate any significant safety concerns.
The vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated, and the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, it said.
Severe events after the first dose included injection site pain. After the second dose they included fatigue, myalgia (muscle pain), arthralgia (joint pain), headache, pain, and redness at the injection site.
But these side-effects were generally short-lived, Moderna said.
The 94.5% efficacy from this analysis could drop as further results from the clinical trial are announced.
Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said: “This is a pivotal moment in the development of our Covid-19 vaccine candidate.
I am thrilled to hear the good news coming out of @moderna_tx’s #COVID19 vaccine development program. Our companies share a common goal – defeating this dreaded disease – and today we congratulate everyone at Moderna and share in the joy of their encouraging results. — AlbertBourla (@AlbertBourla) November 16, 2020
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“Since early January, we have chased this virus with the intent to protect as many people around the world as possible.
“All along, we have known that each day matters.
“This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent Covid-19 disease, including severe disease.”
At the end of October, Moderna announced that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had started the rolling review process of its vaccine.
This means the MHRA will review data as it becomes available from ongoing studies, with the ability at some point to say whether the vaccine should be licensed in the UK.
The announcement comes a week after Pfizer/BioNTech released interim study data suggesting their vaccine, similar to Moderna’s, is more than 90% effective. Russian trials last week also reported that a vaccine candidate was 92% effective, with results set to be peer-reviewed soon.
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Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said: “This news from Moderna is tremendously exciting and considerably boosts optimism that we will have a choice of good vaccines in the next few months.
“First we heard 90% efficacy from Pfizer and BioNTech, then the Russians said 92% and now Moderna says 94.5%.
“This latest press release is based on a study of 30,000 US adults, including many high-risk or elderly persons.
“This gives us confidence that the results are relevant in the people who are most at risk of Covid-19 and in most need of the vaccines.
“Moderna have also announced that the vaccine can be kept in a conventional freezer (-20C) for up to six months, and that once thawed the vaccine can be kept for up to 30 days at standard refrigerator (2 to 8C). This makes the vaccine much easier to deliver.”
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Conversely, the Pfizer vaccine needs to be held at minus 70C, causing potential problems for transport and storage.
Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “This announcement from Moderna is a further encouragement that vaccines will be found to not only have an acceptable efficacy, but an efficacy that is much greater than we had anticipated.”
Even Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, said on Twitter: “I am thrilled to hear the good news coming out of @moderna_tx’s #COVID19 vaccine development programme. Our companies share a common goal – defeating this dreaded disease – and today we congratulate everyone at Moderna and share in the joy of their encouraging results.”
Another Vaccine just announced. This time by Moderna, 95% effective. For those great “historians”, please remember that these great discoveries, which will end the China Plague, all took place on my watch! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2020
Meanwhile outgoing US President Donald Trump was quick to claim credit for the news, tweeting: ”... please remember that these great discoveries, which will end the China Plague, all took place on my watch!”
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Alex Azar, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, seconded the sentiment: “This news is another stunning result of President Trump’s leadership and his unwavering support for #OperationWarpSpeed, an incredible tribute to American scientists and innovators, and one more reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The endorsement comes days after Trump was contradicted when he tried to claim Pfizer was part of his administration’s Operation Warp Speed initiative.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--I'm A Celebrity: Russell Watson Teases He Might Be On The Line-Up After All

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However, it looks like there could soon be another surprise in store, as the line-up might not actually be complete after all.
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Over the years, it’s become an I’m A Celebrity custom to throw in a couple of contestants as late arrivals, and it looks like this year’s might not be an exception.
In the lead-up to the new series, opera star Russell Watson was heavily rumoured to be taking part, and gave a few cryptic answers when quizzed about it in interviews.
Russell Watson Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Asked about these rumours during an interview with Hello! magazine, Russell teased: “I was linked with playing James Bond back in 2002 and that never happened – but watch this space.”
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Russell was previously spotted at what was believed to be a photo-shoot for the new series of I’m A Celebrity, as was West End performer Ruthie Henshall, who was also absent from the line-up when it was first announced.
Ruthie Henshall Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images
It’s since been revealed that viewers have voted for EastEnders star Shane Richie and radio presenter Jordan North to undergo the next trial in the series, which will see them trying to crack a code while concealed in an underground chest filled with snakes.
The current cast of I'm A Celebrity 2020 ITV
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Watched The Crown And Want To Know How To Play Ibble Dibble? Here's How

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The fourth season of The Crown finally arrived on Netflix over the weekend.
As well as marveling at Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, we were also introduced to Emma Corrin’s Lady Diana.
And a curious game called Ibble Dibble.
In a scene none of us saw coming, after having dinner at Balmoral, the royal family gather along with the prime minister to play the drinking game.
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But just how do you play the tongue-twister of a game that involves a blackened cork?
What is Ibble Dibble?
The game gets its name from the nonsensical phrase that players have to repeat throughout, and in order to play, you’ll need at least four players, one cork, matches, and – if you drink it – alcohol.
How do you play?
First of all, give every player a number.
Char one end of the cork by lighting it and letting it burn. Blow out the flame and make sure it’s not too hot!
The idea is that as you play, the blackened cork will be used to mark people’s faces with small black dots, also known as “dibble ibbles”.
Each player takes it in turns to introduce themselves according to their number followed by the phrase “Ibble Dibble”. So, “I’m number one Ibble Dibble” and so on.
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Next, each player must announce how many “dibble ibbles” they have (which will be none at the start of the game), and then choose another player to do the same.
For example, player three would say: “I’m number three Ibble Dibble with no dibble ibbles calling number five Ibble Dibble with no dibble ibbles”.
Like this...
Erin Doherty as princess anne playing ibble dibble >>>>>>> pic.twitter.com/nkMY4e1KQC — 𝓢. // the crown spoilers 🍝🤌 (@streep_lover) November 14, 2020
Player number five will then do the same, and so on.
The game proceeds like this until someone trips over their words, which requires them to have a “dibble ibble” put on their face via the blackened cork (and take a drink if they’re playing it as a drinking game).
As the game continues, more and more players will end up with increasing numbers of “dibble ibbles” on their faces. The secret is to remember how many you have because if you say the wrong amount – that will result in another “dibble ibble”.
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Basically you’ll end up looking like this (but less regal)...
Well I for one can’t get enough of the Ibble Dibble game on #TheCrown! #TippityToppityDownWithTheNazis pic.twitter.com/eyaewI9Til — Peggy (@peggy_woolley) November 15, 2020
The winner is the player with the least amount of “dibble ibbles” on the face at the end of the game.
It’s not clear whether or not Thatcher and the royal family ever played Ibble Dibble but we like to think this did actually happen.
However, Thatcher did not enjoy her trips to Balmoral, which she described as a “tedious waste of time”, according to the 2015 book The Queen And Mrs Thatcher: An Inconvenient Relationship.
We’re sure a game of Ibble Dibble helped.
Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher in the Crown. Netflix
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Covid-19 Could Have Been In Italy As Far Back As September 2019

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The virus that causes Covid-19 was doing the rounds well before 2020 hit, a new study from Italy suggests.
The pandemic peaked in Italy at the end of March this year, however research from the same country found specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were present in blood samples taken from people as far back as September 2019.
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Researchers analysed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood samples of 959 asymptomatic individuals enrolled in a lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020.
The hope was to track the date of onset of Covid-19, as well as frequency and geographic variations across the Italian regions.
Covid antibodies were detected in 111 people, the study found – and 14% of these had antibodies dating back to September 2019.
There was a cluster of positive cases (more than 30%) in the second week of February 2020, with the highest number of cases located in Lombardy.
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Denis Sokol via Getty Images
“This study shows an unexpected very early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic individuals in Italy several months before the first patient was identified,” wrote researches. “Finding SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic people before the Covid-19 outbreak in Italy may reshape the history of pandemic.”
Italy’s first official cases of Covid-19 were recorded on January 30, 2020, when two tourists from China tested positive in Rome.
The virus wasn’t actually identified by officials in Wuhan until the end of December 2019 – prior to then, we didn’t know it existed.
While studies have suggested the virus was circulating in December last year, none have gone back as far as September 2019, though one study of sewage revealed the virus was present in Milan and Turin’s sewer systems as early as December.
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Meanwhile a French hospital retested samples from pneumonia patients and discovered that one of its patients had Covid-19 back in December, too.
What about the UK?
Dr Julian Tang, honorary associate professor in respiratory sciences and a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, previously told HuffPost UK it’s possible the virus was circulating in the UK in December 2019.
There were no restrictions to travel when the virus first started circulating and countries were unaware it even existed, so there’s no reason why it would’ve been contained in one place.
A study of the virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, analysed genetic samples from more than 7,500 people infected with it and suggested the pandemic actually started sometime between October 6 and December 11, 2019.
“Given that earlier Covid-19 cases in other European countries (Italy and France) have been found, it is very likely there were circulating cases in the UK amongst people who may have travelled to and from China in that period [between October and December],” Dr Tang said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--The Crown's Emma Corrin Reveals She Was Hospitalised After Filming One Of Season Four's Hardest Scen

The Crown's Emma Corrin Reveals She Was Hospitalised After Filming One Of Season Four's Hardest Scenes

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During a new interview with Glamour, Emma revealed that she had to be hospitalised after filming one of series four’s most difficult scenes on location in Spain.
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“I’m asthmatic and I had been ill for a while with a bad cough,” she told the magazine.
“I had to film a scene in a freezing-cold swimming pool, with the kids playing William and Harry.
“It was honestly the hardest scene to film because I was genuinely keeping myself alive treading water, and also keeping five-year-old ‘Harry’ alive, as we found out he couldn’t swim!”
Emma Corrin Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Emma recalled that she paid a visit to a hospital for some antibiotics, but ended up not being allowed to leave.
She said: “The doctors gave me an oxygen test and said, ‘We cannot let you go because your oxygen levels are so low,’ so I was hospitalised.
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“I remember the nurses, figuring out what I was filming and saying, ‘We know you’re playing Princess Diana, would you like us to put a cardboard bag over your head so no one recognises who you are?’ in broken English!”
Emma in character as Princess Diana in The Crown Des Willie/Netflix
Speaking to HuffPost UK in the lead-up to the new series, Emma revealed that season four of The Crown does not shy away from Princess Diana’s personal issues, admitting she found filming scenes of the late royal’s bulimia especially tough.
“I kind of underestimated how hard it would be,” Emma said. “I was like, ‘it’ll just be like crying on screen, you just get into the zone’... but it was not fun. But I felt like it was important, and so I kind of just did it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--This Morning Rep Speaks Out Amid Presenter Shake-Up Rumours

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ITV has spoken out about reports This Morning’s presenting line-up is set to undergo a shake-up.
Over the weekend, The Sun reported that Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were being dropped from their usual Friday morning presenting slot, and would instead only be called on to front the daytime show over the summer holidays.
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However, a spokesperson for ITV has now set the record straight, insisting that no changes to their presenting line-up had been confirmed.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
“We have a stellar presenting lineup on This Morning in Holly & Phillip and Eamonn & Ruth,” a representative told Digital Spy.
“Any additions to this lineup will be announced in due course.”
Alison Hammond has long been a favourite of This Morning viewers, winning praise for her (usually chaotic) cooking segments and laugh-out-loud celebrity interviews.
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Last week, This Morning aired an interview between Alison and Kylie Minogue, which saw the presenter recreating the iconic Can’t Get You Out Of My Head video, complete with full choreography and outfit changes.
Meanwhile, Eamonn and Ruth have presented This Morning together since 2006, filling in for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on Fridays and during school holidays.
Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes ITV/Shutterstock
Earlier this year, Eamonn came under fire when he appeared to defend a debunked conspiracy theory linking 5G and the Covid-19 pandemic.
This led Ofcom to “issue guidance to ITV and its presenters” regarding discussing such topics on air.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Captain Sir Tom Moore Is GQ's Oldest – And Most Dapper – Cover Star

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He won our hearts with his fundraising walk to help the NHS and now, Captain Sir Tom Moore has been celebrated by GQ – while wearing a very suave suit.
The former British Army officer will be honoured with the Inspiration Of The Year award at the annual GQ Men Of The Year Awards later this month.
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Ahead of the digital ceremony, scheduled for November 26, the 100-year old graces the cover of the magazine, making him the oldest cover star in GQ’s 32-year history.
Gavin Bond Captain Sir Tom Moore on the cover of GQ.
The second world war veteran set out to raise £1,000 for NHS charities in March by walking 100 laps of his garden during the first national lockdown. Instead, on his 100th birthday, his appeal topped £32m.
The journey continued, not in his garden, but on talk shows, breakfast television and newspaper interviews, all for the benefit of causes that touched his own life across the century.
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“When I started walking, I never envisioned that sort of money would appear. But I thank the whole family, and my daughter Hannah in particular, as without her this would never have blossomed as it did,” Captain Tom told the magazine.
Gavin Bond
On finding out he is magazine’s oldest cover star, Captain Tom said: “Well, that’s something special, isn’t it?” before adding: “And maybe next year, I’ll be the oldest again!”
Captain Sir Tom was photographed for the special shoot by Gavin Bond and is wearing a Hugo Boss suit.
The issue will be available on newsstands Friday 4 December.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Good Morning Britain Viewers Unimpressed As Matt Hancock Swerves Questions In First Appearance On Sh

Good Morning Britain Viewers Unimpressed As Matt Hancock Swerves Questions In First Appearance On Show In 201 Days

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Matt Hancock finally put in an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday, but viewers were left unimpressed after the Health Secretary dodged many of the questions put to him by hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.
After a 201-day boycott of the ITV early morning show, the MP was interviewed just days after the departure of Downing Street’s communications boss Lee Cain and Boris Johnson’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings.
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However, the politician insisted he came on the programme “as soon as diaries allowed”.
'Where have you been for the last 201 days?' - @piersmorgan
Health Secretary @MattHancock responds to the question about why the govt boycotted GMB and its viewers for six months of the pandemic.
He says he is ready to answer questions.
Watch GMB now👉 https://t.co/yyUUJmzswF pic.twitter.com/dZitWAxSXm — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 16, 2020
Unsurprisingly, Piers wasn’t buying his excuse and wasted no time in addressing his absence from the show.
“Do you think it’s right and proper that you as Health Secretary and the entire Conservative party and Prime Minister have boycotted a big morning breakfast TV programme for six months? Did you support it or agree with it?” Piers asked.
“I’m here to answer all the questions you have might,” the politician replied.
“I just asked you one!” Piers remarked.
It was a pattern that continued throughout the interview, which didn’t go unnoticed by GMB viewers...
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“I’m here to answer all your viewers questions” says Health Secretary Matt Hancock after 202 day boycott of @GMB
He then refuses to answer the first question put to him by @piersmorgan! pic.twitter.com/0J7rKAdOdO — Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) November 16, 2020
He's not even answering the questions when given a chance and when asked over and over. DON'T ever tell me @piersmorgan doesn't give them a chance. What he doesn't do is allow them to wriggle out of it. — Chaela (@Chaela1982) November 16, 2020
#GMB Nothing changes does it? I'll just answer a different question from the one I was asked. pic.twitter.com/gWQYL8HvWL — Stephen Miller (@BoyCharioteer) November 16, 2020
On GMB @MattHancock admits there have been mistakes
First of which appears to be appearing on #GMB — John West 🕯 (@JohnWest_JAWS) November 16, 2020
Matt Hancock doing the usual grinning obfuscation thing on GMB with Piers Morgan and a whole country wish the no.10 media boycott was back in place again — dave ❄ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) November 16, 2020
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In 25 minutes of live TV time to millions, @MattHancock has not answered one single question. Just stumbling platitudes. #UnfitForOffice @GMB — 🔶Jonathan Banks🔶 Parliamentary spokes RNP (@Jonathan_MBanks) November 16, 2020
I don’t think @MattHancock answered one question on GMB. — #SocialistSunday (@socialistsunday) November 16, 2020
Why can't people in government say yes or no to any question that only needs a yes or no answer. "Matt Hancock? Do you admit you made an error with care homes?" What he should say is yes and apologise. People would repesct him more for honesty. @piersmorgan @GMB 🤬 — Ailes :) (@Ailey_Holbrey) November 16, 2020
'ive been busy but happy to answer any questions'..."why have you boycotted #GMB " .... 'im happy to answer any questions'.... 😂😭😭 @piersmorgan @MattHancock — chez chester (@chezmiester1) November 16, 2020
Well Matt Hancock might have turned up on GMB, but he seems to hear different questions to the ones @piersmorgan is asking him 🤔 — Stephen Ede (@stephen_ede) November 16, 2020
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When you've shit the bed but are convinced you can style it out #gmb #piersmorgan pic.twitter.com/OhgywCKcX7 — CrocsNews (@CrocsNews) November 16, 2020
During the 21-minute interview, Piers asked the Health Secretary why he hadn’t resigned.
“I put it to you, given that we now have over 50,000 deaths in this country, which is the worst death toll in the whole of Europe, why are you still Health Secretary and why haven’t you offered your resignation?” Piers asked.
While admitting that there had been “mistakes” in the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the MP insisted the government had been “building the response to all of these enormous challenges of this unprecedented pandemic.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Obama Says Trump Has Accelerated 'Truth Decay' In America

“It’ll take more than one election to reverse those trends,” he says.
In Sunday’s interview, Obama also reflected on Trump’s refusal to accept his election loss, his persistent and baseless attacks on the electoral process, and the failure of many GOP officials to condemn it.
“I’m more troubled by the fact that other Republican officials who clearly know better are going along with this, are humouring him in this fashion,” he said. “It is one more step in delegitimising not just the incoming Biden administration, but democracy generally.
“And that’s a dangerous path. We would never accept that out of our own kids behaving that way if they lost, right? I mean, if my daughters, in any kinda competition, pouted and ― and then accused the other side of cheating when they lost, when there was no evidence of it, we’d scold ’em. I think that there has been this sense over the last several years that literally anything goes and is justified in order to get power.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Trump's Midnight Twitter Scream Causes 3 Honest Words To Trend In Response

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President Donald Trump fired off another all-caps false claim about the election during a late-night Twitter rant on Sunday.
Just minutes before midnight, the president claimed he won the election... despite the fact that he lost to President-elect Joe Biden:
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Trump Tweet HuffPost
Twitter users weren’t having it.
Trump’s all-caps rant caused three words to trend in response: “NO YOU DIDN’T.”
Biden defeated Trump by an Electoral College vote of 306-232, the same margin that Trump called a “landslide” in 2016. Biden also won by more than 5.5 million in the popular vote.
As a result, the president’s critics made quick work of his latest attempt to undermine the election. Some used variations on “NO YOU DIDN’T,” while others put their own spin on it ― with many responding to Trump’s lies with some very obvious falsehoods of their own:
I AM MARK RUFFALO! https://t.co/8mD9MwE7oW — Richard Marx (@richardmarx) November 16, 2020
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Trump: I WON THE ELECTION!
American voters: NO YOU DIDN'T — Melissa Blake (@melissablake) November 16, 2020
Joe Biden won the election.
You lost the election. https://t.co/S5HQQ8ka1d — Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) November 16, 2020
Sir, this is an Arby’s and also no the fuck you didn’t pic.twitter.com/3V2GRjepNk — Amber Sparks (@ambernoelle) November 16, 2020
I WON THE BATTLE OF ENDOR! pic.twitter.com/iiBHCk3t5C — Death Star PR (@DeathStarPR) November 16, 2020
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I also won the election. — Christopher Moore (@TheAuthorGuy) November 16, 2020
NO YOU DIDN’T.
FIXED YOUR TWEET. pic.twitter.com/f7l2QlrYLU — Linda Childers (@lindarchilders) November 16, 2020
I CAN DUNK! — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) November 16, 2020
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It's hard to get more pathetic than this Republican fascist.#TrumpConceded this morning, then spent the rest of the day spinning that while playing golf.
Now he's in fantasy land and making "No you didn't" and "I won the lottery trend" by tweeting lies at midnight.
SAD. pic.twitter.com/2Vd8dZVrwO — Grant Stern (@grantstern) November 16, 2020
No you didn’t, you delusional pathetic fraction of a man! — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 16, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Beverley Callard Gifts Us The Meme Of 2020 Following I’m A Celebrity Debut

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I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! made a very welcome return to our screens on Sunday night and it didn’t take long for Twitter to get to work with a hilarious bunch of memes.
There was plenty to choose from in the debut episode of the ITV show, like Shane Richie falling out of his hammock, but it was Coronation Street star Beverley Callard who created the biggest stir thanks to this glorious moment...
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Beverley Callard ITV
And so a thousand memes were born...
What the postman sees when I open the door at 10am #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/732Ce8IbzF — Sophie (@sophiexpollock) November 15, 2020
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nye 2019 vs new year’s day 2020#ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/jaD9ZtzAHb — gcse denise / ADAM DAY (@gcsedenise) November 15, 2020
what i thought i what i acc
looked like in looked like
science lessons #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/FOzdMTZGJg — izzy ミ☆ (@izzyybyrne) November 15, 2020
Accurate representation of me for most of 2020. I feel you Beverley. I feel you. #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/N8fN0YI55n — Carrie Hope Fletcher (@CarrieHFletcher) November 15, 2020
Waking up 2 minutes before an online lecture like#ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/LziNf1KjrU — Qasim (@QPervase) November 15, 2020
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How did you find that first #ImACeleb trial then Bev?
Bev: pic.twitter.com/X523MwTjh1 — Blue6oy (@blue6oy) November 15, 2020
Beverley Callard is all of us in 2020. #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/1nvHhvtjS9 — Liam Beattie (@Liam_Beattie) November 15, 2020
Before entering the camp at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, the 63-year-old Corrie star insisted the fact she was the oldest campmate wouldn’t get in the way of her getting stuck in.
She said: “Somebody said to me, ‘You’re a mature woman going in?’ And I went, ‘No, I’m very immature, but I am the oldest’.
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“I want to fight for women in our industry, especially now our industry is really ageist.
“How often do you see a film where the husband is 60 and the wife is 35? And that just kills me.”
She added: “When people see me in that outfit with no make-up, and Worzel Gummidge hairstyles, they might vote me out first.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Trump Throws Twitter Tantrum As Long-Shot Attempts To Stay In Power Fade Away

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The week ended with judges in several states rejecting President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results and the coronavirus pandemic surging, but Trump himself took to Twitter Sunday for one of his now-familiar rants.
Trump admitted defeat to President-elect Joe Biden in one tweet, falsely claimed the election was rigged in another and retweeted a supporter who called Trump’s opponents “anti-American and anti-Christian” ― all before 10am.
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He won because the Election was Rigged. NO VOTE WATCHERS OR OBSERVERS allowed, vote tabulated by a Radical Left privately owned company, Dominion, with a bad reputation & bum equipment that couldn’t even qualify for Texas (which I won by a lot!), the Fake & Silent Media, & more! https://t.co/Exb3C1mAPg — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2020
It’s unclear what Trump hoped to gain from the Tweetstorm. Meanwhile, Biden took steps to staff up his incoming administration while the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the nation.
The week saw the highest daily number of new coronavirus cases in the US since the pandemic took off in March. The daily number of US coronavirus-related deaths rose to a record 1,549 last week.
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Biden on Monday announced members of his coronavirus advisory board, led by David Kessler, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration under President Bill Clinton; Marcella Nunez-Smith, a professor of public health at Yale University; and Vivek Murthy, who served as surgeon general under President Barack Obama.
Board members gave interviews about what to expect in coming months and to urge Americans to take health safety precautions. “The next three to four months are going to be, by far, the darkest of the pandemic,” said board member Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.
As news outlets called more states for Biden, Trump supporters gathered in Washington on Saturday in an event they called the “Million MAGA March.”
Event organisers cribbed the name from the “Million Man March,” a 1995 demonstration in support of Black activism that attracted hundreds of thousands of participants. But the MAGA event drew far fewer people: Only “a few thousand” people showed up, including members of extremist groups linked to white supremacist ideology and violence.
Trump on Saturday morning waved at attendees as his motorcade headed to the golf course. By Saturday night, several Trump supporters clashed violently with counterprotesters, resulting in several arrests.
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By Sunday morning, Trump complained that the media failed to cover the “tens of thousands” of people who attended the event, an exaggeration of the actual turnout.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Matt Hancock Unable To Explain Why Self-Isolating Boris Wasn’t Wearing A Mask

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock stumbled through an excruciating series of interviews on Monday as he tried to bat away questions about why the prime minister was not wearing a mask during a meeting with an MP who later tested positive for coronavirus.
A photograph of the Downing Street meeting between Boris Johnson and Lee Anderson on Thursday appeared to show the pair closer than two metres apart.
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Anderson, MP for Ashfield and Eastwood, began experiencing symptoms of coronavirus the day after and tested positive for the virus at the weekend, prompting Johnson to begin a 14 day period of self-isolation during a pivotal week for Brexit negotiations.
#KayBurley asks Health Secretary Matt Hancock “why on earth are they not wearing a mask. As a result our PM is incapacitated” on photos of Boris Johnson’s meeting with MP Lee Anderson following which Anderson tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hancock just waffles awkwardly pic.twitter.com/tdFeJB050t — Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) November 16, 2020
When asked if more care should be taken when dealing with someone as important as the prime minister, Hancock told Times Radio: “Well, we are very careful.
“For instance, probably more often than not, when I see the prime minister I see him by Zoom. But also, we meet in a work environment or face-to-face.
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“I think the important thing is that everybody has to follow these rules and the prime minister is no exception.
“I think it demonstrates that this virus can catch us all and we’ve all got to be careful.”
He said Anderson’s Covid-19 test was turned around “very rapidly”.
“It’s not easy for anybody to follow if you have to self-isolate, but it’s working effectively to keep people safe and that’s what it’s all about really,” he added.
Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, Hancock attempted to change the subject by explaining he usually meets with Johnson – who was in intensive care after contracting the virus coronavirus earlier this year – via the online meeting service Zoom.
She asked: “Why on earth are they not wearing masks? As a result our prime minister is incapacitated on what could be one of the most important weeks ever for Brexit.”
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Hancock replied: “I’ve absolutely no doubt the prime minister will be able to drive the agenda forward and communicate with the public in the way that he does normally but just differently because it will be by video conference and not face to face because he’s self-isolating.”
Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, said the rules that mean Boris Johnson has to self-isolate “probably are sensible”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there have been more than 25 confirmed cases of Covid-19 reinfection globally, but added: “I think most of us think the rate of reinfection is quite a lot higher than that, but not enormous.”
“If we’ve learnt anything since the beginning of 2020, it’s that this is an incredibly infectious and scary virus and you can’t take it too seriously.
“So all the things that we know about – using masks, well-ventilated work spaces – following those rules really matter. And if you’ve got one take-home message from a reinfection discussion, it’s not to be blase because you’ve had it or you think you’ve had it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--I’m A Celebrity Viewers In Hysterics After Shane Richie Shows How Not To Get Into A Hammock

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Shane Richie certainly knows how to make an entrance - or should that be exit?
Things got off to a bumpy bumpy start for the EastEnders star on the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get me Out Of Here! on Sunday night after he fell out of his hammock just minutes after arriving in camp.
After entering the camp at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, the Alfie Moon actor went to recline as the campmates inspected their sleeping quarters.
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However, his enthusiasm got the better of him as he tried out one of the hammocks and ended up being flipped out onto the ground.
Hammock 1, Shane Richie 0.
Earlier on in Sunday’s opening episode, Shane pretended not to know who Mo Farrah was as the celebrities were introducing themselves to each other.
They were split into two groups who were communicating via walkie talkies.
Shane, who was holding the communication device, told the other group: “I’ve got with me… what’s your name again mate?”
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At the end of Sunday’s programme, Shane was selected to take part in the upcoming Viper Vault challenge alongside fellow contestant, Radio 1’s Jordan North.
Shane Richie ITV
The first episode kicked off with bugs raining down on the celebrities while they completed a challenge to secure meals for the camp.
The contestants were placed into separate cages as they had to transfer stars from one side of the group to the other while they were surrounded by the insects.
The episode also saw the group completing an abseiling challenge in order to get rucksacks containing kit.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Covid Vaccine Trial Seeks 6,000 UK Volunteers For Final Stage

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The UK will be the first country to run final-stage trials of a coronavirus vaccine being developed by a company owned by Johnson and Johnson.
The phase-three trial of the vaccine from pharmaceutical company Janssen starts on Monday and will be the first of its two-dose study.
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The jab has already undergone phase one and two trials, and interim analysis of the single-dose study suggests the Covid-19 vaccine candidate induces a robust immune response and is generally well-tolerated.
For the two-dose study, researchers are aiming to recruit around 6,000 UK participants – from a total of 30,000 people globally – at 17 sites across the country.
File shot of a person being injected. picture alliance via Getty Images
These include Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Leicester, Sheffield, Manchester, Dundee and Belfast.
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Recruitment into the study will complete in March 2021 and the trial will last for 12 months.
The Janssen vaccine will be the third to be trialled in the UK, along with the Oxford/AstraZeneca candidate, and one from US biotech company Novavax.
So far around 25,000 people in the UK have participated in vaccine trials, and more than 310,000 have indicated their willingness to take part in clinical studies by signing up to the NHS vaccine research registry.
Saul Faust, professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We just don’t know how each of these vaccines is going to behave and which are going to generate the better short and long-term immunity.
“And we can’t be certain that vaccine supply will be efficient and effective and secure from any one manufacturer, wherever it’s being made in the world.”
Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, said: “Because we’ve got this national citizen registry of volunteers willing to go into clinical trials, it has accelerated our ability to enrol trials.
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“And that means that the UK is a very favourable place to come in and run studies and so Novavax has expanded that study, and of course Janssen has come to the UK for the first, I think, of its two-dose study.”
The UK has secured 30 million doses of the Janssen vaccine if the trial is successful.
Prof Faust, who is principal investigator of the Janssen trial in the UK, said there are 40,000 people on the NHS vaccine registry who are in the postcode areas around the vaccine centres for the Janssen study.
They are expected to be contacted in the second half of this week and invited to take part in the study.
The vaccine candidate Janssen is trialling is an adenoviral vaccine, like the one Oxford University is working on.
These are based on weakened versions of adenoviruses, which are a group of viruses that typically infect membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, urinary tract, intestines and nervous system, and include the common cold.
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Last week US firm Pfizer announced its vaccine has been found to be more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19. It is not an adenoviral vaccine and needs to be held at minus 70C, so is less easy to deploy.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at University of Bristol, said the adenovirus vector does not prevent anyone from being suitable for the vaccination.
“For example, if you were immuno-deficient or something, there’s no reason to imagine that’s going to be a risk to you,” he said.
The UK researchers say the timing of results for their study will depend on global recruitment to the trial and the incidence of Covid-19.
They add that recent vaccine trials suggest it generally takes six to nine months to get an outcome, but it could be longer for trials starting out now.
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Prof Faust said: “It is going to be some time before the bulk of the population receive a coronavirus vaccine just because of the technical difficulties of manufacturing, achieving the number of vaccines in the UK, and then deployment in that many people.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Chris Evans Cuddling A Puppy In A Knives Out Sweater Will Soothe You Into The Week

Chris also shared some videos of the outing from his own account.
“Dodger had a very energetic play date,” he wrote alongside a video of the canines roughhousing on a patio while Aly watched.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Why You Don't Need To Explain Your Reason For Taking A Day Off

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I am one of those poor unfortunate souls who feels the need to have a “reason” to take the day off from work. Because of that, my vacation days tend to pile up ― luckily, California where I work doesn’t have a “use it or lose it” policy as some US states do so my unused days off get carried over to the next year.
Every time I do request a day off, though, I tend to overexplain myself: “I’m going to Palm Springs with my sisters!” I’ll say in my email request to my manager. “We have some family from out of town coming over and I need to prep so I’ll be taking a half day, if that’s OK with you.”
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But as Twitter user @localanxiousbae’s recent viral tweet points out, in most cases, that’s really not necessary.
“Normalise not telling your boss what your day off is for,” she wrote in October, to the acclaim of people who, like me, need to chill with their overaccountability at work. (So far, the viral tweet has over 519K likes and 78.2K retweets.)
Normalize not telling your boss what your day off is for. — Goddess B 🔞🌽 (@localanxiousbae) October 14, 2020
Keni Dominguez, a career coach and workplace culture strategist, wholeheartedly agreed with the tweet’s sentiment. She thinks it’s true whether you’re asking your boss for the day off or the week off.
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“How you choose to spend your vacation or paid time off is your choice and does not require an explanation,” Dominguez told HuffPost.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a vacation, taking a staycation, headed to a doctor’s appointment or procedure, taking time to care for a sick kid or just need time away to recharge from work,” she added. “It’s your time to take, recharge, rest and return back to work refreshed.”
You’ve earned your sick time, vacation and personal days ― and given the heightened stress you’re likely under because of the Covid-19 crisis, you probably really need them, even if you’re doing “nothing” for the day.
“We really need to normalise rest in the workplace, and not guilt people into feeling like if they take time off, they’re exhibiting laziness,” Dominguez said.
What do you need to say in the email? Keep it short and sweet. You do want to make sure it’s coming across as though you’re asking for the day off, not demanding or announcing it.
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“I recommend adding ‘time off’ or ‘vacation’ in the subject header with the dates you’re requesting,” Dominguez said. “In the email body, simply include the dates you’re requesting and discuss how you plan to prepare for your time off.”
For example, if you take extended time off, like a week or two, figure out what needs to be completed and share your plan of action with your boss and any co-workers who need to be clued in. Make sure you provide notice, especially if you’re planning to take more than a day off.
If you have important upcoming meetings, be sure to clue in the organiser and let them know know in advance that you cannot attend in case they want to reschedule for when you return or you can offer to send someone in your place.
With that approach, you’re not oversharing your reasons for taking time off and you’re doing your due diligence with planning for your absence.
Of course, work martyrs ― people who put their job first, even when it means eschewing personal time off ― may struggle to take this more streamlined approach in their request.
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“Many times people-pleasing cause us to feel obligated to explain why we’re taking off,” said Melody Wilding, a coach and author of Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work.
“We may feel shame — like we’re not good enough or we are failing — if we need to take a mental health day or time off, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said.
If anything, taking time off for your well-being proves you care about your company and your performance.
“It is an investment in your career — not a sign of inadequacy,” she said.
We also may feel obligated to tell our bosses why we’re taking the day off because of our lopsided work-life-balance. Even when we do take our days off, we’re bad at it. Two in three employees reported working while on vacation and only 23% reported taking all of their eligible time off over the past 12 months, according to a 2017 survey by Glassdoor.
The US is the only developed country in the world without a single legally required paid vacation day or holiday. Meanwhile, by law, every country in the European Union has at least four work weeks of paid vacation. That funny tweet about Europeans’ out of office email versus Americans’ out of office email?
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Not too far off the mark.
Europeans' out of offices are like "I will not be working until 18 September. All emails will be automatically deleted."
Americans: "I am in the hospital. Email responses may be delayed by up to 30 mins. Sorry for the inconvenience! If urgent, please reach me in the ER at..." — Leanna Orr (@LeannaO) July 10, 2020
“We can feel guilty about taking time off because in the US culture, taking your vacation, paid time off, and sick days is often quietly looked down upon,” said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals manage their careers.
Orbé-Austin thinks we need a culture that views taking the time that is part of your compensation package as normal and healthy rather that seeing it as an inconvenience to your coworkers, clients or boss.
Workplace expert Lynn Taylor agrees. Good managers rarely grill their staff about reasonable personal time off — except for when they feel the practice becomes abused, she said.
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“At that point, they’re understandably going to become more inquisitive,” said Taylor, the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.
Oscar Wong via Getty Images "We really need to normalise rest in the workplace, and not guilt people into feeling like if they take time off, they’re exhibiting laziness," said career Keni Dominguez.
Now that more offices have made the switch to work-from-home as a Covid-19 safety precaution, Taylor hopes to see a more accommodating approach to annual leave ushered in by managers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--UK Covid-19 Testing Capacity 'To Double' With New 'Megalabs'

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The UK’s daily coronavirus testing capacity is set to double with the opening of two “megalabs” that will be able to process up to 300,000 samples a day each, the government has announced.
The laboratories are expected to open in early 2021 and will be based in Leamington Spa and in Scotland.
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According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the “megalabs” will have an increased daily capacity of 300,000 in each lab. It is hoped this will allow for faster turnaround times to receive results.
The laboratories will also be used for critical illness such as cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “We didn’t go into this crisis with a significant diagnostics industry, but we have built one, and these two mega labs are another step forward.
“Transforming the UK’s diagnostic facilities is not only essential to beating this virus, but it is necessary to build back better – so we are better prepared in future for testing on a massive scale.”
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Scotland’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, said the labs were an “important step in our fight against the virus”, but added the location of the lab in Scotland is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile a scientist behind the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine has suggested the impact of the jab will take place in the summer of 2021 and that we could have a “normal winter” next year.
Professor Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech, said the next few months will be “hard” but that he hoped to deliver more than 300 million of vaccine doses by April.
Covid-19 tests in the laboratory at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside. Peter Byrne - PA Images via Getty Images
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, he said: “If everything continues to go well, we will start to deliver the vaccine end of this year, beginning next year.
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“Our goal is to deliver more than 300 million of vaccine doses until April next year, which could allow us to already start to make an impact.
“The bigger impact will happen until summer, the summer will help us anyway because the infection rate will go down in summer.”
He added: “What is absolutely essential is that we get a high vaccination rate before autumn/winter next year, so that means all the immunisation, vaccination approaches must be accomplished before next autumn.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Trump's Politics Fractured My Family. Where Do We Go After The Election?

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In 2016, I watched from Ontario as it became clear that Donald Trump would win the US election. The dismay I felt was made worse knowing that very soon, my Canadian husband-to-be would come face to face with some of Trump’s most fervent supporters a few weeks later.
We drove down to North Carolina to celebrate American Thanksgiving with my parents. It would be my fiancé’s first time meeting extended family. I was an American citizen and a Democrat, and warned him that we’d be the only non-Republicans in attendance. The mood was cordial until he politely asked those gathered why they supported the then-president elect.
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The response was immediate, heated and had nothing to do with Trump’s policy or vision for America’s future. They questioned former US president Barack Obama’s legitimacy and repeated Trump’s birther claims. Before then, my husband had never heard the n-word thrown around in casual conversation. It was a taste of the racism, nativism and xenophobia that characterise Trumpism.
When he responded in kind about Canada’s admiration for Obama, another guest wordlessly unholstered his handgun and placed it on the table. That pretty much wrapped up the evening.
All I could do was put my head down on the table and wait for it to be over, much like I had most my life.
“For liberal Americans living abroad, like me, the past four years have been a special kind of torture.”
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I grew up in Allegany County, Md., a conservative-leaning part of Appalachia that Trump recently won by a factor of two to one. As a child in the 1970s, I was raised to be mistrustful of anyone who wasn’t politically conservative.
Attending university in rural Virginia opened up my world. At 18, I found lifelong friends who were inclusive and accepting of all races, faiths and sexual orientations. Throughout the ’80s I became more progressive, an outlier in my family, openly challenging them on matters of racism and becoming the first to vote in support of progressive politics. Eventually, my sister became my ally after switching parties in 2004.
In 2014, I was 42. Part mid-life crisis, part escaping a do-nothing response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and part divorce, I took a leap of faith. I packed up my car and moved to Ontario. Little did I know that it was the best decision I would ever make. Finally, I found a more humane and sane existence. I found the love of my life, got married and became a Canadian citizen in 2019.
Meanwhile in America, years went by as Trump left chaos and uncertainty in his wake. He separated and caged migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, tear gassed peaceful protestors for a photo op and encouraged police brutality.
My anxiety over Trump’s abuses compounded on social media, where I put up with pro-Trump posts to keep in touch with family and friends. The breaking point for me came when I heard Trump describe white supremacists chanting “you will not replace us” during their march through Charlottesville, Va. as “very fine people.”
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Sharing my criticisms online led to a Trump-supporting family member telling me to “shut up and fall in line like all the other women in the family.” I did neither, and blocked family members from my accounts. Needless to say, interactions with my folks became shorter and significantly less frequent.
“It simply drove the wedge further into our family rifts, and I fear any chances of finding common ground died that day.”
For liberal Americans living abroad, like me, the past four years have been a special kind of torture. Seeing progressive friends march in Washington and in their small towns, I wished I could do something more impactful than vote from abroad. But there’s no better way to get the full picture of your country than living outside of it.
After a year of Black Lives Matter protests, the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest — and emboldened by pre-election polls that claimed a Joe Biden advantage — I felt hope for the first time that things could change.
On the eve of the 2020 election, I spoke out publicly about what it was like living in a family of Trump supporters. As I shared how their views led to us losing some of the close family relationships we once shared, I felt absolutely heartsick imagining their reactions. But I knew it was important, and pressed on.
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From the online response, I was far from alone. People told me how Trumpism had fractured their relationships, and others described how their own families had split along partisan lines. Some of my family members who found the interview called me a hypocrite, telling me that I had conflated their political ideology with flat-out racism. It simply drove the wedge further into our family rifts, and I fear any chances of finding common ground died that day.
With president-elect Joe Biden’s recent election victory, the question is: where do we go from here?
While I’ve felt overwhelmed with relief, my family’s reaction has been subdued and resigned. I know they will suffer through the next four years. And like many, my family will likely cling to the hope of a Trump campaign in 2024.
The fact is, Trumpism is not necessarily tied to a single candidate, and Trump’s loss won’t change who my family is. There are elements of their ideology that disregard the core values of human morality, amplifying America’s worst populist impulses, and transcend mere politics. Trumpism is not going anywhere.
But there are some things that give me hope for America. For one, the monumental accomplishment of Kamala Harris, elected our first female vice president, and also the first Black and first South Asian to hold the office. Biden may face immense challenges ahead, especially if the Republican Party maintains control of the U.S. Senate, but he seems fully committed to healing the divisions laid bare in the election.
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How does my family — or any other divided family in America — move forward? It starts with all of us, everyone, looking in the mirror and finding some common ground. Admitting we are all flawed and all hold some prejudices, and once and for all dealing with it. We have to start talking about this division. It won’t be easy, but the alternative is being collectively mired in the uncertainty and grief I feel every time I think of the loved ones I have no hope of seeing again.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--The Best (And Worst) Mince Pies This Christmas – Ranked By Us

HuffPost UK
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
For years at HuffPost UK, we’ve all gathered around a table full of festive treats, testing the delicious goodies from the big supermarkets and high-street coffee shops. But not this year – this year, it’s different.
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Due to Covid-19, our festive taste tests followed a new formula. Members of the HuffPost UK team each had to try mince pies from different supermarkets. As seasoned taste testers, we knew what we were looking out for.
Once we were done, we compared notes, wrote up our reviews and voilà: our testing was complete. Our mince pies went down incredibly well this year – perhaps we were all just ready for some festive food in such a gloomy year?
Here’s our reviews.
Price: £2 for 6
Rating: 2.5/5 Reviewed by: Lucy.Pasha-Robinson, opinion editor
Co-Op Co-Op Luxury Mince Pies
“This very much tastes like a mince pie, so that’s a positive. The filling of vine fruits, apple, brandy and port is sweet and boozy, with plenty of spice. But sadly, the supposedly all-butter pastry lets this one down. It’s just too dry and chalky for it to be a truly celebratory eat, and generates a paste that sticks to the roof of your mouth. That said, for the price, you could probably do worse.”
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Price: £1.79 for six
Rating: 3/5 Reviewed by: Tasha Hinde, life reporter
HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK
“I had high hopes for these mince pies, mainly because anything that contains the words ‘all butter’ is usually failsafe. But sadly this pie’s shortcrust pastry was a bit dry and crumbly. The pie itself looks really pretty with its snowflake pattern and icing sugar dusting. But when I bite into it, I get a mouthful of pastry and not much else. On second bite I get to taste some of the spiced mincemeat, which is laced with Cognac – my first thought is it’s not particularly juicy compared to other mince pies I’ve had and probably could do with a little more lubrication to offset the dryness of the pastry, however I do like the taste of the spiced mincemeat overall and, unlike other pies, the alcohol taste is subtle and warming rather than a full-blown assault on your senses. The pie is best served with a cup of tea (or any chosen beverage) to wash it down with. Would I eat it again? Yes, but heated up in the microwave and served with a splash of cream.”
Price: £2 for six
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed by: Brogan Driscoll, life editor
Morrisons Morrisons The Best Mince Pies
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If you aren’t going to heat these mince pies, don’t bother. To be honest I think this applies to every mince pie ever made. Eaten cold, Morrisson’s 2020 offering is perfectly fine. But then, I’ll never turn my nose up at a mince pie. Heated however, the otherwise nondescript pastry softens, the boozy brandy aroma warms the soul and the filling offers gorgeously spiced fruits.
Co-op Irresistible Old Fashioned Clementine Buttercream Mince Pies
Price: £2 for 4
Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewed by: Lucy Pasha-Robinson, opinion editor
“Well, this is certainly something different. Firstly, this mince pie might be the most alluring I’ve ever seen – gold leaf, a piped buttercream flower, a sliver of clementine zest – it certainly looks refined. And the taste is generally good – I especially like the clementine flavour. But I have one big issue with this pie, where is all the fruit? The filling would be more accurately described as a jelly rather than a mincemeat. It tastes delicious, but has practically no texture because it is almost perfectly smooth – frankly bizarre for a mince pie. The pastry is good, if a little soft and pliable. It’s a nice treat, but not quite there.”
Price: £3.50
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed by: Nancy Groves, head of life
Waitrose Heston Mince Pies
“I assume I’ve hit the festive jackpot with these – not only Waitrose, but Heston for Waitrose, with a ‘night before Christmas’ label that surely means these are good enough for Father Christmas himself. Certainly, they’re massive, looking more like pork pies than pastries at first glance. But inside the mincemeat is definitely of the sweet variety, full of carrot and clementine – if a little too rich and boozy for my liking (that’ll be the cream sherry). These are best heated beforehand after which you’re supposed to dust them with the sachet of smoky sugar provided, with a typically Heston hint of almost bacon to it. I can’t imagine kids will go for them. So you’re best off saving them for (cough) Santa.”
Price: £2 for six
Rating: 4/5
Reviewed by: Adam Bloodworth, features writer
HuffPost UK Tesco
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“I know what you’re thinking: the spiced rum mince pies from Tesco probably don’t have much rum in. I can neither confirm nor deny this suspicion, as the quantity of rum isn’t listed on the packaging, but what I can say is that five minutes after my final bite, my mouth was still having a rum old time. Rummy mid-chew, on the nose, and leaving a satisfying rum afterglow, the booze does one up on other pies which include booze for novelty value – but never let it sing. The rest is equally full-thwack: note the criss-crossed patterns on top, which give the pie a deep filled look, even if the ones with cognac, brandy and port have a smattering more filling. A steal at £2 for six.”
Price: £2 for six
Rating: 4/5
Reviewed by: Angela Hui, life reporter
HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK
“A melt-in-the-mouth all butter pastry mince pie with a strong filling made up of a festive blend of luscious fruit, aromatic peel and warming spices, infused with brandy. It’s a juicy explosion with a hint of citrus that’s beautifully balanced with the sweetness of plump currants and sultanas followed by a brandy punch in the face aftertaste, which actually cuts through the richness perfectly. It has a lovely crumbly, golden pastry that isn’t too sweet, it has a satisfyingly crispy bite and crumbles in the mouth similar to a shortbread. Generously sized, too.”
Price: £1.79
Rating: 4/5
Reviewed by: Rachel Moss, life reporter
HuffPost UK
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“Aldi’s new Blood Orange & Gin Crumble Mince Pies look a little lacklustre compared to others on the market; there’s no seasonal star design or decorative dusting. The loose, crumble topping also makes them impossibly messy to eat. But what they lack in finesse, they more than make up for in taste. The pastry is perfection, buttery yet light. The orange filling is sweet and zesty, while the subtle gin infusion provides a delicious balance. At £1.79 for a pack of six, they’re excellent value. I consumed the lot at an alarming rate and will be adding more to my next shop. We’re all at home alone anyway, so substance over style gets my vote.”
Price: £2.50 for six
Rating: 4.5/6
Reviewed by: Amy Packham, life editor
HuffPost UK Amy Packham
HuffPost UK Amy Packham
“I’m a huge mince pie fan, and have diligently tried many a pie from different supermarkets every year. From my experience, the fancier the mince pie, the less delicious they are as the filling gets too complicated that the original taste gets taken away. So I was reluctant trying M&S, but boy was I wrong. The pastry is delicious and crumbly, with a slight crunch on top dusted with icing sugar. There was so much sweet mincemeat inside the pie, that was moist and not dry at all, and they were so delicious I ate two in a row. My only gripe is that they’re more than your average mince pies – but that’s M&S for you.”
Price: £3
Rating: 5/5
Reviewed by: Nancy Groves, head of life
Waitrose
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-16--Headaches And Migraine Can Be A Symptom Of Covid-19. What You Need To Know

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Every Monday, we’ll answer your questions on Covid-19 and health in a feature published online. You can submit a question here.
This week, HuffPost UK reader Mattie asked: “Does Covid-19 cause headaches and migraines?”
Headaches can occur for all kinds of reasons, but one thing has become increasingly clear as more and more people have fallen ill in the past nine months – they’re also one of the signs of Covid-19.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists the most common symptoms of Covid-19 as fever, dry cough and tiredness, while the NHS also acknowledges a loss of – or change to – taste or smell as a key sign. If you have any of these symptoms, you should self-isolate.
But there are many other symptoms that people with Covid-19 are experiencing. These are less common, says WHO, and include: aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, diarrhoea, or a skin rash.
Hiroshi Watanabe via Getty Images
Dr David Strain, a clinical academic at the University of Exeter Medical School, tested positive for Covid-19 on November 10 and tells HuffPost UK that the second symptom he experienced, after losing his sense of smell, was a “migrainous headache” which he describes as “genuinely the worst headache of my life”.
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Dr Strain, who is also a hospital consultant, says headache is a common symptom in the Covid-19 patients he sees and that the symptom tends to subside after about four to five days.
While we don’t know what exactly is causing these headaches, Dr Strain believes it has something to do with inflammation around the lining of the brain (which is considered one of the possible causes of migraine).
“This [inflammation] allows proteins to leak out of the blood vessels, which in turn triggers the pain,” he explains. Covid has been found to cause blood vessels to leak elsewhere in the body, so his theory is: why wouldn’t that happen in the brain, too?
In addition to more people experiencing headaches as a result of Covid-19, there has also been a general rise in headaches during the pandemic because of the sheer stress of it all.
Neurologist Dr Charisse Litchman, who is based in the US, told KDKA TV she’d noticed a 20% rise in headache complaints since the start of the pandemic, and attributed it to many reasons including increased stress, not exercising as much, and increased levels of screen-time.
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Similarly, in the UK, the National Migraine Centre reported that many people with migraine have had an increase in their attacks since the lockdown, which can be attributed to lifestyle changes such as lack of sleep, dietary changes and even just being confined to the home.
So how can you tell what’s a normal headache, and what’s a Covid headache?
According to the Covid Symptom Study app, which has been monitoring people’s symptoms in the UK since the start of the pandemic, the most commonly experienced early symptoms of the virus – we’re talking in the first seven days – are headache (82%) and fatigue (72%), and this is the case for all age groups. Only 9% of adults who tested positive for the virus didn’t experience headache or fatigue.
We also know that some people with long-term symptoms of the virus – a phenomenon dubbed long Covid – have reported prolonged headaches since becoming ill, which can impact a person’s quality of life.
Just having a headache on its own would not warrant being tested, however. The same study found just 1% of people who reported fatigue and/or headache on the app ended up testing positive for Covid – so unless there are other symptoms, it’s “unlikely to be indicative of Covid”.
But in some parts of the UK, people who develop headaches are now being urged to get tested for the virus – even if it’s a stand alone symptom.
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Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s director of health and care, recently urged people in Staffordshire to get tested for other symptoms – headaches, runny nose, sneezing, extreme tiredness, aches and pains, and a sore throat – as a precaution.
“We are learning that people can show a variety of symptoms, so we think it makes sense for anyone who has these other symptoms to think about if they want to get tested as a precaution,” Dr Harling told the Express & Star.
If you do think you have Covid and are struggling with the headaches, the National Migraine Centre recommends paracetamol which can help to reduce pain, and also control a high temperature if you have a fever.
It’s something Dr Strain is taking himself. From personal experience he has found “regular paracetamol, caffeine, hydration and citrus fruit to be of benefit”.
“I would advise anyone to rest, stay within the energy envelope (i.e. don’t try and push themselves to do anything), take plenty of fluids and, if possible, avoid getting it in the first place,” he adds.
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