but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think as a shape from the university of edinburgh thank you very much and to germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic of one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success they have testified to and on a cot health visitor bra stock in the state of edinburgh west pomerania. is it the cool baltic greece or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of boston infection numbers are currently lower than the german everett. to supernews we are disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. so we're a bit more nordic and distance anyway maybe that's our secret recipe will be allowed to get so hard to try to bring the puts in rules so that it doesn't increase on the seniority does does the secrets timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than ever it masks quic

so but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think they say from the university of edinburgh thank you very much thank you. well germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic but one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success the w.c. testified to and on a card house visitor brought stock in the state of limbo west pomerania. is it the cruel baltic breeze or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of. infection numbers are currently lower than the german everett. to supernews we are disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. we're a bit more nordic and distance anyway maybe that's our secret recipe lydia allowed to get so hard to try to bring it down to its rules so that it doesn't increase on the hurting does does the secret timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than ever it masks quick

she is chair of global public health at the university of edinburgh, under the headline "when shouldils" we are told there was no simple answer and, after reviewing all available data, professor sridhar concludes the issue is farfrom clear—cut, the science is still unfolding but she adds that, when we look at european data, we may have overestimated the effectiveness of closing schools. now, if we have looked at the risk to teachers and pupils on the scale of the disruption to children, the final consideration here is broader government policy, because schools are part of a broader calculation. there are four examples. take scotland, it is currently in lockdown and its government have choices about where to ease those restrictions first. it could be hospitality, or, in this case, it will be schools. we are very deliberately choosing to use the very limited headroom we have right now to get at least some children back to school, because children's education and well—being is such an overriding priority, but being able to get children back to education may mean the rest of us living wi

but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think as a shape for the university of edinburgh thank you very much and you are germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic of one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success they have used testify to and i caught house visitor brust stock in the state of edinburgh west pomerania. is it the cool baltic greece or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of. infection numbers are currently lower than the german every. discipline where disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. so we're a bit more nordic and distanced anyway maybe that's our secret recipe the allowed to get so hard to try to bring the puts in rules so that it doesn't increase on the seniority does does the secret timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than ever it masks quickly be

prioritize its production of the astra zeneca vaccine for the indian market a study from the university of edinburgh has found vaccinations from biotech pfizer and oxford are. led to substantial reductions in hospital admissions in scotland's it's a look at some of the other stories making headlines this hour facebook says it will lift the ban on australian news pages in the coming days after reaching a compromise with the government camera as agreed to make changes to a law that would force social media companies to pay for news content. former u.s. president ronald trump has lost the supreme court appeal against his tax returns being released to prosecutors the manhattan district attorney is investigating trump for possible tax and insurance fraud despite the quarterly confidentiality rules mean the tax returns will not be made public. foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions on 4 top russian officials who they say are responsible for general position little insane avani the e.u. says it's a signal that debate and protest must be allowed in russia the kremlin has called the decision disap

so but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think they say from the university of edinburgh thank you very much and to. well germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic but one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success the w.c. testified to and on a card house visit or brought stock in the state of limbo west pomerania. is it the cool baltic breeze or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of. infection numbers are currently lower than the german everett . to supernews we are disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. so we're a bit more nordic and distance anyway maybe that's our secret recipe they be allowed to get so hard to try to break it down the put in rules so that it doesn't increase on the seniority does does the secrets timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than ever it m

but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think as a shape for the university of edinburgh thank you very much and you are germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic of one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success the other use testified to and i caught house visitor brust stock in the state of maryland a west pomerania. is it the cool baltic greece or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of boston infection numbers are currently lower than the german every. discipline where disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. so we're a bit more nordic and distance anyway maybe that's our secret recipe they be allowed to get so hard to try to bring your dog put in rules so that it doesn't increase on the seniority because there's the secret timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than eve

prioritize its production of the astra zeneca vaccine for the indian market and a study from the university of edinburgh has found that vaccinations from biotech pfizer and oxford astra zeneca have led to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions in scotland. now let's get a roundup of some other headlines at this hour canada's parliament has passed a non-binding motion saying that china's treatment of we go muslims and shin jang amounts to genocide prime minister justin trudeau at this cabinet abstained from the vote china has condemned and rejected the motion of the leader of georgia's main opposition party has been arrested nicam aliased attention comes days after the prime minister resigned amid a debate over whether to take the opposition politician into custody faces charges of inciting violence during protests in 2019 he dismisses the charges as politically motivated. and authorities in the democratic republic of congo have blamed rwandan hutu rebels for the killing of italy's ambassador he was one of 3 people killed when a convoy from the world food program came under fire the president of

but we need to be patient and we need to tread very carefully i think as a shape for the university of edinburgh thank you very much and you are germany has seen a harsh winter when it comes to the pandemic of one region in the north has made it through the last months with exceptionally low numbers of infections what's their secret to success they have used testify to and on a cot health visitor brust stock in the state of matter but west pomerania. is it the cool baltic greece or the rather calm and collected mindset of people in the north of germany so far they have made it well through the covert crisis especially here in the city of boston infection numbers are currently lower than the german everett. to supernews we are disciplined northern germans are quite different from everyone else. so we're a bit more nordic and distance anyway maybe that's our secret recipe to be allowed to get so hard to try to break it down the rules so that it doesn't increase on the seniority does does the secrets timing might have been one reason very early on the city started testing more people than ever it m

prioritize its production of the astra zeneca vaccine for the indian market and a study from the university of edinburgh us found that vaccinations from biotech sizer and oxford astra zeneca have led to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions in scotland. and now to some other headlines from around the world facebook says it will lift a ban on australian news pages in the coming days after reaching a compromise with the government over paying for media content the australian government has agreed to make changes to a law and not to penalize facebook if the company reaches some deals with local media canada's parliament has passed a non-binding motion saying that china's treatment of weaker muslims and shin jiang amounts to genocide prime minister justin trudeau in his cabinet abstained from the vote china has condemned and rejected the motion from. the leader of georgia's main opposition party has been arrested become aliased attention comes days after the prime minister resigned amid a debate over whether to take the opposition politician into custody elliott faces charges of inciting violence d

professor mark woolhouse of the university of edinburgh told a parliamentary committee at westminsterasons to be more optimistic because there was more confidence in the scientific data compared to last year. but other government advisers sounded a far more cautious note. and the prime minister, borisjohnson, said he was taking a "data not dates" approach which would "go in stages". he's set to announce his plans next monday for easing the lockdown in england. our health editor hugh pym has the latest. it'll be one of the most difficult decisions he has to make — at what speed to start easing the lockdown in england. the prime minister's hoping the rapid roll—out of vaccinations will help for his plan to be unveiled on monday. it'll be based firmly on a cautious and prudent approach to coming out of lockdown, in such a way as to be irreversible. so, what do experts think about when restrictions will ease? schools in england could set to start reopening from march 8th, but families and businesses want to know what else might open up and when. today, one expert was optimistic, based on

should consider a similiar scheme, i'm joined by dr sarah chan, reader in bioethics at the university of edinburghvaccine passports. there we are, israel sort of setting the lead in this, and it has been much discussed, the whole concept of vaccine passports. do they work, and are they ethical, what is your view? well, vaccine passports are being touted as a way of getting back to normal, being able to resume our lives free from the risks of covid, but at the moment, this is what vaccine passports can actually offer. they do provide individual protection but they aren't100% effective, and what's more important is that we don't have enough evidence to say that they stop people passing the disease on to others. so, while the vaccine can certainly reduce the risk, handing out passports that divide people into these black and white categories of safe or unsafe does not seem to be justified, and categories of safe or unsafe does not seem to bejustified, and it might give people a false sense of security that could actually increase their chances of catching covid, or passing it on to others. is the oth

last week, early evidence was provided for that view, and yesterday the university of edinburgh reportedfter the fourth week of the first dose being administered, the pfizer and astrazeneca vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalisations by covid—19 dramatically. that is extremely welcoming and encouraging news. the impact of vaccination and transmission of the virus, including those published by public health england yesterday is also encouraging. while i watchwords at this stage can turn you to be caution and patience, there is little doubt that we now have much firmer grounds for optimism that vaccination and the other tools at our disposal to offer us a route back to greater normality. it is by being careful, cautious and prudent that we will make it as safe as possible. put our progress are out of luck down into reverse. i appreciate this is a frustrating message, but it is an essential one. the point is underlined when we consider the current state of the pandemic. 0n the one hand, we can and should take heart from the fact that the lockdown measures adopted after christmas have had a

i think taking all of this together, the l taking all of this together, the professor from edinburgh university, as geraldine says, it definitely is this feeling of optimism perhaps we have not_ this feeling of optimism perhaps we have not had for the best part of a year now — have not had for the best part of a year now. the vaccine was always touted _ year now. the vaccine was always touted as — year now. the vaccine was always touted as this will be the way out of this— touted as this will be the way out of this mess and finally we are seeing — of this mess and finally we are seeing the success of that and the accelerating success of that as welt _ accelerating success of that as welt i— accelerating success of that as well. i think the government has often _ well. i think the government has often in — well. i think the government has often in the course of this pandemic set itsetf— often in the course of this pandemic set itself targets and ambitions it is then— set itself targets and ambitions it is then frankly fail to meet and that has— is then frankly fail to meet and that has led to a

positive, and it is another piece that could be part of the announcement by borisjohnson, our prime minister. this is a professor at edinburgh universitybeen using, it's got to be german by data and not dates, so that is all very positive and he is saying there could be sport. he's stung my children specifically this point, so they can start playing sport again, and we know how great that will be on so many levels, just the socialisation and the activity, all the things that come with being outside, playing and having sport, as well as adults, some limited playing with adults. i am kind of wondering, we've got wimbledon in june, so i'm wondering if they are hoping will have attended chevy chip as well. again, this could be one of the elements borisjohnson may be able to announce and it is driven by data, so it is positive.— data, so it is positive. you're into 0 . a, data, so it is positive. you're into yoga. penny, _ data, so it is positive. you're into yoga, penny, would _ data, so it is positive. you're into yoga, penny, would you - data, so it is positive. you're into yoga, penny, would you take - data, so it is positive. you're in

she is chair of global public health at the university of edinburgh.h some other restrictions for longer. that is a choice. it is the managed risk of opening schools in exchange for the known benefits for children. next, you could look at denmark. it was one of the first countries to reopen schools and they have largely remained open. it uses smaller, local lockdowns to contain outbreaks and its number of cases and deaths are below comparable european nations. or there is israel. it's prioritised vaccinating students so they can sit exams. in south korea, well, it went to great lengths to ensure exams went ahead. temperatures were tested, students separated and doctors in ppe delivered exam papers to the few in hospital with covid—19. these are all calculations, judgments, but governments are now making these decisions amid an avalanche of information on the catastrophic consequences of closing schools both now and for decades to come. this is the chair of the education committee in westminster. we need to do everything we can to be safe but there coul

we're joined now by linda bauld, who's professor of public health at the university of edinburgh. used to try and identify people's risk for different conditions and what they have done is based on lots of hospital data from people who were admitted in the first wave, they are able to identify much better than we were in 2020 what the risk factors are. as you were saying an introduction, isn'tjust you were saying an introduction, isn't just about underlying you were saying an introduction, isn'tjust about underlying health but also about socio economic characteristics. so the area someone lives in, their six, their age, characteristics. so the area someone lives in, theirsix, theirage, but also —— their gender, their age, but also —— their gender, their age, but also obesity and health factors. that gives a risk score and they have identified 1.7 million people who are at more serious risk. so they are being advised to shield until the end of march. around 900,000 of that group have already had theirfirst group 900,000 of that group have already had their first group of the vaccine

we'rejoined now by linda bauld, professor of public health at the university of edinburgh — along withalked about last week, they did some of their trials in south africa and found overall that the effectiveness of the vaccine was significantly less for the south african variant. 89% overall, 86% against the kent variant and down to 60% for the south african variant. that is why it is causing such concern and we don't want it to spread out of control in the uk. 50 spread out of control in the uk. so many questions to ask. one of the indications seem to be if you have had a different type of coronavirus you could also have this, what do you could also have this, what do you know about that? that you could also have this, what do you know about that?— you could also have this, what do you know about that? that is causing concern around _ you know about that? that is causing concern around the _ you know about that? that is causing concern around the world. _ you know about that? that is causing concern around the world. you i you know about that? that is causing concern around the world.

injanuary, the government published this article by the chair of global public health at the university of edinburghfor longer. that's a choice- if _ restrictions for longer. that's a choice. if the _ restrictions for longer. that's a choice. if the managed - restrictions for longer. that's a choice. if the managed risk - restrictions for longer. that's a choice. if the managed risk to l restrictions for longer. that's a - choice. if the managed risk to open schools in exchange for the known benefits for children. next, you can look at gunma, one of the first countries to reopen schools, and they have largely remained open. the use molar, local lockdowns to contain outbreaks —— look at denmark, and deaths and cases are relatively low compared to other european nations israel has vaccinated students so they can sit exams and south korea went to great lengths to ensure exams to go ahead, temperatures being taken, students being separated, doctors in ppe spreading papers to students and hospitals with covid—19 stopping these calculations and judgements. government so making these decisions amid an aval

"a worrying development, though not entirely unexpected". (00v)and the professor of global health at edinburgh universitys found than 88% of people who get coronavirus still have antibodies, six months after infection. here's more from fergus walsh. this was a study done by uk bio back which follows a half a million older uk adults. i'm on that trial myself. i was one of the people that was sent the monthly swabs. you had to prick your finger sent the monthly swabs. you had to prick yourfinger and sent the monthly swabs. you had to prick your finger and send your blood off in the post. and it found that those of us who had had the infection last year, 88% of us still had antibodies six months later. that's good for people who have had natural infection. there should be at least part of their immune system there that offer some protection against coronavirus infection going forward. professor lawrence young is a virologist at the warwick medical school... i wonder if you are surprised at these variants are emerging? hat i wonder if you are surprised at these variants are emerging? not at all. there have _

he is is a professor of psychology at the university of st andrews and a fellow of the royal society of edinburghhank you for your time this afternoon. this is an approach, softly stop you, step—by—step, that you think is what is merited at the moment? what step-by-step, that you think is what is merited at the moment?— is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris _ is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson _ is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson it - is merited at the moment? what we heard from boris johnson it will - heard from borisjohnson it will back as he wanted to be cautious in order to make the reopening are reversible, and i entirely agree with that, i think most people agree with that, i think most people agree with that. there is no point lifting restrictions if all that is going to happen is infections will spike, and we go again in and out of restrictions. but i think in order to make these changes irreversible, cautious as one aspect of it, but we have also got to ask the question that, as we race the restrictions, as we allow people to m

on the edinburgh university study this morning, is actually backed up and reflects some of what we wereupplies coming forward and being able to accelerate this as much as possible, it will take is a bit of time to get through the whole adult population. until we do that and have more certainty about the impact, we have to continue to play our part in driving cases down and keeping them down. on vaccination more generally i will hand over to gregor. lam i am excited just now because of the number— i am excited just now because of the number of— i am excited just now because of the number of vaccine studies we are about— number of vaccine studies we are about to — number of vaccine studies we are about to see published. we must continue — about to see published. we must continue to track this over time. it was encouraging to see a high quality— was encouraging to see a high quality piece of research which gives— quality piece of research which gives as — quality piece of research which gives as encouraging news about both vaccines— gives as encouraging news about both vaccines that we are

edinburgh university, 85% to 94% reduction in hospitalisation if you have had a vaccine. 100 people unvaccinated, if ten oferfect. it is only 250 interviews in a year to l is perfect. it is only 250 l interviews in a year to get is perfect. it is only 250 - interviews in a year to get me to that point, it has been a long time coming! 1 that point, it has been a long time comina! ., ., ., . , ., coming! i had not even notice before but it is exactly _ coming! i had not even notice before but it is exactly spot _ coming! i had not even notice before but it is exactly spot on. _ coming! i had not even notice before but it is exactly spot on. my - but it is exactly spot on. my secretary — but it is exactly spot on. my secretary gets _ but it is exactly spot on. 111 secretary gets more e—mails about this image here than any other single thing that i ever see on tv. she gets multiple requests for this tanzanian african painting. we were aoain into tanzanian african painting. we were going into that _ tanzanian african painting. we were going into that another— tanzanian african painting. we were going into that