As of 09:00 UK time on Saturday, April 23, 2022, the cumulative number of test results was 506,706,828 (to be updated); the cumulative number of confirmed cases was 21,933,204 (to be updated); and the cumulative number of deaths was 173,352 (to be updated).
As of today, the entire UK territory is:
53,087,904 people were vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine (to be updated);
49,661,362 people were vaccinated with the second dose of the vaccine (to be updated);
A total of 39,125,015 people were vaccinated with the third dose (to be updated).
Trend chart of increasing confirmed cases in the UK Image source Uk Department of Health
Supermarkets across the UK
Issued the edible oil purchase restriction rules
Due to supply chain problems caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, supermarkets across the UK have restricted the amount of edible oil that customers can buy, including olive oil and rapeseed oil.
Image credit: Yorkshire Post
In a statement, Tesco said, "In order to ensure that all customers can buy what they need, a temporary purchase restriction has been imposed on the edible oil series, with each customer limiting the purchase of 3 related products."
Waitrose and Morrisons have a limited purchase quantity of 2 pieces. The companies said they "will pay close attention to the situation and work with suppliers to ensure the supply of edible oil".
But a spokesman for Sainsbury's said there were no plans to introduce restrictions and that Asda had not taken any action.
Image credit: Dinardra Haria/LNP/SkyNews
The National Bureau of Statistics said earlier this month that the price of the edible oil series rose by 7% due to The impact of Brexit and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and it was nearly 25% more expensive than a year ago.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict also threatens the food supply and the livelihoods of many people in Europe, Africa and Asia, for which Ukraine has the vast and fertile farmland of the Black Sea region, known as the "breadbasket of the world".
Image credit: EveningStandard
Earth Day protest demonstrations escalate
Flares were lit all over Britain and Germany
Extinction rebellion Extinction Rebellion set off a new wave of protests over earth day weekends, demanding an immediate halt to European imports of Russian oil and gas and to halt construction of fossil fuel infrastructure.
Image source MSN
Demonstrators gathered outside the London office of asset management firm Vanguard, where dozens of masked protesters sat in their own recliners and lit signal flares.
Amid the pink smoke, protesters held up signs that read "Vanguard, Don't Sink Our Future." Money Rebellion called for "immediate stop investing money in industries that violate human rights and promote global climate action.".
Image credits Reuters/NewsWWC
Meanwhile, activists from climate group Green New Deal "raided" British Commerce and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng, asking him "why he supported the adoption of permits for new gas and oil".
Mr Kwarteng did not respond at the scene, but hours later he wrote on social platforms that "the transition to cheap, clean electricity cannot happen overnight." We will still need oil and gas for decades. It's a fact."
Image credit: Reuters/TheTelegraph
The theme of Earth Day 2022 is "Invest in our Planet", which focuses on encouraging countries and individuals to invest and shift to greener technologies and practices.
Prince Charles, also representing the Royal Family, urged British children to imagine a sustainable future on Earth Day and paint it down to raise awareness of the importance of creating a sustainable world.
Image credit: GuyHinks/PA
In Europe, Germany is one of the EU countries opposing the embargo on Russian oil and gas, with Extinction Rebellion activists in Berlin, Warsaw, Brussels and elsewhere targeting German government or embassy buildings in demonstrations.
Image credits: Feathergunews/FoxNews/Reuters/ETEnergyworld
About 50 activists chanted "as brave as Ukraine" outside Germany's EU representative office in Brussels, while some lay on the ground disguised as "corpses" wrapped around Ukrainian flags and blood-stained clothes.
Image source MSN/AP
The number of COVID-19 infections in the UK continues to decline
According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people currently infected with the coronavirus in the UK is continuing to decline. In the week ending April 16, about 3.76 million people were active with COVID-19, and about 1 in 17 people were infected. That's down about 15% (4.4 million) from the previous week.
Infection rates in the UK have fallen overall in recent weeks, but health officials have warned that levels of the virus remain high.
Image credits ARES/BBC
Duncan Cook, deputy director of the COVID-19 infection investigation, said infection rates in all four parts of the UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have continued to decline. Among them, the infection rate in Wales has decreased for the first time.
In the week ending April 16, the study estimated:
- 1 in 17 people in England is infected, or about 5.9% of the population;
- 1 in 15 people in Wales is infected, or about 6.5% of the population;
- Scotland is infected 1 in 19 people, or about 5.4% of the population;
- Northern Ireland is infected by 1 in 30 people, or about 3.6% of the population.
Image credit: Phil Noble/Reuters
Although large-scale free testing has now been eliminated in the England region, the National Bureau of Statistics said that the spread of the virus in the UK can still be estimated through the current random testing of the public, regardless of whether symptoms of covid-19 are present.
In Scotland, free testing for some members of the public will be available until the end of April, and in Wales and Northern Ireland until the end of June.
Image credit from BBCNews
Other UK data show that the Omicron variant, the BA.2 subspons, remains part of the reason for the recent surge in cases.
The number of hospital admissions due to COVID-19 continues to show a downward trend. The number rose from about 1,100 a day in mid-February to nearly 2,400 at the end of March and now drops to about 2,200 hospital admissions a day. At the same time, the number of virus carriers (who need ventilators) in intensive care in hospitals is about 350.
Image source BBC
This year is expected to "end" the COVID-19 pandemic
WHO warns of the emergence of new variants
At a press conference on Saturday, April 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that there are two ways to achieve the end of the acute phase of COVID-19 this year – increasing vaccination rates and exploring more effective and scientific treatments; and taking steps to stop the spread of the virus.
Image source AFP
Earlier this week, WHO noted that the risk of more deadly variants remains as the virus still circulates in communities around the world. With the arrival of winter in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere, "there is a great risk of another wave of COVID-19 infections".
Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's new infectious diseases, said the possibility of more variants and all the scenarios that could arise in the future of COVID-19 could not be ignored.
Image source Inform
In the face of unexplained cases of severe hepatitis in children in multiple countries, WHO said it was collecting research data to understand the impact of the new crown virus on the heart, lungs, brain and other body parts, while maintaining sustained attention to long-term covid-19 symptoms.
Image source MSN
Boris's father entertained
The ambassador to the UK had lunch at his home
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father, Stanley Johnson Stanley Johnson, posted photos on his personal social platform account this week saying he hosted Chinese Ambassador to britain Zheng Zeguang and his wife Hua Mei at his home in London for lunch.
He said he was "very happy to entertain this Chinese couple and other guests."
Image credit: DailyMail
Nor is it the first time Stanley Stanley Johnson, 81, has published an article publicly related to China, posting a photo of a meeting at the Chinese embassy on social platforms last November.
Ahead of the COP-26 summit in Glasgow, Stanley also said face-to-face conversations with China were "vital," according to The Sunday Times.
Image source TheTelegraph
Update on the latest developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis
From Monday, 28 February, the neck length will be updated daily with important information about the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
01
The Uk kingdom will pay for energy in rubles to Russia by the end of May
UK allows gas payment in rubles /
Under a new licence announced later on Thursday, April 21, the UK Treasury said it would allow payments in rubles to Gazprombank and its subsidiaries for Russian gas imports by May 31, covering all contracts signed before April 21.
Last month, the UK imposed sanctions on Gazprom, allowing British counterparties to end their operations with the bank by April 23. Subsequently, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that "unfriendly" countries need to pay for gas in rubles, and the bank is one of the main payment channels for Oil and Gas in Russia.
Image credit: Bloomberg
In addition, the EU said that Russia's decree requiring payment in rubles would violate sanctions, suggesting that companies can continue to pay for natural gas in euros, but also said in the relevant guidance released that it is "feasible" to use rubles to pay Russia for gas while not violating the sanctions.
A document posted on the EU website and shared with member states says the mechanism of payment in rubles would put full control of the payment process in Putin's hands.
Image credit: GettyImages
02
The EU is discussing the sixth round of sanctions against Russia
Europe discussing sixth round of sanctions /
A senior official at the European Commission and Lithuania's finance minister said Europe was discussing a sixth round of sanctions against Russia, including a crackdown on the Russian energy market.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said issues under consideration included adjusting tariffs and the oil embargo.
Image source MSN
But Valdis Dombrovskis also said it was too early to say when to reach an agreement on the next round of sanctions. She noted that sanctions required agreement among member States. At the same time, the sanctions have short- and long-term goals: to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit at the negotiating table and weaken Russia's economy from strengthening its military.
In addition, the EU will focus on continuing to provide support to the Ukrainian government in the short term and how to rebuild Ukraine more effectively in the long term, including continuing to advance the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Image credits
03
The UN Secretary-General will meet separately with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine
UN Chief will Meet Putin and Zelensky /
The United Nations said on Friday, April 22, that U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres would travel to Moscow next week to consult with President Vladimir Putin on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, followed by a trip to Ukraine to meet with President Zelenskiy.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Putin will meet with the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday, April 26. It is planned to meet with Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian foreign ministers on Thursday, April 28.
Image credit: timesnewsnetwork
It is reported that the face-to-face talks were requested by Guterres in an attempt to regain the initiative for the United Nations, which has been largely marginalized since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and unable to participate in this crisis.
Part of the reason is that the war has divided the permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, France, Britain, China, and Russia).
Image credit: Xinhua
U.N. spokeswoman Stephane Dujarric said this week that "at this time of crisis and grave consequences, the UN wants to discuss urgent measures to achieve peace in Ukraine."
Guterres has not had close contact with Zelenskiy since the beginning of the war, and only spoke to him on the phone on March 26.
Image credit: EPA/Justin Lane/TASS
World epidemic update
According to the National Health Commission's notification on April 23 (Saturday), in the past 24 hours, Chinese mainland 2,988 new confirmed cases, 21,423 asymptomatic infected people, and 12 new deaths, all in Shanghai.
There were 2,736 new confirmed cases and 20,634 asymptomatic infected people in Shanghai. The average age of the 12 deaths was 88.2 years and none had been vaccinated against COVID-19. The direct causes of death are all underlying diseases.
Image source WSJ
Since March, there have been 72 outbreaks of different origins in Hangzhou, with a total of 257 cases of infection. Affected by the epidemic, the gongshu district of the city launched a secondary response at 2 o'clock on April 23, and the nucleic acid test was carried out by all employees, and it was not necessary to leave the community.
According to Agence France-Presse on April 22 (Friday), Husain Al-Musallam, director general of the Asian Olympic Council, said that the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games may face the possibility of postponing the holding of the 2023. "Although the Olympic Council has not yet made a formal decision, there is indeed a possibility of an extension," he said. ”
Image credit AP/Bloomberg
According to the findings released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 22, local time, COVID-19 in 2021 has become the third leading factor in American death for the second consecutive year. In 21 years, 460,513 people in the United States died of COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 positivity based on underlying diseases, an increase of nearly 20% compared to 2020.
Heart disease (693,000) and cancer (604,000) are the first and second leading causes of death in Americans.
Image credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters
The Portuguese General Directorate of Health (DGS) said that between 12 and 18 April, the country reported 60,083 new confirmed cases and 139 deaths.
Given that the infection rate was under control, the country's Health Minister, Marta Temido, approved at a cabinet meeting to remove the legal requirement to wear masks in indoor settings, while ending the requirement for travelers traveling to the country to fill out passenger locators.
However, the mandatory wearing of masks in hospitals and public transportation remains.
Image credit Yahoo
According to the federal ministry of health reported on Saturday, 23 April, india has had 2,527 new confirmed cases and 33 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that as the number of new confirmed cases in several northern Indian states is increasing, citizens of that state should continue to wear masks and strictly adhere to COVID-19 restrictions.
UK Daily Death/Cure Data Analysis
Trend chart of increasing cases of illness and death in the United Kingdom Image source GOV.UK
England · England
Image source GOV.UK official
Data from 22 April: 12,883 confirmed COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, bringing the total cumulative number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to 716,832 (+9,976).
There are currently 283 (-11) COVID-19 patients using ventilators in England, and a total of 150,711 (+1,721) of COVID-19 patients who have died.
Wales region · Wales
Image source Welsh region official
Data from 22 April: 5 deaths recorded in Wales.
Northern Ireland · Northern Ireland
Image source Northern Ireland region official
Data from 22 April: A total of 27 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (=) and 19,687 confirmed COVID-19 patients (+3) have been discharged, with a cure rate of 99.8%. There are 2 suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients in the severe ICU (-3) and 14 spare severe ICU beds (+3).
Scotland region · Scotland
Image source Scottish region official
Since 5 March 2021, a total of 60,974 (+81) confirmed patients have been discharged from hospitals in Scotland. As of midnight on 22 April, 1,702 suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients had recent hospitalizations (-117), of which 7 (-7) were confirmed to be in the Intensive Care Unit ICU.