UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid visits St George’s Hospital in south-west London. PA
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid visits St George’s Hospital in south-west London. PA
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid visits St George’s Hospital in south-west London. PA
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid visits St George’s Hospital in south-west London. PA

New UK coronavirus restrictions would be ‘last resort’


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

Britons will have to learn to live with coronavirus in 2022 to avoid the worst effects of prolonged lockdowns, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

He said that during his six months in the role, he had been struck by the health, economic and social problems caused by restrictions on normal daily life.

New Covid-19 curbs should be an “absolute last resort”, with the UK entering the new year with some of the least restrictive measures in Europe, Mr Javid wrote in the Daily Mail.

“I’ve been determined that we must give ourselves the best chance of living alongside the virus and avoiding strict measures in the future,” he wrote.

He said it was inevitable there would be a big increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with the virus in January, given the lag between infection and serious illness. The UK reported almost 190,000 new cases on Friday, a record.

The British Medical Association called for further public health measures “urgently to prevent the health service being completely overwhelmed”.

Figures showed that hospital admissions in England have risen to their highest since January last year.

The number of National Health Service hospital staff absent with the virus or isolating after contact with a case has almost doubled in a month.

Senior officials said hospital managers would have to consider a temporary bar on visitors in the next few weeks.

Matthew Taylor, who leads the body that represents hospital trusts, said such a move would be a “last resort”.

“When you’re facing the kind of pressures the health service is going to be under for the next few weeks, this is the kind of thing managers have to do,” he said.

“I understand how much people want to return to normal and I’m confident that, as this year progresses, we will be able to do that, and we all hope that 2022 is the year in which coronavirus just becomes an illness that we live with, not an illness that dominates our lives.

“But you can have the optimism but still recognise the next few weeks are going to be very tough and we need to do whatever is necessary to get us through these next few weeks.”

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Ovo's tips to find extra heat
  • Open your curtains when it’s sunny 
  • Keep your oven open after cooking  
  • Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy 
  • Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat 
  • Put on extra layers  
  • Do a few star jumps  
  • Avoid alcohol   
Profile

Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: January 01, 2022, 3:45 PM