Chris Whitty

The government will be introducing a smoking ban, extending the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces.

Smoking ban UK: key things you need to know

Rishi Sunak wants to ban smoking for a generation. Credit: Kim Mogg/Getty

Explainer MPs vote for lifetime smoking ban

Condoms are in short supply at sexual health clinics. (Picture: Adobe Stock)

Sex clinics forced to "ration" free condoms

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Dorland House in London, where he was giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA)

How much money has been spent on the Covid Inquiry so far?

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer. (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

UK responded "too late" to Covid-19, Sir Chris Whitty tells inquiry

Professor Sir Chris Whitty arrives in Downing Street, London. (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.)

Sir Chris Whitty calls for "old-fashioned" approach to staying healthy

England’s former deputy chief medical officer, Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam. (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Former medical officer during Covid pandemic takes new job at Moderna

Covid inquiry to start inspecting Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps this week

Boris Johnson to hand over WhatsApp messages directly to Covid inquiry

Covid inquiry threatens legal action over Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps

Matt Hancock (left) and Gavin Williamson pictured in 2018 (Image: Getty)

Matt Hancock and Gavin Williamson 'argued over school return policy'

Keir Starmer has demanded the Covid-19 inquiry release its findings by the end of the year as he attacked Matt Hancock over a leaked cache of messages sent during the pandemic. Credit: Getty Images

‘Insulting and ghoulish’: Starmer attacks Hancock over leaked messages

Matt Hancock who returned to the Houses of Parliament for first time since his I’m A Celebrity appearance has released his pandemic diaries.

Hancock says ministers were told Covid could kill 820,000 people in UK

Rising Covid infections have largely been fuelled by the BA.2 sub-variant (Composite: Kim Mogg / JPIMedia)

Two telltale signs of infection from Stealth Omicron not to ignore

The UK’s SSP is one of the least generous in Europe (image: Adobe)

How much is UK statutory sick pay and how does it compare?

Sir Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Sir Patrick Vallance at the press conference on “Living With Covid’” at Downing Street (Photo: Getty)

Self-preservation trumps science in PM’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan

The government is expected to scrap mandatory Covid jabs for NHS staff (Photo: Getty Images)

U-turn on mandatory Covid jabs for NHS staff as Omicron ‘less severe’
The government plans to scrap the requirement for health and social care workers in England to be vaccinated against Covid
Claire Schofield

Jonathan Chew (right) was jailed for eight weeks for accosting Professor Chris Whitty.

Man jailed for eight weeks for accosting and filming Chris Whitty

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam joined the Department for Health and Social Care on secondment from the University of Nottingham in 2017 (Photo: STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Who will replace Jonathan Van-Tam when he steps down as DCMO?

Sir Jonathan Van-Tam to leave role as deputy chief medical officer

Boris Johnson will be presented with Omicron data from over Christmas ahead of making a decision on whether new measures will be introduced for England. (Credit: Getty)

PM not expected to announce new measures after reviewing Omicron data

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (Covid-19). Picture date: Tuesday January 4, 2022.

100,000 critical workers to get daily lateral flows from next week

Should I meet unvaccinated relatives and friends this Christmas?

Should I meet unvaccinated relatives and friends this Christmas?

(Composite: Kim Mogg / JPIMedia

Can lateral flows give a false positive? Accuracy of tests explained

Boris Johnson has confirmed that Plan B restrictions in England will continue. (Credit: Getty)

Boris Johnson confirms Plan B restrictions set to continue in England

Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty (Photo: Henry Nicholls/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

New Year honours list 2022: the list in full as Chris Whitty knighted

Business leaders have called for further support for the hospitality sector due to concerns that the new Omicron Covid variant led to a drop-off in trade in the run-up to Christmas (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Business leaders call for further support for pubs and restaurants

Members of the public continue with their Christmas Shopping in the city centre on December 15, 2021 in Glasgow (Photo: Getty)

We should allow ourselves some optimism this Christmas
Yes, it’s another Christmas that’s been badly hit by Covid, but there are reasons to look ahead to 2022 with a degree of optimism
Nick Mitchell

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Christmas music quiz questions and answers 2021: best Xmas song trivia

The UK has reported its highest daily total of Covid-19 cases, with the number reaching above 100,000 for the first time. (Credit: Getty)

Daily Covid cases reach 100,000 for first time since pandemic began

Families could be asked to limit the number of people they meet indoors over Christmas (Photo: Getty Images)

The 3 options Boris Johnson is considering to limit Omicron

The booster jab will trigger an immune response within days (Photo: Getty)

Booster jab triggers immune response in ‘two to three days’

Hospitals already near capacity ahead of Omicron surge, figures show

Thousands of over 50s have come forward for their first jab in recent weeks

Exclusive: Surge in over-50s coming forward for first Covid jab

Professor Chris Whitty told MPs that Omicron “is highly transmissible and the rates are going to continue to go up”

Covid hospitalisations could reach record high - Prof Whitty

Prof Whitty encouraged people to avoid events that are not the most important to them (Photo: Getty Images)

Prioritise Christmas events that matter Brits told as Covid cases soar

The public are being warned that the Omicron strain poses a “serious threat” to the country as the UK record its highest ever daily acse total. (Credit: Getty)

Public warned over ‘serious threat’ of Omicron amid spiralling cases

The UK is the first country in the world to license the drug for use (Photo: Shutterstock)

‘Game changing’ Covid pill to be rolled out ‘before Christmas’

(Composite: Kim Mogg / JPIMedia)

The UK areas with lowest number of people vaccinated against Covid

Nicki Minaj Twitter: what did she say about Covid-19 and vaccines?

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty holds a news conference recommending all children aged 12-15 should be vaccinated against Covid-19

Reasons why Chris Whitty wants 12 to 15 year olds to get Covid jab

Parents of children aged 12 to 15 will be asked to give their consent if the jabs are approved for this age group (Photo: Getty Images)

Children aged 12 to 15 will need parental consent to get Covid jab

Scientists at the ZOE Symptom Study App have said their data shows sneezing and having a runny nose are common Covid symptoms (image: Shutterstock)

Most common Covid symptoms in the last month for people with both jabs

All remaining legal lockdown restrictions lifted in England on 19 July (Photo: Getty Images)

The 10 weirdest moments of the last 18 months as restrictions end in England

Mr Cummings shared WhatsApp messages sent by Mr Johnson with the BBC (Photo: Getty Images)

PM accused of resisting second lockdown as people dying were ‘all over 80’

Mr Cummings shared WhatsApp messages sent by Mr Johnson with the BBC (Photo: Getty Images)

PM accused of resisting second lockdown as people dying were ‘all over 80’

Professor Chris Whitty (Photo by Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

‘We’re not out of the woods yet’: Prof Chris Whitty’s warning ahead of 19 July

Boris Johnson has said we must now learn to live with the virus (Photo: Getty Images)

‘There will never be zero risk’: why we will have to learn to live with Covid

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (5 July) that lockdown restrictions in England are set to be lifted on 19 July (Photo: Shutterstock)

The supermarket and shops rules after lockdown restrictions lift in England

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during a media briefing in Downing Street, London (Photo: PA)

What Boris Johnson said about lifting England's Covid restrictions on 19 July

A 'Covid Marshall' from Westminster City Council ensures people are following the Covid restricitions as pubs and hospitality venues reopen across England (Picture: Getty Images)

Doctors warn lifting restrictions on 19 July could have 'devastating impact'

Sajid Javid is thought to be taking a more 'liberal' approach to Coronavirus lockdowns, as he announced lifting restrictions was a main priority in his new role as Health Secretary (Picture: Getty Images)

Quarantine to end for fully vaccinated people in coming weeks, reports suggest

Man filmed harassing Chris Whitty apologises after losing his job (Photo by Matt Dunham-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Man filmed harassing Chris Whitty apologises after losing his job

Police investigating after footage emerges of two men harassing Chris Whitty (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Police investigating after footage emerges of two men harassing Chris Whitty

The 10 day isolation period may be scrapped.

Fully-vaccinated may be spared isolation after contact with a Covid case

Hancock has been blamed by opposition parties for failing to act early enough on Delta variant, which originated in India (Picture: Getty Images)

Hancock claims he took action against Delta variant before it became a threat

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced there will be no extension to business support if current data is anything to go by (Picture: Getty Images)

No data to suggest need for business support extension, Boris Johnson announces