Wait, where did 2021 go?
Hope lies in the possibility that this will be forgotten not merely as an extension of the year that preceded…
ByCovid-19
Covid-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus Sars-Cov-2, which caused a global pandemic from early 2020, necessitating national lockdowns and a huge vaccination programme. Read all of our latest coverage below.
V is for Variants: The Alpha and Omicron of Covid-19’s journey so far
This year, it became clear that new strains would prolong the pandemic.
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Ten crucial questions about the world in 2022
The New Statesman’s international editor identifies important global trends in the year ahead – and makes some predictions.
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I backed every lockdown – but the cost of another is simply too great
For all our talk of saving lives, we have emptied life of joy, touch, conviviality.
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How Brexit Britain became “Plague Island”
The Remain-Leave divide has taken a new form during the pandemic but both sides of Brexit may now be uniting…
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Omicron might be milder but it could still overwhelm the NHS
If the Tories want to rule out future lockdowns, they need to significantly expand healthcare capacity.
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Is a huge NHS tax rise the only way to make lockdowns history?
Without a debate about paying for extra capacity in hospitals, pandemic chaos will continue to threaten the economy.
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Would the British public support another lockdown?
After the vaccine roll-out, voters are less fearful of catching coronavirus and more sceptical of new restrictions.
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Is Omicron milder than previous Covid variants?
What Omicron loses in lethality it might make up for in greater transmissibility, which would still put pressure on the…
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Rishi Sunak’s £1bn won’t save stricken hospitality firms from “lockdown from below”
The chancellor’s rescue package, announced yesterday, is a paltry amount – particularly after mixed government messaging caused this “lockdown from…
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Even without a lockdown, Omicron is already hammering businesses
The debate over whether or not to have an official lockdown risks distracting from the real problems on the ground.
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In January, I made ten predictions for 2021 – how did they turn out?
Our international editor’s end-of-year report card.
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The crisis in Covid vaccine messaging is leaving pregnant women unprotected from Omicron
Vaccines don’t increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth or stillbirth – they reduce them, by protecting women from Covid-19.
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How likely am I to catch Omicron?
The new variant is expected to become the dominant strain in the UK – and already is in London.
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How the booster roll-out will affect your NHS treatment
Pandemic disruption has already led to a record waiting list of six million patients in need of treatment, A&E care…
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French travel restrictions won’t keep Omicron out – but they will disrupt holiday plans
Travel bans have been tried before – they didn’t stop the virus before and they won’t do so now.
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Is Britain heading for a Christmas “lockdown by stealth”?
Hospitality businesses report that cancellations are rocketing as people try to avoid the virus.
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The Conservatives have become the anti-lockdown party – and that’s a problem for Boris Johnson
It is hard to see how any Conservative Prime Minister would be able to sign off another lockdown and remain…
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The West’s failure to vaccinate the developing world risks future Covid variants, warns Covax head
Aurélia Nguyen on the dangerous consequences of vaccine hoarding by wealthy countries.
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Could the furlough scheme be reintroduced?
The cost of bringing back the furlough scheme would be lower than failing to do so, say economists and business…
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