Covid-19: Polls open for elections and US backs waiver on vaccine patentson May 6, 2021 at 6:44 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Thursday morning.

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Thursday morning. We’ll have another update for you this evening.

Polls have opened on what is the Britain’s biggest voting day since the 2019 general election. Many of the elections – on what has been dubbed “Super Thursday” – were due to be held last year but the pandemic forced their delay, meaning that more than usual are taking place this time. Elections for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, and 143 councils and 13 mayors in England are happening. A Westminster by-election is also taking place in Hartlepool.

Ballot box
Short presentational grey line

The US has thrown its support behind an initiative at the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines. India and South Africa put forward the proposal to set aside patents on vaccines six months ago, arguing it would increase production around the world. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures”. But pharmaceutical companies insist patents are not the primary obstacle, and cautioned that the move could stifle innovation.

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus disease

image copyrightReuters

Short presentational grey line

Almost all of 50 of the UK’s biggest employers questioned by the BBC have said they do not plan to bring staff back to the office full-time. Some 43 of the firms said they would embrace a mix of home and office working, with staff encouraged to work from home two to three days a week. Four firms said they were keeping the idea of hybrid working, working from home some of the time, under review. Currently, people who can work from home are still advised to do so.

Short presentational grey line

As the pandemic starts to ease, Dr Dan Gearon and many other doctors across the country are voicing the need to have better mental health services for medics. He created the charity, You Okay, Doc? after his cousin Liz, who was an anaesthetist at King’s College London, took her own life in 2016.

Short presentational grey line

Like many people, Chloe Dickenson’s travel plans ground to a halt last year when the world was thrown into lockdown. A so-called “digital nomad”, the 22-year-old was living and working from her laptop overseas. With improved wi-fi and flexible workspaces across the globe, digital nomadism has boomed over recent years. And while the global travel restrictions have temporarily grounded many such nomads, longer term the movement is expected to grow much further. Read more here.

Digital nomad Chloe Dickenson and her boyfriend Matt

image copyright Chloe Dickenson

line

Hand sanitiser, plastic screens and one-way systems are some of the things you can expect at polling stations today. Things are a bit different this year so find out what it will be like when you go to vote – try to remember to take a pen or pencil for hygiene reasons (some should be available in the polling station, for anyone who forgets).

Find further information, advice and guides on our coronavirus page.

Government statistics show 127,570 people have now died, up 27 in the latest 24-hour period. In total 4,425,940 people have tested positive, up 2,144 in the latest 24-hour period. Latest figures show 1,285 people in hospital. In total, 34,795,074 people have received their first vaccination
line
YQA logo

What questions do you have about coronavirus?

In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can’t see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.

Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - Blue
Footer - Blue
- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Ohio town rues chemical train derailment as ‘our Chernobyl’on February 17, 2023 at 3:32 am

Residents of this close-knit community fear the railroad disaster has changed their lives forever.Residents of this close-knit community fear the railroad disaster has changed...

Pug health so poor it ‘can’t be considered a typical dog’ – studyon May 18, 2022 at 11:25 am

New research has revealed the health of pugs is now different and largely worse than other dogs.

Amina-Faye Johnson: Parents of baby who died with 65 broken bones jailedon January 28, 2022 at 3:45 pm

Amina-Faye Johnson suffered 41 fractures to her ribs and 24 more to other limbs.Image source, Met PoliceA couple have been jailed over the death...

Julia James: Death of PCSO found in Snowdown woods treated as murderon April 28, 2021 at 7:24 pm

Colleagues believe the death of serving community support officer Julia James is suspicious.Colleagues believe the death of serving community support officer Julia James is...

Birmingham’s self-made crypto-millionaire giving backon February 9, 2022 at 3:06 am

Hanad Hassan started investing in cryptocurrency when he was a teenager and is now worth almost $8m.