Here are the coronavirus morning headlines for Monday, February 7, as daily Covid figures continue to plunge across the UK as infections fell by more than 21% in a week.
UK figures showed 54,095 cases on Sunday, a decrease from the 69,007 cases that were reported the week before. Meanwhile there were another 75 deaths registered - a 17.9% fall from the 91 deaths reported on January 30.
The latest figures from Public Health Wales showed 11 deaths and 1,898 new positive cases over a 24-hour period.
The latest infection rate based on PCR tests, for the seven days up to January 31, now stands at 500.4 cases for every 100,000 people – a reduction from the 521.5 recorded on Friday. Cases in your area here.
The figures come after data from the Care National Audit and Research Centre revealed that number of patients being admitted to intensive care units for Covid in England, Wales and Northern Ireland fell to as little as two in one day last month.
Although the figures may be slightly higher after being revised for a time lag, the centre's head statistician said towards the end of January, admissions would still be 'in the region of 20-30 per day'.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Sir David Spiegelhalter, said: "The Omicron wave saw a huge rise in cases, and a moderate rise in hospitalisations. And yet ICU admissions showed no rise whatsoever, and now are rapidly falling.
"Since more than half of ICU admissions have not been vaccinated, this suggests an intrinsically milder virus rather than just increased protection from vaccination."
The new report from ICNARC also found that the percentage of unvaccinated patients admitted to critical care with confirmed Covid-19 decreased from 75% in May 2021 to 47% in October 2021 but increased to 61% in December.
The figures come after Wales announced it was planting three woodlands in memory of the people who had died from the virus in the nation.
The first two woodlands will be planted on part of the National Trust Cymru's Erddig Estate in Wrexham, and at a site at Brownhill in the Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire. A memorial woodland is also expected to be grown in south east Wales, however a location has not yet been chosen.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "It has been almost two years since the coronavirus pandemic hit Wales. Too many people have been taken too soon by this awful virus. We will remember all of them and keep them in our hearts and our minds.
"These woodlands will be a permanent and living memorial to all those who have died. They will also be a symbol of the strength the people of Wales have shown over the past two years."
Read more: All the latest coronavirus new from Wales, UK and the world here.
Phillip Schofield's apology to Holly
Phillip Schofield has apologised to Holly Willoughby as he has continued to test positive for Covid-19, meaning he will be forced to miss upcoming episodes of This Morning again.
The host, 59, previously confirmed that he had contracted coronavirus on Monday, hours after he had helmed the ITV programme with Rochelle Humes.
After isolating for the rest of the week, it was Stephen Mulhern who took after presenting duties on Dancing on Ice last night. Read about how viewers are saying all the same thing about his appearance.
Phillip has now revealed that he will not be able to present tomorrow’s instalment of This Morning with Holly.
Sharing a photo of his latest positive lateral flow test on his Instagram story, he penned: "This really is the day that keeps on giving!! Sorry @thismorning @hollywilloughby."
ITV has since confirmed that Alison Hammond will step in to replace him on Monday morning.
Strictly star's apology after pulling out of live tour
Strictly Come Dancing star, John Whaite, has sadly been forced to pull out of the live tour after testing positive for coronavirus.
The TV star, who won Great British Bake Off, apologised to the public as he told them a lateral flow test had come back positive on Sunday (February 6).
In a video he posted from his hotel bed, he said that he would be missing the show with dance partner Johannes Radebe for at least two nights.
Speaking in the video John said: "Hi everyone, little bit of bad news I'm afraid. A lateral flow this morning has come back positive so I now have to sit here in this glamorous captivity until a result of a PCR come back - and I'm hoping they come back negative because I feel fine."
He added: "I'm triple jabbed, I had coronavirus in summer, so I'm hoping it's just a false positive. But that does mean of course that I won't be able to perform today or tonight in Glasgow.
"I am very, very, very, very, very sorry if anyone was hoping to see me shake my thing on the dance floor because I just won't be there shaking it.
"I'll be in my hotel room - probably still shaking it - but that isn't something I wish the world could see because it isn't pretty, darling.
"When you're not in sparkles and sequins, it ain't pretty.
"Anyway, I'm sorry I can't be there. I hope you enjoy the show nonetheless, and good luck to all my friend who are in the show today. I'm sorry I'm letting you all down."
State of emergency declared in Canada's capital
The mayor of Canada's capital declared a state of emergency as protesters opposed to Covid-19 restrictions continued to paralyse Ottawa's downtown.
Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders.
Thousands of protesters descended in Ottawa again on the weekend, joining a hundred who remained since last weekend.
Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a "siege" that he could not manage.
The "freedom truck convoy" has attracted support from many US Republicans including former president Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far left lunatic" who has "destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates".
But Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador under Barack Obama, tweeted: "Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues.
"Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies."
Mr Heyman said "under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop."
After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent US Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis complained.
But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all. The site said it cut off funding for the organisers because it had determined the effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called the ongoing situation in Ottawa an occupation.
Australian borders WILL open later this month
Australia’s borders will open to all remaining visa holders on 21 February – if they’re double vaccinated. Prime minister Scott Morrison has said.
He add that "event earlier this year" surrounding Novak Djokovic deportation would have made Australia’s position on vaccination clear:
In a statement on Monday, he said: "It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia. The national cabinet has decided today Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on February 21 of this year.
"We have been progressively opening our borders since November of last year. Those programs have proceeded very successfully. Whether it was the programs we had in place with New Zealand or Singapore, and then with Japan and South Korea, opening up to international students and backpackers and economic migrants who are coming to Australia, that will now be extended to international visitors who will be able to return.
"The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it. And it’s very important that people understand that requirement if they’re seeking to come to Australia. But if you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia."
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