What's New

The alert level four restrictions introduced in Wales before Christmas are to remain in place and will be strengthened in some key areas to prevent the new, highly-infectious, strain of the virus spreading from person to person in those shops and workplaces which remain open.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has made a statement to Parliament regarding schools in national lockdown in which he confirmed many of the arrangements previously announced by the Prime Minister (see “New lockdown announced for England”).

When the 11-month transition period ended on 31 December 2020, the UK finally completed its slow withdrawal from the European Union with, at the last possible moment, a trade deal setting out at least part of their future relationship.

Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people are being advised to follow shielding advice following new national lockdown measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 4 January 2021.

The Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK by the MHRA, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued updated advice recommending that as many people as possible in high-risk groups be given their first vaccine dose.

The Prime Minister announced a further national lockdown in England on 4 January 2021 with people told to stay at home, except for specific reasons including essential shopping, to work (if it is not reasonable for their job to be done at home), to exercise, to seek medical help or to escape domestic abuse.

On 30 December, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced plans for secondary schools to delay the return of pupils after the Christmas holidays but said that the majority of primary schools would not be affected (see “More delays for those returning to school in January”).

In a statement to the House of Commons, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that children’s education is an “absolute priority” for the Government and keeping schools open is “uppermost in all of our plans”.

Following the Government’s decision to introduce new Tier 4 restrictions from 20 December (see GB Governments introduce tougher rules now and at Christmas), it has produced further guidance for the most vulnerable people in these areas.

Ofqual has published the computer code developed to support GCSE, AS and A level awarding of calculated grades earlier this year.