National News

The vaccine has been shown to prevent severe disease and stop people contracting Covid-19.

The Met Office issued fresh warnings for snow for Wednesday, with the potential to cause rail and road closures, power cuts, and injuries.

Virus patient numbers have reached their highest levels during the pandemic, with 51,135 further cases and 414 deaths reported on Tuesday.

Wildlife Trusts warn the marine environment is under threat from plastic pollution.

Matt Hancock is due to address the Commons on Wednesday afternoon

Many of Wednesday’s front pages are led by the tightening of coronavirus restrictions and the UK’s trade deal with the EU.

The UK Government has said the agreement works for Scotland.

Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of the Government’s Covid-19 Operations committee on Tuesday to discuss changes to the tier system.

A committee of MPs have said that significant challenges are coming on January 1.

Mr Johnson has insisted that UK will be ‘the best friend and ally the EU could have’, whilst fulfilling the ‘sovereign wish’ of the British people.

The anonymous doctor said his hospital will need to ration oxygen if the situation worsens.

The Essex Resilience Forum said the “significant growing demand” on hospitals in the county threatened to overwhelm health services.

MPs will vote on the Brexit agreement reached between the UK and the EU when Parliament returns on Wednesday.

Footage shared on social media of Queen’s Hospital in Romford appears to show dozens of emergency vehicles queueing outside the hospital.

Brentwood, Epping Forest and Thurrock – all in Essex – continue to have the highest rates.

With case rates rising in all regions of England, and record patient numbers, changes are likely to see areas moving up a tier rather than down.

A monkey which lives on the side of an extinct volcano and a lungless worm salamander are among the Natural History Museum discoveries.

Members will debate the post-Brexit trade deal in the Senedd on Wednesday.

Local leaders in Kent have praised the ‘kindness and humanity’ showed by charitable organisations and individuals over the Christmas period.

Wales entered Level 4 restrictions – a national lockdown – on December 20.