What the papers said in the week to 11 December 2021
Covid threat:
As we near Christmas, the determination to wish away the pandemic has begun to look like an example of ostrich-with-head-in-the-sand. Early this week anxieties about the reality began to appear in headlines: Monday briefing: Next pandemic could be worse, expert warns | | The Guardian
- The observation is that failure to pursue a global strategy has left the virus free to grow and diversify in poor countries who lack the means to combat it: Omicron variant is vaccine inequality wake-up call, says South Africa’s President Ramaphosa – video | World news | The Guardian
- Before the end of the week restrictions of movement and social behaviour had been announced: Boris Johnson rushes in Covid plan B amid Christmas party scandal | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Evidence that people in positions of privilege have not taken the laws designed to protect the community seriously has damaged confidence and aroused criticism and anger: No 10’s sickening insult to all those who made sacrifices | Letters | The Guardian
Care Homes:
We learn of the failure of some homes to cope with the pressures, loss of staff and rising costs. Sudden closure puts residents and their families under dreadful pressure: Care home in Kent gives families 10 hours’ notice of closure | Social care | The Guardian
- It seems likely that visiting arrangements to people in care homes or hospitals will become more restrictive in an attempt to stem the spread of the latest new variant Care home residents in England to be allowed only three visitors at Christmas | Social care | The Guardian
Death, dying and life after death are being talked about and written about as never before: Life after death: how the pandemic has transformed our psychic landscape | Death and dying | The Guardian
Some extra deaths can be seen to arise from greater consumption of alcohol in the changed circumstances which the lockdowns have brought Britain’s drinking deaths rose at record rate in pandemic | Alcohol | The Guardian
- There are strategies to deal with this secondary epidemic The 12 steps may not work for everyone, but can transform lives | Letters | The Guardian
Other matters:
Viruses are a scourge beyond Homo Sapiens: Minister confirms UK has been hit by record bird flu outbreak | Bird flu | The Guardian
Grim evidence that Crucifixion was practised by Romans in this country. A nail survives to tell the tale near Cambridge: Best physical evidence of Roman crucifixion found in Cambridgeshire | Archaeology | The Guardian
The importance of grandparents to family life and economy is recognised: Saga to introduce paid leave for birth of a grandchild | Childcare | The Guardian
David Olusoga’s multi-dimensional inquiries and presentations of history have brought him popular acclaim – and now an award from the British Academy Historian David Olusoga awarded President’s Medal | Awards and prizes | The Guardian
Charities are reminded of their responsibilities and rights to speak out: Charity regulator should keep out of ‘woke’ debates, says prospective chair | Charities | The Guardian
The churches are finding their way more regularly into the headlines. This week we learn about what the best dressed vicars will be wearing for Christmas M&S ‘believe’ Christmas jumper becomes ‘new uniform’ for UK clergy | Anglicanism | The Guardian
David Jolley
