Manchester Uni Fences Spark Student Fury
Fences went up unannounced at the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield campus on Thursday as a “security measure” to stop households mixing amid Covid restrictions. But students were left fuming after the barriers appeared without warning.
Protests broke out on Thursday evening as angry students pulled down the fences in defiance. The university quickly apologised and promised to remove the fences by Friday.
Zara Tindall Covid Passport Ad Faces Backlash
A coronavirus “passport” app endorsed by Zara Tindall is under fire for misleading health claims. The V-Health Passport lets users upload Covid test results to their phones to prove they’re safe to attend events.
But the ad shows Mrs Tindall taking an antibody test – which government guidance says can’t detect if you currently have the virus. The medical regulator has been called in over worries the advert breaks health rules.
App owner VST Enterprises defended itself, saying the antibody test featured can spot “early stages of infection” and the platform aims to help fans safely return to sports stadiums.
India’s Covid Cases Pass 8.4 Million
India reported 47,638 new Covid cases on Friday, pushing the total past 8.41 million, according to health ministry data. The country remains second only to the US in infection numbers.
Despite the busy Hindu festival season, cases have steadily declined since September. However, deaths rose by 670 in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 124,985.
