Isolation period for people with coronavirus symptoms to be extended
Pockets of new cases have surfaced in recent weeks across the UK, prompting ministers to prolong the quarantine period for those experiencing symptoms in a bid to bring numbers back down.
The self-isolation period for anyone suffering from coronavirus symptoms is expected to be increased from seven to 10 days.
Pockets of new cases have surfaced in recent weeks across the UK, prompting ministers to prolong the quarantine period in a bid to bring numbers back down.
Current rules state that anyone suffering a persistent cough, loss of taste/smell and/or fever should be tested and self-isolate for seven days.
This is expected to be extended to 10 days for people in England.
According to the BBC, it is “unclear” whether Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit.
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Several regions have been forced to bring in extra measures since lockdown lifted, including Blackburn, Oldham, Wrexham and Staffordshire.
Oldham and Blackburn have warned residents to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others.
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The army have been drafted in to set up extra testing centres in Wrexham.
Outbreaks in Staffordshire has been linked to a pub in Stone – which resulted from around 200 people packing into a beer garden.
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty, is expected to confirm details of the extended isolation period later on today (30 July).
Outbreaks in Europe have also raised discussions of an incoming second wave – although the World Health Organisation have said there is no evidence that COVID-19 will follow a similar pattern to seasonal flus.
Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, suggested that coronavirus could be ‘one big wave’ – which will continue to go ‘up and down’.
“The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet,” she stated.
An increase in cases in Spain has seen the UK Government add the nation to its red list – meaning any arrivals in Britain will now have to quarantine for 14 days.
However, there are ongoing discussions to reduce this quarantine period, which may see a standard 10-day isolation introduced for those showing symptoms and people entering the UK from at-risk countries.
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Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
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More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
The Manc -
30th July 2020 
