UK News

Government announces new self-isolation rules for double-jabbed Brits

Health Secretary Sajid Javid addressed MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday (6 July).

The Manc The Manc - 6th July 2021

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has today announced new self-isolation rules for Britons who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

He announced the changes in an address to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon (6 July).

Mr Javid confirmed that from 16 August, anyone who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) will no longer have to self-isolate if they are double-jabbed.

He also confirmed that anyone aged under 18 who is a close contact of a positive case will also no longer have to self-isolate.

The decision to introduce the new rules on 16 August comes ahead of the return of schools.

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Mr Javid further stated that schools and pupils will be given advice about whether they should get tested depending on their age.

He told MPs: “I understand that some people are cautious about their idea of easing restrictions, but we must balance the risks – the risks of a virus that has diminished but not defeated, against the risks of keeping these restrictions and the health, social and economic hardship that we know they bring.

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“This pandemic is far from over and we will continue to proceed with caution.

“But we’re increasingly confident that our plan is working and that we can soon begin a new chapter based on the foundations of personal responsibility and common sense rather than the blunt instrument of rules and regulations.”

Mr Javid also stated that the government is currently looking at how to remove the need for fully-vaccinated UK arrivals to quarantine after returning from an amber list country.

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The Health Secretary’s address to MPs comes ahead of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s statement regarding the easing of COVID restrictions in education settings – which is expected to be delivered shortly.

Featured Image – UK Parliament

UK News

A rare piglet born at Chester Zoo could help save an entire species from extinction

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rare endangered baby pig born at Chester Zoo

A very cute and rare new arrival at Chester Zoo could potentially save the animal’s future, and she might just be one of the cutest little piglets we’ve ever seen.

Say hello to Rana.

A tiny ‘babirusa’ – also sometimes referred to as the ‘pig-deer’ – Rana is an indigenous species found on just four small Indonesian islands, and one which is sadly on the verge of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Part of the threat to the population is due to African Swine Fever (not to be confused with swine flu), which reached these islands around half a decade ago and could see these precious little pigs considered ‘critically endangered’ very soon. But Chester Zoo are working hard to prevent this outcome.

Credit: Chester Zoo (supplied)

Born this summer, Rana is the baby of mother babirusa Matano, who was herself born at Chester Zoo over a decade ago.

Fast forward 11 years, and she has descendants living in zoos all across Europe, as well as a whole new generation of children here in the UK.

However, she is the first one born in some time, with this particular phylum only ever birthing one or two kids at a time as opposed to a litter like most other pigs.

Described as being like grapefruit “only with legs”, she may be small for now, but she’s growing fast and carries the weight of big hopes and expectations for the rest of her kind.

Chester Zoo conservationists are currently working with partners to protect wild babirusa populations through Action Indonesia‘s Global Species Management Plans.

Helping design camera-trapping projects to monitor babirusas on Sulawesi, and working with other organisations to locate and protect surviving numbers, the aim is to share conservation breeding expertise, with results so far having bred at least 17 babirusas towards national cooperative targets.

For context, only on two occasions were babirusas photographed in the wild during the entirety of 2023-24, hence why efforts have been ramped up even further over the past year or so.

Amy Humphreys, a conservationist at the zoo who is working with Action Indonesia, the country’s government and other groups to combat their decline and rescue this species, says we are in “a race against time” to save these omnivorous, ‘charismatic’ and intelligent pigs.

She goes on to add that “babirusas are important to island ecosystems as they drop seeds as they forage, helping forest regeneration, and they are a key indicator species for overall environmental health, but their situation is bleak.

“We risk losing a truly unique species, one that’s an important part of Indonesia’s cultural and natural heritage and one of the oldest pig species still living […] Rana’s arrival is worth celebrating; her birth is a chance to shine a light on babirusas and show people why they deserve protection.”

It’s uplifting and inspiring stories like this that constantly remind us why we’re fortunate we are to have the award-winning zoo and conservation centre in our region; and if you were wondering whether we’ll be booking a trip soon just in hopes of seeing little Rana running around, you’d be absolutely right.

You can get tickets to visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer
We’re honestly so lucky to have it on our doorstep.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

UK News

North West comedy podcast set to ‘replace Live at the Apollo’ with FREE YouTube alternative

Danny Jones Danny Jones Have A Word pod to replace Live at the Apollo for free on YouTube

Hit North West comedy podcast Have A Word has said that it will be “replacing” Live at the Apollo following the beloved British stand-up show being cancelled this past July.

The popular Have A Word pod is one of the biggest in the UK, not to mention boasting one of the biggest Patreon memberships around.

Famously described by executive producer and co-host Carl Reigler, as well as its most avid followers, as a ‘FREE podcast that more than 32,000 people still choose to pay for’, their in-house studio already puts out regular monthly specials, produces fellow comedians’ stand-up specials and other podcasts.

And now, it looks like they’re aiming to fill the void left by Live at the Apollo, stating that they “believe there needs to be a regular stand-up series that showcases the best comedians in the country.”

Sharing a lengthy statement on their social media accounts, they wrote: “A combination of big names and the comics you haven’t heard of yet that are about to become your new favourite. But maybe it doesn’t need to be on terrestrial TV anymore…

“We are going to create that show and release it on [their] YouTube. The platform is already being utilised for comics to self-release specials; however, this, we believe, will be the first series of its kind on the platform.”

Led by Scouse comic Adam Rowe and former Manchester resident turned ‘Beat The Frog’ co-founder Dan Nightingale – who we were lucky enough to talk to chat with back in 2022 – they’ve given guest appearances to countless up-and-coming stars on the modern circuit.

Nightingale, who also founded the infamous ‘Beat The Frog’ format at the Frog and Bucket in the Northern Quarter, also compères regular nights as part of the Comedians Club Chester, providing even more opportunities for rising stars within the genre to get up on stage.

They go on to say, “We want to use the channel we’ve built to give comics an opportunity to do their stuff without the shackles and censorship that naturally come with broadcast TV. We believe there needs to be a regular stand-up series that showcases the best comedians in the country.

“A combination of big names and the comics you haven’t heard of yet that are about to become your new favourite. But maybe it doesn’t need to be on terrestrial TV anymore…”

In case you missed the news and how the unfortunate axing has come about (besides digital entertainment and streaming becoming increasingly dominant), you can find the full story down below.

BBC cancel three hit shows, including legendary stand-up series, Live at the Apollo
22 years of spotlighting stand-up stars from all over.

Circling back to the mission statement from the pod crew, they signed off by adding, “This is the most excited we have been about a project for quite some time.”

“We cannot wait to show you what we do with this.”

Speaking on their most recent Patreon exclusive episode, Rowe went on to detail that they will be running the new live and straight-to-digital show from grassroots comedy venues, promising that the duo will not only MC, but also perform new material and spotlight at least two other talents on every episode.

The outpouring of support for the project has already begun, with plenty of fellow comics, podcast listeners, comedy fans and more praising the idea in the comments, racking up hundreds of responses and more than 12.7k comments on their Instagram alone.

What do you make of the plans to become ‘the new home’ of live comedy broadcasting?

Meanwhile, viewers and famous alumni alike are still mourning the loss of the UK TV institution, with the likes of another ex-Manc resident and UoM graduate Jack Whitehall, among many others, sharing old routines and crediting the programme’s influence on generations of the live stand-up circuit.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Have A Word Studios/Jack Finnigan (via IG)/BBC )screenshot via YouTube)

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