Covid: Compulsory jabs scrapped, and the rise in eating disorders

Here are four things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday morning.

1. Compulsory jabs scrapped

Compulsory Covid jabs for care workers are being scrapped in England. The policy was introduced last year but immunity levels, and the Omicron variant causing less severe illness means the mandatory requirement will end on 15 March. The change is expected to spark outrage from those who have had to quit their jobs. Read more here.

News imageGetty Images Care home worker holding a resident's handsGetty Images
News imageShort presentational grey line

2. Rise in eating disorders

Cara Neary was 16 when the was diagnosed with anorexia. She's one of a number of young people being diagnosed with an eating disorder. Those numbers are increasing with two regional adolescent psychiatric units in Scotland reporting a combined rise in admissions - from 26 in 2019 to 68 in 2020. Although the full data during the pandemic isn't available, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned there had been "a huge increase in the demand and need for eating disorder services" across Scotland over this period.

News imageCara Neary
News imageShort presentational grey line

3. Child vaccine rate concerns

Only 250 out of 5,300 children aged between five and 11, who are classed as vulnerable or living with a vulnerable person, have been vaccinated against coronavirus in Wiltshire, Swindon and Bath. Those low numbers have prompted concerns from doctors. Find out more here.

Vaccinating children against Covid
News imageShort presentational grey line

4. Queen returns to work

After testing positive for coronavirus and suffering from mild symptoms, the Queen has made a return to official engagements. The monarch, 95, is back at work after some false starts last week, and has already carried out two virtual engagements with the ambassadors of Andorra and Chad.

News imageVictoria Jones Virtual audienceVictoria Jones
News imageline
News imageGovernment statistics show 161,630 people have now died, with 194 deaths reported in the latest 24-hour period. In total, 18,985,568 people have tested positive, up 39,000 in the latest 24-hour period. Latest figures show 10,551 people in hospital. In total, more than 52.6 million people have have had at least one vaccination

And don't forget...

Here are five things we need to keep an eye on as the UK starts to live with Covid.

You can find more information, advice and guides on our coronavirus page.

News imageline
News imageYQA logo

What questions do you have about coronavirus?

In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.

News imageAround the BBC - Sounds
News imageAround the BBC footer - Sounds