Impact on daily life

UK 2^nd February
South Africa Covid version found in UK
There are 105 people test positive with the South African version of the virus.  People say they have no contact with South Africa.  Health workers want to test 80 thousand people in areas where the virus is.  Home testing kits and also testers to come to your door.  They say this version transfers more quickly than the first version.  They don’t know if the new version makes you more ill.I
s Brexit working now?
One month has passed.  No big traffic jams.  Traffic across the channel is much less now.  Half of lorries were empty going back to EU.  This means that British companies were not selling their products to the EU.  They say it is because of the extra paperwork.  And there are also taxes, which people in the EU refuse to pay.  Survey of supply managers:  60% say there are delays; 45% delays more than 2 days; a quarter say they will run out of supplies if this continues.  Food is held up – especially fish.  Government will pay £23 million to fishermen for loss.
Worries about the future for school children
The Government says they are giving £1.5 billion to help kids to catch up.  But a report now says this is not enough.  Covid is worse for kids from poorer homes.  The report says that kids will suffer by losing pay of about £40 thousand over their life.  They will not make up for the learning they lost in these lockdowns.  Of course , this means they will pay less tax and that affects the rest of the country.