Jabs for children begin and loans considered for energy firms

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Monday morning. We’ll have another update for you this evening.

The Covid vaccine rollout for children aged between 12 and 15 in England and Scotland is beginning today, along with the UK’s programme of booster jabs. Children will be vaccinated mainly within schools, although the jabs will also be available at drop-in centres. The rollout is also beginning in Wales this week, while in Northern Ireland jabs are likely to be offered from October. Meanwhile, millions of over-50s and vulnerable people across the UK will also be contacted from today to arrange their booster shots.

The government is considering offering emergency state-backed loans to energy companies as firms battle to stay afloat in the face of surging gas prices. Smaller suppliers face ruin as soaring wholesale costs have made their price promises to customers undeliverable. Prime Minster Boris Johnson says the problems stem from economies around the world waking up after coronavirus lockdowns. And he insists the government will do everything it can to prevent companies from going under. The business secretary will hold crisis talks with industry bosses on Monday.

The US imposed a travel ban last March due to the pandemic and the country’s tourism industry was hoping it would be lifted after President Joe Biden visited the G7 international summit in Cornwall in June. You can’t fly to the US from the UK or European Union unless you have a National Interest Exemption. So that means you can’t visit sick relatives, see family members, or go on holiday. But what’s the reason behind keeping the travel ban in place? North America editor Jon Sopel has taken a look.

Ewa-Lena Rasmusson struggled with knee pain but she’s no longer stumbling slowly out of bed after an app used during the pandemic created exercise plans designed to help tackle joint pain. “I can really feel the difference,” says the 55-year-old from Stockholm who has been using Joint Academy, which sends a “nudge” to do a workout. It can also adapt training depending on her feedback and allows her to message a real-life physiotherapist. Find out more here.

They’re homeless, hungry but hopeful they will make their names as dancers. Meet the Street Family Dance Crew from Nairobi who have spent years finding ways to survive. They’ve struggled with street life and the pandemic but the crew has been invited to create a dance video for famous Kenyan rapper Collo. Find out more about their quest for fame and fortune.

With almost 30,000 new Covid infections reported on Sunday, why do daily cases remain high when the majority of UK adults have had both jabs? We’ve taken a look.

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