Covid helpline extended in Manchester as rates surge and public health bosses warn of new wave - 'don't suffer in silence'

Free Coronavirus testing in England has now been scrapped, as the government continues to push forward with its 'Living with Covid' plans. From 1 April, only a small minority of the general public are eligible for free tests, while everyone else will now have to pay should they wish to be tested.

As universal testing ended throughout the weekend, the NHS has updated its list of official Covid symptoms.

Footballing legends and celebrities came together this afternoon for a very special match — the Manchester Remembers fixture. The game, held at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium, was a charity drive to raise money for some of the foundations set up after the 2017 Arena bombing.

Stephen Griffin is an Associate Professor of Viral Oncology at the University of Leeds. Here, he shares his perspective on the announcement that the Covid-19 vaccine has been recommended for children ages five to 11 - including how seeing his young son suffer in hospital with meningitis affected him.

A quintessentially British cottage that looks like it came straight out of a fairytale book has guests staying there from across the UK, and even from Hollywood. The chocolate box cottage, located in the Cheshire countryside less than an hour's drive from Manchester, is the perfect hideaway for those wanting to stay somewhere unique.

The government has today issued new rules on how long people with Covid need to isolate for.

The government has issued new rules for who will be able to get free Covid-19 tests from today, April 1, as free mass PCR and lateral flow testing is brought to an end. The free testing will continue to be available to a number of groups - and will mostly require those people to have symptoms already, apart from a small list of scenarios where asymptomatic testing will be given.

Free parking for NHS staff that was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic will end on tomorrow in England, Sajid Javid has said. The Health Secretary issued a statement on Tuesday (March 29) announcing the government-funded perk would come to an end at the end of this month, Friday April 1.

Rules surrounding free universal testing will be changing from Friday, April 1 and will see a lot of people being forced to pay for lateral flow tests. It comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that Covid will be treated like any other respiratory infection such as the common cold or influenza.

Dua Lipa, Craig David and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson are among the well-known acts taking to stages across Manchester this April. And there are still limited tickets available for last-minute gig goers to snap up.

The government has issued a statement clarifying who will be able to get free Covid testing from April 1, Friday, when mass PCR and lateral flow testing is brought to an end. The free testing available to a small number of groups will be symptomatic - meaning that those taking tests must already be showing symptoms.

The Full Monty is set to get a new TV reboot on Disney+, with the film’s original cast returning for the series.The original hit film was released in 1997, and follows a group of unemployed men in Sheffield who start a striptease act to raise money.Disney has now confirmed that the new eight-episode limited series will catch up with the group 25 years later, bringing back stars Robert Carlyle (Gaz), Mark Addy (Dave), Lesley Sharp (Jean), Hugo Speer (Guy), Paul Barber (Horse), Steve Huison (Lomper), Wim Snape (Nathan) and Tom Wilkinson (Gerald).While specific plot details have not yet been revealed, the show will see the group “navigate the post-industrial city of Sheffield and society’s crumbling healthcare, education and employment sectors.“The series will explore the brighter, sillier and more humane way forward where communal effort can still triumph over adversity,” the synopsis adds.The series will also bring in the character’s children and grandchildren, with original screenwriter Simon Beaufoy overseeing proceedings.“We’re chuffed to bits to get all the Monty Men back together again – now with a chaotic entourage of children, grandchildren, pets and assorted hangers-on – to see what life in Sheffield is like twenty-five years on,” he said.The Full Monty has just begun production in Sheffield and Manchester, and will stream on Disney+ in the U.K. and globally, and Hulu in the U.S..

A new coronavirus wave, rising Covid admissions to our region’s hospitals, and patients who could be put at risk by impending staff shortages. This is the latest picture in Greater Manchester hospitals, frontline staff have warned.

Manchester United could look like a very different club this summer, let alone in a few years' time.

Ajax legend Patrick Kluivert has said he would be “ready” to become the club’s next boss, should Erik ten Hag be appointed Manchester United’s permanent manager.

Mitski has postponed two upcoming shows due to a positive COVID-19 test in her touring party.The Japanese-American artist is currently out on the road in the US in support of her acclaimed sixth album ‘Laurel Hell’, which came out on February 4.This week’s shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York tomorrow (March 24) and Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on Friday (March 25) will now take place at a later date, according to a post on Twitter. Earlier this week, Mitski’s shows in Boston were also postponed for the same reason.“This week’s Mitski shows in NYC and Philadelphia will be postponed due to a positive Covid test in the Mitski touring party,” the post read.

A new documentary will tell the story of the remarkable life and untimely death of Moss Side boxing hero Phil Martin

Tributes have been left this week to remember loved ones in Manchester who have recently passed away.

The UK will remove the last remaining Covid travel requirements from this Friday, in a move that has been welcomed by the travel industry.

Greater Manchester’s public health chief has warned that 'we're seeing another Covid-19 wave' as cases rise in the wake of the removal of safety measures by the government.