Published12 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersBy Francesca GillettBBC NewsSweden’s parliament has passed a law lowering the age at which people can change their legal gender from 18 to 16, and making the process easier.The law passed with 234 votes in favour and 94 against in Sweden’s parliament.Though Sweden was the first country to make gender transition legal, in 1972, the new law has sparked intense debate.Some say it will make an “important difference” but critics say more research is needed.Currently, Swedes require a doctor’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria to be allowed to change their legally recognised gender.But under this new law – which would come into force in July 2025 – the process will be simpler, for example a shorter consultation with a doctor or a psychologist will be enough, along with approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare.Legally changing a person’s gender will also be possible from the age of 16, although those under 18 will need the approval of their parents or guardian, a doctor and the National Board of Health and Welfare.The new law will also separate the process of changing legal gender from gender surgery, which will still need a longer assessment and will still only be allowed from the age of 18.”It is not reasonable that there should be the same requirements for changing legal gender as for making an irreversible gender confirming surgery,” said Johan Hultberg of the ruling Moderate Party, during a lengthy six-hour debate in parliament.”The great majority of Swedes will never notice that the law has changed, but for a number of transgender people the new law makes a large and important difference,” he added.But the plan is unpopular with those on the right. The Christian Democrats – who are in the government’s coalition – and the far-right Sweden Democrats – who have backed the government – both did not support the law, with many MPs saying they wanted to see more research into gender dysphoria first.The leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Akesson, said he thought it was “deplorable that a proposal that obviously lacks support among the population is so casually voted through”.Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has defended the proposal as “balanced and responsible”.The public has also been generally less supportive of the law change, with a recent poll by Swedish television network TV4 finding that 59% of Swedes thought it was a bad or very bad proposal, while 22% thought it was a good one, Reuters reported.Sweden country profile Germany eases gender change rulesA number of European countries have already passed laws making it easier for people to change their legal gender.Last week, the German parliament passed a similar law no longer requiring a doctor’s certificate for someone to change their legal gender – including for under-16s, although they will need the consent of their parents or guardian.And last year, Spain gave its final approval to a law allowing people over 16 to legally change their gender without medical evaluation.In the UK, to change your legally recognised gender you need a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, or meet certain other criteria, including having had gender surgery and lived “in your affirmed gender for at least two years”.More on this storySweden country profilePublished29 March 2023Germany eases gender change rulesPublished5 days agoLife on transgender waiting listPublished20 March

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 in England from this week, the PM has announced, as he declared an “Omicron emergency”. “No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming,” Boris Johnson said on Sunday.A new target has been set to give boosters to all adults who want one by the end of the month, he said.Ten people in England are in hospital with Omicron, Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed on Monday.Some medical appointments are to be postponed to focus on boosters.Mr Johnson gave his update in a TV statement on Sunday evening, just hours after the UK’s Covid alert level was raised to four due to the spread of the new Omicron virus variant. Level four means a high or rising level of transmission – the last time the UK was at this level was in May.People have been told to work from home from Monday “if they can”, as part of the UK government’s introduction of Plan B measures.What do the Covid alert levels mean?When will I get my booster?Wales: New Covid restrictions likely ‘in next few weeks'”I’m afraid we’re now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron,” said Mr Johnson. “It is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up.”He added: “At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe.”And even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths.”The new booster target means people aged 18 and over in England will be able to get their third jabs from this week – as long as it has been three months since their second dose. People aged 30 and over can already book an appointment in advance using the online service from two months after their second dose and over-18s in this position will be able to book from Wednesday.Some walk-in appointments will be available from Monday for eligible over-18s, depending on location.Scotland is also setting the same target and aiming to offer all adults a booster by the end of the year, and Northern Ireland said it is stepping up its rollout and hopes to get as many people as possible boosted by then. But Mr Johnson said in order to reach the new jab target, certain other medical appointments would need to be postponed to the New Year. Some GPs are already allowed to postpone routine health checks to make space for vaccinations.The prime minister also said: 42 teams from the military would be deployed across every region to help the effortextra vaccine sites and mobile units would be set up across Englandopening hours of clinics would be extended with more appointmentsthousands more volunteer vaccinators would be trainedthe UK government would also give extra support to speed up vaccinations in Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandHealth Secretary Sajid Javid said on Monday that 10 people in England were currently in hospital with Omicron, with no deaths confirmed.However, he told BBC Breakfast that 40% of all Covid cases in London were of the variant, which was spreading at a “phenomenal rate”.Asked whether the new measures were excessive, Mr Javid said it was important to act now, given the lag in hospitalisations in deaths that follow a rise in cases – even if Omicron turns out to be milder than other variants.”We have seen what Covid is capable of… you start seeing a rise in cases, people get ill, some enter hospital, some sadly die,” he said. “It’s better to act early.”Early data shows that getting a third jab prevents about 75% of people getting any Covid symptoms from Omicron.More than half a million booster jabs and third doses were given in the UK on Saturday – the second day that has happened since the booster rollout began.For people who are clinically vulnerable to Covid, a third dose of a vaccine is considered their full course – with a fourth jab being given as their booster Stern words – but three challenges for PMBoris Johnson’s stern words on Sunday night may run into three different challenges. It won’t be easy to expand the booster programme at such a pace. There’s been plenty of anecdotal evidence about the availability and eligibility, and questions about why it didn’t get going much more quickly, weeks ago. Second, Boris Johnson’s credibility has taken a significant knock in recent weeks. Will the public, this time, be as willing to listen to him? And in his own party there is frustration at his decision making and scepticism about what’s going on. The prime minister can make bold and urgent promises about the booster, but keeping them is something else.Read more from Laura.A further 1,239 new cases of Omicron were announced in the UK on Sunday, bringing the total number of UK Omicron cases to more than 3,000 – although the real number is estimated to be much higher.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer reiterated Mr Johnson’s call to “get boosted” – adding: “So much has been asked of the British people, and time and again you have risen to the challenge. So let’s keep our foot on the pedal and get Britain boosted to protect our families, friends and NHS.”Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was in the national interest for everyone to get a booster jab, but criticised the government’s rollout for being “far too slow”, adding: “And now they’re having to rush it in an emergency and cause all these pressures on NHS staff.”NHS Providers, which represents NHS hospitals, mental health, community and ambulance services, said the booster campaign offered an opportunity to contain the impact of Omicron but added the NHS was already “beyond full stretch” and that there would be an impact on other care as more staff became involved in the vaccination campaign.And the Royal College of Nursing also welcomed the expansion of the booster programme but said nurses were “already facing huge demands under existing unsustainable pressures in every part of the UK health and care system”. It called for ministers to take “every step needed” to slow the spread.Scotland and Northern Ireland have already opened up boosters to over-30s – and those aged 18 to 29 in Scotland can get their booster jabs from later in the week. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland had the highest rate of booster jabs of all the UK nations – but warned it was possible that further measures might be needed in the weeks ahead.Pace must changeThe end-of-December promise is about enabling everyone aged over 18 who is eligible to have been able to have booked their jab.It does not mean those jabs will be in arms.But for it to have any impact on blunting the coming Omicron wave there needs to be a significant acceleration of the booster programme.GPs are going to be crucial to increase the speed of vaccinations. It is them in particular who will be asked to prioritise jabs ahead of routine work for the next few weeks.The promise applies to England, but the devolved nations are expected to follow suit. There have been 23 million boosters given across the UK – with another 23 million eligible for one. At current rates of vaccination only a third of those will have got their booster by the end of the year. The pace needs to change – and quickly.Earlier, the rules on self-isolation were updated again in England. From Tuesday, fully-vaccinated people who come into contact with a Covid case will not need to automatically self-isolate – but instead take daily lateral flow tests for seven days.It is the latest rule change as part of the new Plan B measures – which also include Covid passports for some crowded events from Wednesday and the updated work from home advice. Both Wales and Scotland have said new rules could come in the next few weeks.Mr Johnson’s statement comes as the row continues over gatherings at Downing Street during last year’s coronavirus lockdown. How have you been affected by the issues raised, following the announcement of an “Omicron emergency”? Please get in touch by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSayOr fill out the form belowPlease read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

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SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightPA MediaPeople must continue to play their part in stopping coronavirus, Boris Johnson has said, as lockdown rules ease in England, Wales and most of Scotland.Millions can now socialise indoors in limited numbers, hug loved ones and visit pubs and restaurants indoors.The ban on foreign travel has also been lifted and replaced with new rules.Mr Johnson said: “We have reached another milestone in our road map out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution.”The rule changes come as the variant first identified in India continues to spread in the UK, with mass testing rolled out to hotspots such as Bolton in Greater Manchester and parts of London, Sefton and Worcestershire.Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the government’s independent scientific advisory group Sage, said the lifting of the rules was the “most difficult policy decision of the last 15 months or so. It is very, very finely balanced.”He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the variant, which is thought to be more transmissible, “is becoming dominant in parts of the UK, and yet vaccination across the country has been extraordinary successful”.”I think we will see an increase of cases and infections over the coming weeks as some of the restrictions are lifted, but the key question is whether we have decoupled increased transmission in the number of people who do get infected from the number of people who get ill and need to go to hospital.”Live updates: Indoor pints and trips abroad as lockdown easesWhat are the latest changes to lockdown?The new rules for foreign travelThousands set for overseas holidays as rules easeWhile lockdowns are easing across England, Scotland and Wales, the changes are different in each nation. Two areas of Scotland – Glasgow and Moray – will not have their rules eased after a spike in cases.In a statement issued on Sunday evening on the lifting of the rules in England, Mr Johnson added: “Everyone must play their part by getting tested twice a week, coming forward for your vaccine when called, and remembering hands, face, space and fresh air.”I urge everyone to be cautious and take responsibility when enjoying new freedoms today in order to keep the virus at bay.”Anyone in England and Scotland can order free lateral flow tests – which give results in 30 minutes – even if they do not have symptoms. In Wales and Northern Ireland, they are available for certain people, such as those who cannot work from home.How have the rules changed?England:People can now meet indoors in groups of up to six or two households, or in groups of up to 30 outdoors. Overnight stays are allowedPubs, bars and restaurants can serve customers indoorsMuseums, cinemas, children’s play areas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadiums can all reopen, as can hotelsSocial distancing guidance is changing and contact with other households like hugs is a matter of personal choiceScotland (except Glasgow and Moray): People can meet indoors in groups of six from up to three households. Outdoors, up to eight people from eight households can mixPubs and restaurants can serve alcohol indoors until 22:30Entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres and bingo halls can reopen and up to 100 people are allowed at indoor eventsWales: Pubs and restaurants can reopen indoors and customers can meet in groups of up to six from six householdsAll holiday accommodation can reopenCinemas, bowling alleys, museums, galleries and theatres can reopenNo change to indoor socialising – this is still restricted to extended households where two households can mix with each other and have physical contactAnd in all three nations, foreign holidays are allowed.Northern Ireland will review lockdown rules on 20 May, with the hope that some could be lifted on 24 May.Read more about the changes here.This is a big moment for the national mood and the UK economy – particularly those sectors that have been hardest hit by the restrictions. Nearly a million hospitality and leisure workers will go back to work today, according to industry estimates. Although many have been open for outside service, 60% of hospitality venues have no outside space and have been unable to open until now. However, this is not the champagne moment many had hoped for. The real prize for hospitality businesses is the planned removal of all restrictions on 21 June.Recent government warnings about the threat posed to these plans by the Indian variant are casting an unwelcome cloud of uncertainty. Even with today’s easing of restrictions, many businesses will be unable to operate at anywhere near pre-pandemic capacity. They will face the prospect of deferred rent bills, the repayment of Covid loans and an increasingly acute staff shortage – with hospitality workers who have left the industry not yet feeling confident enough to return. Scientists believe the Indian variant does spread more easily, but early data suggests vaccines still work. However, the exact impact on vaccine efficacy – if any – is still to be firmed up.At the weekend, the British Medical Association – which represents doctors – said it was a “real worry” that the easing was still going ahead while the Indian variant was spreading and many younger people were not vaccinated.How much faster does the Indian variant spread? Five ways to stay Covid safe as lockdown liftsMr Johnson said the government was keeping the variant “under close observation” and “taking swift action where infection rates are rising”.Ministers and senior advisers are concerned due to continued uncertainty about the Indian variant, including how much faster it spreads than the UK variant.   The impact on hospital numbers in communities most affected by the variant will be studied closely this week and next. Officials were preparing anyway to monitor the consequences of today’s easing of restrictions, the biggest step so far – with people mixing more and case numbers likely to rise.Preliminary laboratory data from Oxford University suggest, according to ministers, that vaccines will be effective against the Indian variant – but they stress that there’s a race to keep the vaccination programme ahead of the virus.Within the next few days, a first dose will be offered to all those aged 35 and over in England.The latest government figures show a further 1,926 Covid cases have been recorded in the UK, while a further four people have died.The number of people in the UK who have received a first dose of the vaccine has now topped 36.5 million, while the number of second doses given is at 20.1 million.Also from Monday, people travelling abroad will be able to use the NHS app – which is different to the NHS Covid-19 app – to prove they have had the vaccine. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps previously said people will be able to use the app at border controls, although the government says people should still check countries’ entry requirements as tests or quarantine might still be needed.Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the easing of lockdown rules on Monday, and said the government’s strategy was to “replace the restrictions with vaccination” as the first line of defence against the virus.LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area?YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queriesVACCINE: When will I get the jab?NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be?Will you be socialising indoors and hugging loved ones you don’t live with? Tell us your your plans by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. 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