Urgent operations hit by Covid staffing crisis

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( January 06, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Cardiac and cancer operations delayed as NHS is ‘stretched like never before’]( Urgent operations such as cardiac and cancer treatments are being delayed in hospitals as the NHS is stretched like never before, health leaders have warned. More than 20 hospitals in England have declared critical incidents due to increasing numbers of medics being forced to isolate, putting further pressure on a service already stretched by the spike in Covid cases. It came as a cross-party group of MPs warned of the consequences of Boris Johnson’s decision to “ride out” the Omicron wave without further restrictions, saying the backlog of almost 6 million patients on waiting lists in England would grow. 2 / [Novak Djokovic denied entry to Australia after visa revoked at airport]( Serbian has been met with anger after being granted a medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccination 3 / [Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers push for retrial after juror’s sexual abuse comments]( Judge agrees to hear defence motion after Maxwell lawyer says juror’s comments present ‘incontrovertible grounds for a new trial’ 4 / [Campaigners hail ‘justice’ after four cleared over tearing down Colston statue]( ‘We didn’t change history, we rectified it’ 5 / [Rees-Mogg ‘urges PM to abandon plans for National Insurance rise’]( Pressure has been building on Boris Johnson to tackle financial strain on households The Big Question Can Dry January help the environment? Millions of people will be cutting down on alcohol this month as part of “Dry January”, a chance to reform after weeks of festive excess and indulgence. While those giving the booze the boot for a few weeks may want to improve their health, wellbeing or bank balance, or be driven by simple curiosity, they will also be changing a behaviour that - like many others - impacts the climate. Even a single pint of beer in the pub or a small glass of wine at home has environmental consequences, requiring production, packaging and transportation, all of which leaves a carbon footprint. Here’s how abstaining could make a difference for the greater good of the planet. [Read the full story >]( Watch / [Anti-vaxxer fighting for life in hospital with Covid urges people to get jabbed]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £30 The Liberal Democrats have called for a £30 catch-up voucher for every day missed by school students for Covid-related absence. Labour, meanwhile, has urged the government to expand school testing and ventilation measures. QUOTE OF THE DAY “The press just decided to go with this narrative of the fallen angel.” – Charlotte Church on how the tabloid press treated her Other stories you might like [Russia-led troops deployed to Kazakhstan as president calls protesters ‘terrorists’]( [Pre-departure Covid tests and isolation on arrival scrapped for travellers to England]( [Italian mafia fugitive arrested in Spain after being spotted on Google Street View]( Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent: [Tony Blair-haters are still recycling falsehoods about the Iraq war]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.