News bulletin: Merseyrail shut down network, COVID-19 hospitalisations climb

🚉 Merseyrail will stop all services for three days this week with no replacement buses services as a huge national rail strikes take place.

Merseyrail staff are not directly involved, but the signal operators on the network are employed by Network Rail and will be taking part in the strike action.

The walk outs are due to take place on June 21, 23, 25 and will be the largest industrial action on the railways since 1989.

🦠 The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 has risen sharply across parts of Merseyside, with one NHS hospital trust in Liverpool recording a 55% increase in a week.

That is well above the 33% rise recorded across England, which comes amid growing concern over two Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5.

🎤 Following the announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest could be held in the UK, Liverpool has officially offered to host the event.

The European Broadcast Union confirmed it is looking for another location to be home to the competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.