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| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson defends 'world beating' test-and-trace system despite fall in contacts reached – as it happened | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Latest figures show just 72% of close contacts reached; Aberdeen outbreak cases increase by 25 | Latest figures show just 72% of close contacts reached; Aberdeen outbreak cases increase by 25 |
| Thank you for following the blog and all your comments today. Here is a summary of the main developments: | |
| Experts have warned that the test and trace system in England is not performing well enough, despite Boris Johnson’s insistence it is world beating. The latest results showed 72.4% of close contacts of people who have tested positive for coronavirus were reached in the week ending 29 July, down from 76.2% | |
| Nine Conservative MPs in Greater Manchester have written a letter to the health secretary demanding “a more sophisticated approach” that would see decisions taken on a borough by borough basis or even town by town basis. They are unhappy that the entire region of 2.8 million people was put back into partial lockdown last Thursday after infections started to rise. | |
| Preston could be the next area to face government intervention after a rise in coronavirus rates, the city council’s chief executive warned. Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Thursday, Adrian Phillips said: “Our rates are increasing and they have increased over the last week to a level now where we are concerned that we could face government intervention.” | |
| Covid infections are growing at 3,200 per day in England and R is close to 1 in most regions, according to Cambridge University experts. predict that the number of deaths each day is likely to be between 47 and 91 by the end of the third week of August. The latest government figures put the daily rise in the number of cases in the UK at 950, with another 49 deaths recorded after a positive coronavirus test. | |
| The government has admitted 50m masks bought as part of a £252m medical supplies contract awarded to an investment firm have been deemed unsuitable for use by NHS workers. The Good Law Project and EveryDoctor, which are suing the government over its contract with the supplier, Ayanda, estimate the 50m masks would have cost more than £150m. | |
| The number of Covid cases in Aberdeen, where some lockdown measures have been reintroduced has risen by 25 to 79 and is expected to increase further, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said. She said a further 30 cases were being investigated to see whether they were linked. Sturgeon told residents not to leave the city for holidays. | |
| Clusters of Covid-19 infections have been identified in Leeds, which was not subjected to enhanced lockdown restrictions last Thursday, unlike neighbouring Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees. The clusters are concentrated in and around the Kirkstall and Harehills neighbourhoods. The city’s seven day rate has also been gradually increasing from 4.1 cases per 100,000 people early last week to 13.3 as of 5 August. | |
| Five clusters have been identified in Northern Ireland over the past seven days with 35 associated cases and 239 close contacts, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA).Dr Gerry Waldron, head of health protection at the PHA, said it should act as a timely reminder against complacency. | |
| For more coronavirus updates, please follow the global live blog. | |
| There has been more reaction coming in to the latest test and trace statistics. Despite Boris Johnson’s continuing to insist the system in England is “world beating”, the consensus is that the government must do better (see. 3.33pm). | There has been more reaction coming in to the latest test and trace statistics. Despite Boris Johnson’s continuing to insist the system in England is “world beating”, the consensus is that the government must do better (see. 3.33pm). |
| Prof Sheila Bird, formerly programme leader, MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, said: | Prof Sheila Bird, formerly programme leader, MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, said: |
| Eivor Oborn, professor of health care management, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, said: | Eivor Oborn, professor of health care management, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, said: |
| Dr Joshua Moon, research fellow in the science policy research unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex Business School, said the results were “not a great sign if we’re serious about keeping the virus under control in the UK”. He added: | Dr Joshua Moon, research fellow in the science policy research unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex Business School, said the results were “not a great sign if we’re serious about keeping the virus under control in the UK”. He added: |
| Clusters of Covid-19 infections have been identified in the Yorkshire city of Leeds, concentrated in and around the Kirkstall and Harehills neighbourhoods. | Clusters of Covid-19 infections have been identified in the Yorkshire city of Leeds, concentrated in and around the Kirkstall and Harehills neighbourhoods. |
| The council said the city’s seven day rate has also been gradually increasing from 4.1 cases per 100,000 people early last week to 13.3 as of 5 August. | The council said the city’s seven day rate has also been gradually increasing from 4.1 cases per 100,000 people early last week to 13.3 as of 5 August. |
| Leeds was not subjected to enhanced lockdown restrictions last Thursday, unlike neighbouring Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.But the council is now taking preventative steps in an effort to stop further escalation of cases and to stay on top of community transmission, including sending mobile testing units to affected areas.Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds city council and chair of the Leeds Outbreak Control Board, said: | Leeds was not subjected to enhanced lockdown restrictions last Thursday, unlike neighbouring Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.But the council is now taking preventative steps in an effort to stop further escalation of cases and to stay on top of community transmission, including sending mobile testing units to affected areas.Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds city council and chair of the Leeds Outbreak Control Board, said: |
| The number of people who have died in the UK after a positive test for Covid-19 has increased by 49 from the previous day to 46,413, according to the government’s official death toll. | The number of people who have died in the UK after a positive test for Covid-19 has increased by 49 from the previous day to 46,413, according to the government’s official death toll. |
| The latest Office for National Statistics count says 56,600 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. | The latest Office for National Statistics count says 56,600 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. |
| Nine Conservative MPs in Greater Manchester have written a letter to the health secretary demanding “a more sophisticated approach” to local lockdowns, criticising the government’s “crude and ineffective strategy”.The whole region of 2.8 million people was put back into partial lockdown last Thursday after infections started to rise. The decision prompted unhappiness in some areas of Greater Manchester where rates remained low, for example in Wigan and Bury.The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has rejected the idea of releasing some of the 10 boroughs before others. But the Tory MPs reject this “one size fits all” approach, which they say “risks spreading resources too thinly across the whole conurbation, including in areas with few or no cases”. | Nine Conservative MPs in Greater Manchester have written a letter to the health secretary demanding “a more sophisticated approach” to local lockdowns, criticising the government’s “crude and ineffective strategy”.The whole region of 2.8 million people was put back into partial lockdown last Thursday after infections started to rise. The decision prompted unhappiness in some areas of Greater Manchester where rates remained low, for example in Wigan and Bury.The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has rejected the idea of releasing some of the 10 boroughs before others. But the Tory MPs reject this “one size fits all” approach, which they say “risks spreading resources too thinly across the whole conurbation, including in areas with few or no cases”. |
| They say Burnham fails to understand local infection patterns in seeking to “impose a crude and ineffective strategy across the whole area”.They say: | They say Burnham fails to understand local infection patterns in seeking to “impose a crude and ineffective strategy across the whole area”.They say: |
| The latter is signed byJames Grundy (Leigh)Sir Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West)James Daly (Bury North)Christian Wakeford (Bury South)Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton)Chris Green (Bolton West and Atherton)Mark Logan (Bolton North East)Mary Robinson (Cheadle)William Wragg (Hazel Grove) | The latter is signed byJames Grundy (Leigh)Sir Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West)James Daly (Bury North)Christian Wakeford (Bury South)Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton)Chris Green (Bolton West and Atherton)Mark Logan (Bolton North East)Mary Robinson (Cheadle)William Wragg (Hazel Grove) |
| Five clusters have been identified in Northern Ireland over the past seven days with 35 associated cases and 239 close contacts, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA). | Five clusters have been identified in Northern Ireland over the past seven days with 35 associated cases and 239 close contacts, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA). |
| Dr Gerry Waldron, head of health protection at the PHA, said: | Dr Gerry Waldron, head of health protection at the PHA, said: |
| The PHA said there had been 23 clusters identified in Northern Ireland since 25 May, when the test-and-trace programme went live, 11 of which remain open. | The PHA said there had been 23 clusters identified in Northern Ireland since 25 May, when the test-and-trace programme went live, 11 of which remain open. |
| Some 168 cases of Covid-19 have been associated with these clusters, with nine of the clusters having had five or more cases associated with them. | Some 168 cases of Covid-19 have been associated with these clusters, with nine of the clusters having had five or more cases associated with them. |
| Earlier this week, two businesses in Newcastle, Co Down, closed temporarily following outbreaks among their staff. | Earlier this week, two businesses in Newcastle, Co Down, closed temporarily following outbreaks among their staff. |
| The statement from the PHA came as the Department of Health’s daily updates showed 43 more positive cases of coronavirus have been detected in the region, bringing the total to 6,049. | The statement from the PHA came as the Department of Health’s daily updates showed 43 more positive cases of coronavirus have been detected in the region, bringing the total to 6,049. |
| No new deaths were recorded, leaving the total in the region at 556, according to departmental figures. | No new deaths were recorded, leaving the total in the region at 556, according to departmental figures. |
| The PHA has defined a cluster as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19 among individuals associated with a key setting, with illness onset dates within a 14-day period. | The PHA has defined a cluster as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19 among individuals associated with a key setting, with illness onset dates within a 14-day period. |
| Key settings that have recorded a cluster include workplaces, retail or hospitality premises, domestic gatherings, and sporting settings. However, the PHA said the transmission risk was highest in a household setting. | Key settings that have recorded a cluster include workplaces, retail or hospitality premises, domestic gatherings, and sporting settings. However, the PHA said the transmission risk was highest in a household setting. |
| The Department of Health said the R number was now “highly likely” to be above 1 in Northern Ireland. | The Department of Health said the R number was now “highly likely” to be above 1 in Northern Ireland. |
| The current estimate for the R value is between 0.8 and 1.8. R represents the number of individuals who, on average, will be infected by a person with the virus. | The current estimate for the R value is between 0.8 and 1.8. R represents the number of individuals who, on average, will be infected by a person with the virus. |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said while community transmission remained low in Northern Ireland, the number of positive tests per day had increased threefold from early July. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said while community transmission remained low in Northern Ireland, the number of positive tests per day had increased threefold from early July. |
| The number of new coronavirus cases in the UK is still rising with another 950 cases reported as of 9am this morning, according to the latest official daily figures. | The number of new coronavirus cases in the UK is still rising with another 950 cases reported as of 9am this morning, according to the latest official daily figures. |
| This is an increase on the 892 new cases reported on Wednesday and above the daily average of 820 reported yesterday. | This is an increase on the 892 new cases reported on Wednesday and above the daily average of 820 reported yesterday. |
| The rate has been rising since dropping to a four-month low of 546 almost a month ago. | The rate has been rising since dropping to a four-month low of 546 almost a month ago. |
| Some reaction to Johnson’s insistence that our test-and-trace system is still “world beating”: | Some reaction to Johnson’s insistence that our test-and-trace system is still “world beating”: |
| On the new planning shakeup, Johnson added: | On the new planning shakeup, Johnson added: |
| Johnson also insisted that the government’s test and trace system was still “world beating” despite data showing that fewer contacts are being followed up. He said: | Johnson also insisted that the government’s test and trace system was still “world beating” despite data showing that fewer contacts are being followed up. He said: |
| Speaking on a tour of new housing estate in Warrington, Johnson also expressed concern about news that a new consignment of 50m facemasks was unfit for use. | Speaking on a tour of new housing estate in Warrington, Johnson also expressed concern about news that a new consignment of 50m facemasks was unfit for use. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Boris Johnson has defended the Conservative party’s decision not to suspend the MP and former minister who is accused of rape. | Boris Johnson has defended the Conservative party’s decision not to suspend the MP and former minister who is accused of rape. |
| Asked by Sky News why the party had not suspended the MP, Johnson said: | Asked by Sky News why the party had not suspended the MP, Johnson said: |