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| UK coronavirus live: demand for Covid tests outstripping capacity, MPs told – as it happened | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dido Harding gives evidence to Commons science committee; new restrictions placed on nearly 2 million people in north-east England | Dido Harding gives evidence to Commons science committee; new restrictions placed on nearly 2 million people in north-east England |
| Dido Harding, head of the UK’s test-and-trace programme and the newly created National Institute for Health Protection, has told parliament’s science and technology committee that demand for coronavirus tests across the UK is three to four times higher than capacity | Dido Harding, head of the UK’s test-and-trace programme and the newly created National Institute for Health Protection, has told parliament’s science and technology committee that demand for coronavirus tests across the UK is three to four times higher than capacity |
| Almost nine in 10 of all Covid-19 tests in England are now taking longer than 24 hours to produce results, as figures also revealed a 75% increase in positive weekly cases. | Almost nine in 10 of all Covid-19 tests in England are now taking longer than 24 hours to produce results, as figures also revealed a 75% increase in positive weekly cases. |
| The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced an almost doubling of the infection control fund for care homes in England in an attempt to stop mobile temporary staff spreading Covid-19 in the coming months. | The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced an almost doubling of the infection control fund for care homes in England in an attempt to stop mobile temporary staff spreading Covid-19 in the coming months. |
| Nearly 2 million people in north-east England will be banned from mixing with other families under the strictest measures imposed since the country eased out of nationwide lockdown. | Nearly 2 million people in north-east England will be banned from mixing with other families under the strictest measures imposed since the country eased out of nationwide lockdown. |
| The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has complained about what he called “this endless carping” about shortages of coronavirus tests, prompting Labour to accuse the government of being out of touch with public concerns. That prompted this response from Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London. | The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has complained about what he called “this endless carping” about shortages of coronavirus tests, prompting Labour to accuse the government of being out of touch with public concerns. That prompted this response from Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London. |
| Scientists have warned the government must act fast to contain the spread of coronavirus, including further restrictions on public mixing, though ministers have denied they are considering a full England lockdown. | Scientists have warned the government must act fast to contain the spread of coronavirus, including further restrictions on public mixing, though ministers have denied they are considering a full England lockdown. |
| Downing Street has clarified that it would ask parliament to support using powers to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement only if the EU undermines the “fundamental purpose” of the Northern Ireland protocol. | Downing Street has clarified that it would ask parliament to support using powers to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement only if the EU undermines the “fundamental purpose” of the Northern Ireland protocol. |
| That’s all from me for today. Our coverage continues on the global coronavirus live blog. It’s here. | That’s all from me for today. Our coverage continues on the global coronavirus live blog. It’s here. |
| These are from the Sun’s Brussels correspondent Nick Gutteridge, speculating on how the EU might respond to the UK government pressing ahead with the internal market bill. | These are from the Sun’s Brussels correspondent Nick Gutteridge, speculating on how the EU might respond to the UK government pressing ahead with the internal market bill. |
| North Yorkshire’s emergency services have gone into “full emergency mode” due to a rise in coronavirus cases and nationwide issues with testing capacity, Sky News is reporting. | North Yorkshire’s emergency services have gone into “full emergency mode” due to a rise in coronavirus cases and nationwide issues with testing capacity, Sky News is reporting. |
| Back to the internal market bill, and these are from the BBC’s Jessica Parker earlier today. | Back to the internal market bill, and these are from the BBC’s Jessica Parker earlier today. |
| Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will instruct Richard Leonard to bury the hatchet with Scottish Labour party rebels who tried to unseat him as Scottish leader last weekend during a private meeting in Edinburgh today. | Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will instruct Richard Leonard to bury the hatchet with Scottish Labour party rebels who tried to unseat him as Scottish leader last weekend during a private meeting in Edinburgh today. |
| Talking to reporters during his first visit to Scotland as UK party leader, Starmer was asked about Leonard’s threat last week to deselect centrist MSPs who called for him to quit following Scottish Labour collapse in polling support, and also about the Scottish party’s refusal to allow a leadership challenge. Leonard was an ally of Jeremy Corbyn. | Talking to reporters during his first visit to Scotland as UK party leader, Starmer was asked about Leonard’s threat last week to deselect centrist MSPs who called for him to quit following Scottish Labour collapse in polling support, and also about the Scottish party’s refusal to allow a leadership challenge. Leonard was an ally of Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Starmer said he had been elected on a platform of reunifying Labour following the Corbyn era. He went on: | Starmer said he had been elected on a platform of reunifying Labour following the Corbyn era. He went on: |
| Starmer insisted he had an “excellent working relationship” with Leonard but accepted the party had “a considerable task” regaining trust with voters. | Starmer insisted he had an “excellent working relationship” with Leonard but accepted the party had “a considerable task” regaining trust with voters. |
| He also dodged a question on the significant tensions Labour faces in Scotland over his stance on Brexit next May. With support for independence now at 54%, the Scottish National party and Scottish Greens will attack Starmer’s position that the EU question is now settled. Asked about that tension, he simply said: | He also dodged a question on the significant tensions Labour faces in Scotland over his stance on Brexit next May. With support for independence now at 54%, the Scottish National party and Scottish Greens will attack Starmer’s position that the EU question is now settled. Asked about that tension, he simply said: |
| The coronavirus is evolving slowly, researchers have confirmed, in a report that is a glimmer of good news for vaccine researchers. | The coronavirus is evolving slowly, researchers have confirmed, in a report that is a glimmer of good news for vaccine researchers. |
| The report, released by the Royal Society’s Science in Emergencies Tasking: Covid-19 group, reveals that while the genome of the virus has shown some mutations, these do not appear to be making the virus more dangerous. | The report, released by the Royal Society’s Science in Emergencies Tasking: Covid-19 group, reveals that while the genome of the virus has shown some mutations, these do not appear to be making the virus more dangerous. |
| Indeed such changes could actually be useful, with the team noting they can be harnessed to probe the spread of Covid-19 in hospitals, schools and other settings. | Indeed such changes could actually be useful, with the team noting they can be harnessed to probe the spread of Covid-19 in hospitals, schools and other settings. |
| While the report notes the evolving genome of the virus should be considered when it comes to testing to make sure cases are not missed, it says the changes seen so far mean the virus is unlikely to outflank vaccines currently under development. | While the report notes the evolving genome of the virus should be considered when it comes to testing to make sure cases are not missed, it says the changes seen so far mean the virus is unlikely to outflank vaccines currently under development. |
| “The genome variation seen hitherto is unlikely to enable virus escape from immune responses induced by vaccination or prior infection,” the team write. | “The genome variation seen hitherto is unlikely to enable virus escape from immune responses induced by vaccination or prior infection,” the team write. |
| Greg Clark is ending the science committee hearing now. He tells Dido Harding and Lord Bethell that the committee appreciates the work they are doing, and the public service they are giving. | Greg Clark is ending the science committee hearing now. He tells Dido Harding and Lord Bethell that the committee appreciates the work they are doing, and the public service they are giving. |
| But he says it is important to learn lessons. One of the things the committee has discovered is that “there is always something around the corner”. | But he says it is important to learn lessons. One of the things the committee has discovered is that “there is always something around the corner”. |
| And that’s it. The hearing is over. | And that’s it. The hearing is over. |
| Back in the science committee Labour’s Dawn Butler said earlier this year Matt Hancock, the health secretary, suggested he did not want to reorganised Public Health England. A few weeks later he announced he was abolishing it. What changed? | Back in the science committee Labour’s Dawn Butler said earlier this year Matt Hancock, the health secretary, suggested he did not want to reorganised Public Health England. A few weeks later he announced he was abolishing it. What changed? |
| Lord Bethell, the health minister, said the assessment of what the benefits of a reorganisation might be changed. And he said there was a window of opportunity in the summer (when cases were relatively low) when this could be done. | Lord Bethell, the health minister, said the assessment of what the benefits of a reorganisation might be changed. And he said there was a window of opportunity in the summer (when cases were relatively low) when this could be done. |
| Thailand and Singapore are being added to England’s travel corridor, meaning arrivals from the countries will no longer have to quarantine for a fortnight. | Thailand and Singapore are being added to England’s travel corridor, meaning arrivals from the countries will no longer have to quarantine for a fortnight. |
| Denmark was widely anticipated to be dropped from the list of locations exempted from isolation measures, after worsening Covid-19 rates, but has escaped removal this week. | Denmark was widely anticipated to be dropped from the list of locations exempted from isolation measures, after worsening Covid-19 rates, but has escaped removal this week. |
| In other moves announced by transport secretary Grant Shapps, Slovenia and Guadeloupe, a French overseas region consisting of an archipelago of islands in the Caribbean, are being removed from England’s travel corridor after an increase in Covid cases. | In other moves announced by transport secretary Grant Shapps, Slovenia and Guadeloupe, a French overseas region consisting of an archipelago of islands in the Caribbean, are being removed from England’s travel corridor after an increase in Covid cases. |
| The measures will come into force on Saturday at 4am. UK residents made 389,000 visits to Thailand in 2019, according to estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics. Meanwhile, the government says around 450,000 Britons visit Singapore each year. | The measures will come into force on Saturday at 4am. UK residents made 389,000 visits to Thailand in 2019, according to estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics. Meanwhile, the government says around 450,000 Britons visit Singapore each year. |
| Lord Bethell says many people in the country are very frustrated and angry about the testing shortages. | Lord Bethell says many people in the country are very frustrated and angry about the testing shortages. |
| But he says he is also proud of the way British business has built up the testing service from scratch. | But he says he is also proud of the way British business has built up the testing service from scratch. |
| Q: What is the biggest mistake you have made? | Q: What is the biggest mistake you have made? |
| Bethell says they have made plenty of mistake. | Bethell says they have made plenty of mistake. |
| He says he thinks some people think getting a test on its own is a solution. He says testing only works if they self-isolate too when they have to. | He says he thinks some people think getting a test on its own is a solution. He says testing only works if they self-isolate too when they have to. |
| Labour’s Graham Stringer says government messaging has been misleading. Ministers have been quoting the average distance travelled by people to a test. But that does not take account of people not travelling because they are told to go to far. | Labour’s Graham Stringer says government messaging has been misleading. Ministers have been quoting the average distance travelled by people to a test. But that does not take account of people not travelling because they are told to go to far. |
| Bethell says that a 40-page statistical bulletin was published this morning (the regular weekly update). He says they have been very transparent. | Bethell says that a 40-page statistical bulletin was published this morning (the regular weekly update). He says they have been very transparent. |