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UK Covid live news: school leaders 'disappointed' that teachers will not be prioritised in new vaccination wave | UK Covid live news: school leaders 'disappointed' that teachers will not be prioritised in new vaccination wave |
(32 minutes later) | |
Latest updates: scientific advisers say sticking with age-based approach would provide ‘greatest benefit in shortest time’ | Latest updates: scientific advisers say sticking with age-based approach would provide ‘greatest benefit in shortest time’ |
Festival organisers are enjoying record ticket sales after the government’s announcement of its roadmap out of lockdown, despite uncertainty over what state support exists if last-minute cancellations have to take place. | |
“Lots of our members have seen sale spikes since Monday, which has generated lots of consumer confidence,” said Paul Reed, chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals. “There is a huge appetite for live experiences and I don’t think that is surprising. It’s about communal experiences, being outdoors in groups.” | |
Despite the excitement, however, organisers are concerned about the potential of last-minute cancellations, as the coming months are filled with uncertainty. They are calling for a government-backed insurance scheme so that if they have to change plans, they will not lose all their investment. | |
Read the full story here: | |
Downing Street said suggestions that Uefa is considering holding the European Championships entirely in England following its successful vaccination drive were “speculation”. | |
A spokesman for the Prime Minister told reporters: | |
Public Health Wales said a total of 902,334 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had now been given, an increase of 13,064 from the previous day. | |
The agency said 80,062 second doses had also been given, an increase of 10,211, PA news reports. | |
In total, 91% of over-80s in Wales have received their first dose, along with 93.2% of those aged 75-79 and 92.7% of those aged 70-74. | |
For care homes, 85.8% of residents and 83% of staff have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. | |
Public Health Wales said 87% of people in the clinically extremely vulnerable category had received their first dose. | |
There have been a further 308 cases of coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 203,108. | |
Around one in 145 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between February 13 and 19, according to new estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | Around one in 145 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between February 13 and 19, according to new estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
This is down from about one in 115 people for the period February 6-12, PA news reports. | This is down from about one in 115 people for the period February 6-12, PA news reports. |
It is the lowest figure since October 2-8, when the estimate also stood at one in 160 people. | It is the lowest figure since October 2-8, when the estimate also stood at one in 160 people. |
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for JCVI, said he was concerned about groups of people not taking up the offer to be vaccinated. | Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for JCVI, said he was concerned about groups of people not taking up the offer to be vaccinated. |
He told the Downing Street press conference about the next phase of the rollout: | He told the Downing Street press conference about the next phase of the rollout: |
When asked about whether the priorities of the vaccination programme will continue to be reviewed, he added: | When asked about whether the priorities of the vaccination programme will continue to be reviewed, he added: |
The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales has called the decision not to prioritise officers in the next phase of the coronavirus vaccination programme a “deep and damaging betrayal” which “will not be forgotten”. | The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales has called the decision not to prioritise officers in the next phase of the coronavirus vaccination programme a “deep and damaging betrayal” which “will not be forgotten”. |
John Apter told the PA news agency: | John Apter told the PA news agency: |
School leaders are not happy with the JCVI decision not to target teachers and other school staff in the next wave of vaccinations in England. | School leaders are not happy with the JCVI decision not to target teachers and other school staff in the next wave of vaccinations in England. |
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said his members were “disappointed” by the news: | Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said his members were “disappointed” by the news: |
The announcement follows the Department for Education’s admission that neither Covid tests nor mask-wearing among secondary school pupils will be compulsory when pupils return from 8 March. | The announcement follows the Department for Education’s admission that neither Covid tests nor mask-wearing among secondary school pupils will be compulsory when pupils return from 8 March. |
And it follows the most recent ONS data showing that teachers were at greater risk of testing positive for Covid than most other occupations, contrary to assurances from the government. | And it follows the most recent ONS data showing that teachers were at greater risk of testing positive for Covid than most other occupations, contrary to assurances from the government. |
The decision not to prioritise all people with asthma, who are not already in group four and six, “ignores the evidence”, the UK’s leading asthma and lung charities has said. | The decision not to prioritise all people with asthma, who are not already in group four and six, “ignores the evidence”, the UK’s leading asthma and lung charities has said. |
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said the decision to continue with the age-based approach to phase 2 of the vaccine rollout would leave many people with asthma left feeling “anxious and angry”. | Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said the decision to continue with the age-based approach to phase 2 of the vaccine rollout would leave many people with asthma left feeling “anxious and angry”. |
She said: | She said: |
Manchester Pride will be going ahead with an in-person event this year, its organisers have confirmed. | Manchester Pride will be going ahead with an in-person event this year, its organisers have confirmed. |
The annual LGBT+ festival, which is held over the August bank holiday and involves a concert and a parade through the streets of Manchester, is one of the biggest Pride events in the UK. | The annual LGBT+ festival, which is held over the August bank holiday and involves a concert and a parade through the streets of Manchester, is one of the biggest Pride events in the UK. |
The charity behind Manchester Pride said there are plans to switch to a socially-distanced and digital back-up event if an in-person festival is not possible. | The charity behind Manchester Pride said there are plans to switch to a socially-distanced and digital back-up event if an in-person festival is not possible. |
Mark Fletcher, chief executive of Manchester Pride, said: | Mark Fletcher, chief executive of Manchester Pride, said: |
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said opting to keep with an age-based priority system for phase two of the vaccine programme meant it would be simpler to administer. | Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said opting to keep with an age-based priority system for phase two of the vaccine programme meant it would be simpler to administer. |
He told a Downing Street press briefing: | He told a Downing Street press briefing: |