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| UK Covid live: Indian variant could put hospitals under serious pressure again, warns trusts body | UK Covid live: Indian variant could put hospitals under serious pressure again, warns trusts body |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hospital bosses warn spread of Indian variant could lead to a new surge in infections; Boris Johnson to hold 5pm press conference | Hospital bosses warn spread of Indian variant could lead to a new surge in infections; Boris Johnson to hold 5pm press conference |
| The UK government will use Covid-19 vaccinations and testing to try to ensure vital UN climate talks this year go ahead in person, rather than as an online event. | |
| Alok Sharma, a former UK business secretary and now president-designate of Cop26, the climate summit to be held in Glasgow this November, said: | |
| Sharma is working with health experts, the Scottish government and other officials on the best way to ensure the two-week conference, which 30,000 people were originally expected to attend, can go ahead. | |
| This would include using vaccines and testing for Covid-19, Sharma said in a speech at the Whitelee windfarm near Glasgow on Friday morning. However, he said he could not yet go into detail on what would be involved. | |
| After “listening carefully to feedback from students” and despite concerns over coronavirus, the University of Lincoln has reversed a decision to postpone in-person graduation ceremonies. Students had criticised the postponement. | After “listening carefully to feedback from students” and despite concerns over coronavirus, the University of Lincoln has reversed a decision to postpone in-person graduation ceremonies. Students had criticised the postponement. |
| Chris Spendlove, university registrar, told the BBC: | Chris Spendlove, university registrar, told the BBC: |
| The university originally said events planned for Lincoln Cathedral in September would be held virtually, with physical ceremonies delayed until next April. But now a number of ceremonies will take place this autumn. | The university originally said events planned for Lincoln Cathedral in September would be held virtually, with physical ceremonies delayed until next April. But now a number of ceremonies will take place this autumn. |
| Hospital bosses have warned that the spread of the Indian variant could lead to a new surge in infections which puts hospitals still recovering from the huge impact of the pandemic under serious strain again. | Hospital bosses have warned that the spread of the Indian variant could lead to a new surge in infections which puts hospitals still recovering from the huge impact of the pandemic under serious strain again. |
| NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, has also asked the government and its medical and scientific advisers to guide them on how big a threat the variant known as B.1.617.2 poses to the NHS and when it might result in an influx of patients. | NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, has also asked the government and its medical and scientific advisers to guide them on how big a threat the variant known as B.1.617.2 poses to the NHS and when it might result in an influx of patients. |
| Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said: | Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said: |
| Hopson outlined several reasons why the Indian variant may end up becoming a major challenge for already hard-pressed hospitals. | Hopson outlined several reasons why the Indian variant may end up becoming a major challenge for already hard-pressed hospitals. |
| Wales could allow small food festivals and small live music and arts events to reopen next week if the Indian coronavirus variant poses no need to pause relaxing restrictions, Mark Drakeford has said. | Wales could allow small food festivals and small live music and arts events to reopen next week if the Indian coronavirus variant poses no need to pause relaxing restrictions, Mark Drakeford has said. |
| PA Media reports: | PA Media reports: |
| A third of patients who died with Covid at a hospital in the south of England were probably infected on the wards, the BBC reports. | A third of patients who died with Covid at a hospital in the south of England were probably infected on the wards, the BBC reports. |
| At Brighton and Sussex university hospital, at least 173 people who died with the virus first tested positive after more than a week in the medical centre. | At Brighton and Sussex university hospital, at least 173 people who died with the virus first tested positive after more than a week in the medical centre. |
| The trust told the BBC that hospital infection rates “reflect almost exactly the levels of Covid transmission in the community”, but a former member of staff claimed infection control was inadequate. | The trust told the BBC that hospital infection rates “reflect almost exactly the levels of Covid transmission in the community”, but a former member of staff claimed infection control was inadequate. |
| Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the figures were “devastating” but that it was an issue affecting hospitals across the UK. “We think between 20 and 40% of the people who died from Covid across the country picked up the infection in their hospital,” he told the broadcaster. | Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the figures were “devastating” but that it was an issue affecting hospitals across the UK. “We think between 20 and 40% of the people who died from Covid across the country picked up the infection in their hospital,” he told the broadcaster. |
| But local MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said the figures “seem to show that a much higher rate of people contracted Covid” at the hospital than in other hospitals nearby. “That is deeply concerning,” he told the BBC. | But local MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said the figures “seem to show that a much higher rate of people contracted Covid” at the hospital than in other hospitals nearby. “That is deeply concerning,” he told the BBC. |
| A tacit rejection, it appears, of calls (which we reported earlier) for the government to increase financial support for anyone self-isolating from its current paltry amount. | A tacit rejection, it appears, of calls (which we reported earlier) for the government to increase financial support for anyone self-isolating from its current paltry amount. |
| Downing Street insisted that the “vast majority” do self-isolate when they are told to. A spokesman for the prime minister told a Westminster briefing: | Downing Street insisted that the “vast majority” do self-isolate when they are told to. A spokesman for the prime minister told a Westminster briefing: |
| But a recent study found that almost half of those displaying symptoms did not bother to stay at home, often because they could not afford to lose income from not working. | But a recent study found that almost half of those displaying symptoms did not bother to stay at home, often because they could not afford to lose income from not working. |
| David Greenhalgh, the Conservative leader of Bolton council, has said the government is “looking to progress” the rollout of vaccines for all adults in areas with high transmission of the variant first identified in India. | David Greenhalgh, the Conservative leader of Bolton council, has said the government is “looking to progress” the rollout of vaccines for all adults in areas with high transmission of the variant first identified in India. |
| Following a call with the health secretary, Matt Hancock, Greenhalgh told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: | Following a call with the health secretary, Matt Hancock, Greenhalgh told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: |
| The coronavirus reproduction number, or R value, in England has risen marginally on last week and is between 0.8 and 1.1, according to official government figures from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). | The coronavirus reproduction number, or R value, in England has risen marginally on last week and is between 0.8 and 1.1, according to official government figures from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). |
| R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially, but when it is below 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking.An R number between between 0.8 and 1 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 10 other people. | R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially, but when it is below 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking.An R number between between 0.8 and 1 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 10 other people. |
| Sage has also published the growth rate, which estimates how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, at between minus 3% and plus 1% for England.This means that the number of new infections could be broadly flat, shrinking by up to 3% every day, or growing by up to 1% every day.However, Sage added these estimates do not necessarily mean R is definitively above 1 and that the epidemic is increasing, just that the uncertainty means it cannot be ruled out. | Sage has also published the growth rate, which estimates how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, at between minus 3% and plus 1% for England.This means that the number of new infections could be broadly flat, shrinking by up to 3% every day, or growing by up to 1% every day.However, Sage added these estimates do not necessarily mean R is definitively above 1 and that the epidemic is increasing, just that the uncertainty means it cannot be ruled out. |
| The UK government will use Covid-19 vaccinations and testing to try to ensure vital UN climate talks this year go ahead in person, rather than as an online event, Fiona Harvey reports. | The UK government will use Covid-19 vaccinations and testing to try to ensure vital UN climate talks this year go ahead in person, rather than as an online event, Fiona Harvey reports. |
| The number of people infected with Covid-19 continues to fall across the UK, PA reports.Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show around one in 1,340 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 8 May - down from one in 1,180 the previous week. This is the lowest figure since the week to 5 September when the estimate, which is based on a sample of the population, stood at one in 1,400.The figures do not include care homes, hospitals and prisons.In Wales, around one in 4,230 people are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to May 8 - down from one in 2,070 in the previous week.In Northern Ireland, the estimate is around one in 1,430 people, down from one in 750.The estimate for Scotland is around one in 1,250, down from one in 760 and the lowest since estimates began for Scotland in October. | The number of people infected with Covid-19 continues to fall across the UK, PA reports.Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show around one in 1,340 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 8 May - down from one in 1,180 the previous week. This is the lowest figure since the week to 5 September when the estimate, which is based on a sample of the population, stood at one in 1,400.The figures do not include care homes, hospitals and prisons.In Wales, around one in 4,230 people are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to May 8 - down from one in 2,070 in the previous week.In Northern Ireland, the estimate is around one in 1,430 people, down from one in 750.The estimate for Scotland is around one in 1,250, down from one in 760 and the lowest since estimates began for Scotland in October. |
| Portugal’s tourist board has confirmed that UK holidaymakers will be allowed to enter the country from Monday, PA reports. | Portugal’s tourist board has confirmed that UK holidaymakers will be allowed to enter the country from Monday, PA reports. |
| Bury council has also today written to schools in the local authority telling them that face masks would still be required in classrooms from Monday - the date when the government had dropped the requirement for secondary schools in England. | Bury council has also today written to schools in the local authority telling them that face masks would still be required in classrooms from Monday - the date when the government had dropped the requirement for secondary schools in England. |
| The letter from the council’s department for young people and children tells school leaders: | The letter from the council’s department for young people and children tells school leaders: |
| Rachel Hall here taking over the blog from Mattha Busby - please do send over any ideas and tips to rachel.hall@theguardian.com | Rachel Hall here taking over the blog from Mattha Busby - please do send over any ideas and tips to rachel.hall@theguardian.com |
| The Welsh government has given more details about the new international travel rules, which come into force from Monday. People will be able to travel again but Wales is bringing in a “travel light” system. | The Welsh government has given more details about the new international travel rules, which come into force from Monday. People will be able to travel again but Wales is bringing in a “travel light” system. |
| People arriving from green-list countries are not required to quarantine on their return to Wales, but they must book and pay for a mandatory PCR test on or before day two of their return. All travellers and members of their household will also be reminded about the availability of additional lateral flow tests to continue to monitor their health. | People arriving from green-list countries are not required to quarantine on their return to Wales, but they must book and pay for a mandatory PCR test on or before day two of their return. All travellers and members of their household will also be reminded about the availability of additional lateral flow tests to continue to monitor their health. |
| People arriving from amber-list countries are required to quarantine for 10 days at home on their return. This is a legal requirement. They are also required to book and pay for mandatory PCR tests on day two and on day eight. Unlike in England, Wales does not operate a test-to-release scheme where an additional test can be taken on day five to reduce the period of quarantine. This is because some 30% of people who develop Covid-19 do so after day five. | People arriving from amber-list countries are required to quarantine for 10 days at home on their return. This is a legal requirement. They are also required to book and pay for mandatory PCR tests on day two and on day eight. Unlike in England, Wales does not operate a test-to-release scheme where an additional test can be taken on day five to reduce the period of quarantine. This is because some 30% of people who develop Covid-19 do so after day five. |
| People arriving from countries on the red list are required to quarantine for a full 10 days on arrival in the UK at a designated UK port in a government-managed facility – a ‘covid hotel’ – at their own cost, starting from £1,750 per person. All UK entry points for arrivals from red-list countries are in England and Scotland, which means Welsh residents returning from those countries will need to quarantine outside Wales. Travellers are also required to book and pay for mandatory PCR tests on day two and day eight. All those who do not follow the rules for red-list countries face fixed notice penalties of £10,000. | People arriving from countries on the red list are required to quarantine for a full 10 days on arrival in the UK at a designated UK port in a government-managed facility – a ‘covid hotel’ – at their own cost, starting from £1,750 per person. All UK entry points for arrivals from red-list countries are in England and Scotland, which means Welsh residents returning from those countries will need to quarantine outside Wales. Travellers are also required to book and pay for mandatory PCR tests on day two and day eight. All those who do not follow the rules for red-list countries face fixed notice penalties of £10,000. |
| First minister Mark Drakeford said: | First minister Mark Drakeford said: |
| A prime ministerial address to the nation tonight, 5pm. | A prime ministerial address to the nation tonight, 5pm. |