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UK Covid live: Indian variant could put hospitals under serious pressure again, warns trusts body UK Covid live: Boris Johnson to hold briefing amid fears over spread of Indian variant
(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 Prime minister to hold briefing as hospital bosses warn spread of Indian variant could lead to a new surge in infections
Following the meeting between Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Chequers, an Irish government statement said: “The Taoiseach and Prime Minister had constructive engagement across a number of issues, including the Covid-19 response, support for peace and stability in Northern Ireland, and the broader British-Irish relationship.
“Discussions focused on ways the two Governments can continue to work together to support all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and promote peace and prosperity on both a North/South and East/West basis.
“The two leaders, in particular, discussed the long journey of the Ballymurphy families for justice to vindicate the innocence of their loved ones.
“They also discussed British-Irish relations, and both are ambitious for the development of the next phase of the bilateral relationship framed around a number of areas of common interest.
“The Taoiseach and Prime Minister had a good exchange on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the value of working together. They agreed to remain in close touch over the coming weeks.”
Sturgeon has told MSPs that “pressing pause” would ensure that coronavirus measures would not have to be reimposed at a later date.
Announcing that both Moray and Glasgow will remain in Level 3 even as the rest of the country moves to Level 2 on Monday, the first minister said:
People are being advised not to travel in or out of the affected council areas, while the first minister added she was optimistic that increased testing and vaccination would help to curb the increased spread of the virus.
Following on from Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement just now, we have more from our Scotland correspondent Libby Brooks.
The situation in Glasgow, which is concentrated in Sturgeon’s southside constituency, is causing particular concern with evidence suggesting that the outbreak is being driven by the so-called Indian variant.
Sturgeon said that she expected accelerated vaccination to be part of the response in Glasgow but that health officials were anticipating further JCVI advice on whether there is any evidence about variations in the effectiveness of the vaccine in relation to the Indian variant.
NHS Greater Glasgow Clyde and Glasgow City Council is also writing to all households in the G41 and G42 areas, asking people to get tested regardless of whether they have symptoms.
Glasgow took over as Scotland’s worst Covid hotspot according to latest official figures released earlier on Friday with 80.4 cases per 100,000 compared with 68.9 in Moray.
Sturgeon said that the situation in Moray was improving but that it was “prudent” for Moray to remain at level 3 for another week.
The government said a further 17 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of today, bringing the UK total to 127,668.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 152,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The government also said that, as of 9am on Friday, there had been a further 2,193 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,446,824.
Glasgow and Moray will remain in level 3 as the rest of Scotland moves to level 2, Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Initially, both areas will remain at level 3 for a week, with a further decision made at the end of next week.
The situation in Glasgow, the first minister said, is causing even more concern than Moray, with initial research suggesting the outbreak could be being driven by the Indian variant of the virus.
A Conservative council leader strongly hinted that the UK government will give permission imminently for the “surge vaccination” of all adults in areas hit by outbreaks of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.A Conservative council leader strongly hinted that the UK government will give permission imminently for the “surge vaccination” of all adults in areas hit by outbreaks of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
Boris Johnson is to hold a Downing Street press conference on India variant concerns at 5.30pm with chief medical officer Chris Whitty. Earlier today the PM’s spokesman did not deny surge vaccines are being planned to target variant hotspots.Boris Johnson is to hold a Downing Street press conference on India variant concerns at 5.30pm with chief medical officer Chris Whitty. Earlier today the PM’s spokesman did not deny surge vaccines are being planned to target variant hotspots.
Hospital bosses 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 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.
Portugal is to reopen to British visitors with negative PCR test results on Monday, despite the government extending a nationwide state of emergency until the end of the month as the country continues to recover from a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.Portugal is to reopen to British visitors with negative PCR test results on Monday, despite the government extending a nationwide state of emergency until the end of the month as the country continues to recover from a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
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, first minister Mark Drakeford 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, first minister Mark Drakeford said.
Downing Street appeared to reject calls for an increase in financial support for anyone self-isolating from its current paltry amount, insisting that the “vast majority” do self-isolate when they are told to despite a recent study finding 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.Downing Street appeared to reject calls for an increase in financial support for anyone self-isolating from its current paltry amount, insisting that the “vast majority” do self-isolate when they are told to despite a recent study finding 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.
GP patients must now be offered face-to-face appointments if they so wish, new NHS England guidance states. The Patients Association welcomed the new requirements, saying most patients prefer to see their doctor in person, but stressed how difficult people have been finding accessing GP services.GP patients must now be offered face-to-face appointments if they so wish, new NHS England guidance states. The Patients Association welcomed the new requirements, saying most patients prefer to see their doctor in person, but stressed how difficult people have been finding accessing GP services.
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.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.
Most companies have no plans to require evidence of vaccination from their workers, customers or suppliers, research suggests.Most companies have no plans to require evidence of vaccination from their workers, customers or suppliers, research suggests.
The care regulator has “retreated to the sidelines” throughout the pandemic, leaving older people in care at risk and families afraid of speaking out for fear of losing the placement, a charity has said.The care regulator has “retreated to the sidelines” throughout the pandemic, leaving older people in care at risk and families afraid of speaking out for fear of losing the placement, a charity has said.
PA Media reports:PA Media reports:
There is some good news and bad news about the variant first identified in India, based on the limited data available, writes Julian Tang, a clinical virologist and honorary associate professor in the respiratory sciences department at the University of Leicester.There is some good news and bad news about the variant first identified in India, based on the limited data available, writes Julian Tang, a clinical virologist and honorary associate professor in the respiratory sciences department at the University of Leicester.
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.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: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.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.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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
First minister Mark Drakeford said:
A prime ministerial address to the nation tonight, 5pm.