This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/may/14/uk-covid-live-surge-vaccinations-indian-variant-lockdown-england-coronavirus-latest-updates
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| UK Covid live: Boris Johnson to hold press conference amid calls for ‘surge vaccinations’ to combat Indian variant | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson set to address concerns that spread of variant found in India, B1.617.2, may derail planned easing of England lockdown | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Bolton’s director of children’s services has written to parents, telling them pupils will still be required to wear face masks in schools “until further notice” because of the local Covid outbreak, despite the easing of the rules elsewhere in England from next Monday.The letter sent today states: | Bolton’s director of children’s services has written to parents, telling them pupils will still be required to wear face masks in schools “until further notice” because of the local Covid outbreak, despite the easing of the rules elsewhere in England from next Monday.The letter sent today states: |
| Back in the UK, nearly one in five pregnant women were forced to wear a face covering during labour, according to research by a charity, despite official health guidance saying they should not be asked to do so. | Back in the UK, nearly one in five pregnant women were forced to wear a face covering during labour, according to research by a charity, despite official health guidance saying they should not be asked to do so. |
| Women described feeling unable to breathe, having panic attacks or even being sick during labour because they were made to wear a face covering. | Women described feeling unable to breathe, having panic attacks or even being sick during labour because they were made to wear a face covering. |
| The research was carried out by the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, who surveyed 936 women who gave birth during December. It found that 160 of those who went into labour were made to wear a face covering. This goes against current joint UK guidance, published in July 2020 by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. | The research was carried out by the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, who surveyed 936 women who gave birth during December. It found that 160 of those who went into labour were made to wear a face covering. This goes against current joint UK guidance, published in July 2020 by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. |
| Segueing briefly into the biggest unanswered question of the pandemic, the origin of the novel coronavirus remains unclear and there is still not yet enough evidence to say conclusively if it occurred naturally or was caused by a laboratory leak, a group of senior scientists say in a letter reported by Reuters. | Segueing briefly into the biggest unanswered question of the pandemic, the origin of the novel coronavirus remains unclear and there is still not yet enough evidence to say conclusively if it occurred naturally or was caused by a laboratory leak, a group of senior scientists say in a letter reported by Reuters. |
| “Theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable,” said the 18 scientists, including Ravindra Gupta, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Cambridge, in a letter to the journal Science which criticised the World Health Organization (WHO) report into the beginnings of the pandemic in Wuhan and called for further investigation. | “Theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable,” said the 18 scientists, including Ravindra Gupta, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Cambridge, in a letter to the journal Science which criticised the World Health Organization (WHO) report into the beginnings of the pandemic in Wuhan and called for further investigation. |
| GP patients must now be offered face-to-face appointments if they so wish, new NHS England guidance reported by health publication Pulse states. | GP patients must now be offered face-to-face appointments if they so wish, new NHS England guidance reported by health publication Pulse 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 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. |
| Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: | Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: |
| The NHS’s new instructions to GPs require them to make, “a clear offer of appointments in person” and “respect preferences for face to face care unless there are good reasons to the contrary.” | The NHS’s new instructions to GPs require them to make, “a clear offer of appointments in person” and “respect preferences for face to face care unless there are good reasons to the contrary.” |
| GPs will still be allowed to arrange a remote appointment in the first instance, if the patient reports having Covid symptoms. | GPs will still be allowed to arrange a remote appointment in the first instance, if the patient reports having Covid symptoms. |
| The Indian coronavirus variant has been detected in a number of areas in England which are reporting the highest rates of infection, data suggests. | The Indian coronavirus variant has been detected in a number of areas in England which are reporting the highest rates of infection, data suggests. |
| PA Media has the story: | PA Media has the story: |
| Earlier this morning, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said trials of vaccinating all adults in multi-generational households have been “successful” and could be a “tool” for use in areas where there is a surge of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India. | Earlier this morning, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said trials of vaccinating all adults in multi-generational households have been “successful” and could be a “tool” for use in areas where there is a surge of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India. |
| “The multigenerational household trials, in Luton and in Slough and elsewhere, have been good, they have been successful, which is why I think it’s a tool in our armoury,” he told BBC Breakfast. | “The multigenerational household trials, in Luton and in Slough and elsewhere, have been good, they have been successful, which is why I think it’s a tool in our armoury,” he told BBC Breakfast. |
| Asked why this was not being implemented now, he said: “The clinicians will make those sorts of recommendations, the decisions, and we will flex the vaccination programme accordingly.” | Asked why this was not being implemented now, he said: “The clinicians will make those sorts of recommendations, the decisions, and we will flex the vaccination programme accordingly.” |
| My colleagues Josh Halliday and Helen Pidd report on Lancashire’s director of public health, Sakthi Karunanithi, joining Blackburn with Darwen public health director, Dominic Harrison, in expressing frustration with national authorities in not rapidly surge vaccinating in badly hit areas. | My colleagues Josh Halliday and Helen Pidd report on Lancashire’s director of public health, Sakthi Karunanithi, joining Blackburn with Darwen public health director, Dominic Harrison, in expressing frustration with national authorities in not rapidly surge vaccinating in badly hit areas. |
| “I share Dom’s fury,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire. Karunanithi said the region of 1.5 million people may only be “three or four weeks” away from seeing more widespread outbreaks of B.1.617.2, as in Blackburn with Darwen, where the infection rate is five times the UK average. | “I share Dom’s fury,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire. Karunanithi said the region of 1.5 million people may only be “three or four weeks” away from seeing more widespread outbreaks of B.1.617.2, as in Blackburn with Darwen, where the infection rate is five times the UK average. |
| “At this point in time I’m having to painfully accept that we can’t move faster with the vaccines in Lancashire but we will continue to [ask the government] for us to move faster.” | “At this point in time I’m having to painfully accept that we can’t move faster with the vaccines in Lancashire but we will continue to [ask the government] for us to move faster.” |
| Payments to allow people with Covid symptoms to self-isolate need to be increased sharply or a return to normal life could lead to a resurgence in infections and deaths, ministers are being warned. | Payments to allow people with Covid symptoms to self-isolate need to be increased sharply or a return to normal life could lead to a resurgence in infections and deaths, ministers are being warned. |
| Two leading thinktanks have proposed that the government funds grants for employers and the self-employed, on a similar basis to the furlough scheme, to encourage more people to isolate. | Two leading thinktanks have proposed that the government funds grants for employers and the self-employed, on a similar basis to the furlough scheme, to encourage more people to isolate. |
| Doctors, public health experts and opposition parties believe that low adherence to the request to self-isolate has been a major flaw in Britain’s response to the pandemic and allowed coronavirus to spread. | Doctors, public health experts and opposition parties believe that low adherence to the request to self-isolate has been a major flaw in Britain’s response to the pandemic and allowed coronavirus to spread. |
| One 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. | One 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. |
| British holidaymakers hoping to fly to Portugal as soon as UK travel restrictions lift are facing uncertainty after the country’s government decided to extend its “state of calamity” until at least the end of the month. | British holidaymakers hoping to fly to Portugal as soon as UK travel restrictions lift are facing uncertainty after the country’s government decided to extend its “state of calamity” until at least the end of the month. |
| PA reports: | PA reports: |
| Around 45,000 pubs will reopen next week across the UK when lockdown restrictions are further eased, serving more than 3m pints, it has been estimated. | Around 45,000 pubs will reopen next week across the UK when lockdown restrictions are further eased, serving more than 3m pints, it has been estimated. |
| PA Media report: | PA Media report: |