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| UK Covid: 16,135 new cases reported – highest total for more than 4 months – as it happened | UK Covid: 16,135 new cases reported – highest total for more than 4 months – as it happened |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Latest updates: UK reports highest number of new cases since 6 February | Latest updates: UK reports highest number of new cases since 6 February |
| More than 16,000 new confirmed Covid cases were reported in the UK on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since early February, official data has shown, casting even more doubt on the chances of reopening measures coming any earlier than 19 July. But Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation for Public Health England, told today’s Downing Street press conference that the latest figure for new cases was particularly high because of surge testing in Scotland. (See 5.20pm.) | More than 16,000 new confirmed Covid cases were reported in the UK on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since early February, official data has shown, casting even more doubt on the chances of reopening measures coming any earlier than 19 July. But Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation for Public Health England, told today’s Downing Street press conference that the latest figure for new cases was particularly high because of surge testing in Scotland. (See 5.20pm.) |
| Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, has welcomed the news that 60% of adults in the UK have now had two doses of vaccine. (See 3.21pm.) Speaking at the Downing Street press conference, he also said he was confident that 66% of adults would have had two jabs by 19 July. | Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, has welcomed the news that 60% of adults in the UK have now had two doses of vaccine. (See 3.21pm.) Speaking at the Downing Street press conference, he also said he was confident that 66% of adults would have had two jabs by 19 July. |
| Ramsay has played down concerns about the Delta Plus variant. Speaking at the press conference, she said just 41 cases have been found in this country. Enhanced testing and and enhanced follow-ups were being deployed, she said. She went on: “So I think we’re on top of the situation and I think we continue to be vigilant”. At PMQs earlier, when Boris Johnson was asked a question about the Delta Plus variant, he said: “All the advice we have at present is that the vaccines are effective against all the variants that we can currently see.” | |
| Angela Merkel has said travellers from the UK should be quarantined wherever they arrive in the EU, as the union’s agency for disease control forecast that the Delta variant of Covid will account for 90% of cases in member states by the end of August. | Angela Merkel has said travellers from the UK should be quarantined wherever they arrive in the EU, as the union’s agency for disease control forecast that the Delta variant of Covid will account for 90% of cases in member states by the end of August. |
| Dozens of festivals are facing “devastating consequences to their survival” this summer amid confusion within government over how a £1.57bn post-Covid arts fund will affect the sector, the Commons public accounts committee has found. | Dozens of festivals are facing “devastating consequences to their survival” this summer amid confusion within government over how a £1.57bn post-Covid arts fund will affect the sector, the Commons public accounts committee has found. |
| Keir Starmer has accused the government of failing rape victims by making cuts to the criminal justice system during a decade of austerity. | Keir Starmer has accused the government of failing rape victims by making cuts to the criminal justice system during a decade of austerity. |
| Michael Gove has said he “can’t see” Boris Johnson granting a new referendum on Scottish independence before the next general election. | Michael Gove has said he “can’t see” Boris Johnson granting a new referendum on Scottish independence before the next general election. |
| That’s all from me for today. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here. | That’s all from me for today. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here. |
| This is from Alastair McLellan, editor of the Health Service Journal. | This is from Alastair McLellan, editor of the Health Service Journal. |
| The Office for Students, the higher education regulator for England, has announced a review of “inclusive” assessment at universities that overlooks spelling and grammar in marking student work.The move follows controversy around a small number of universities that have adopted policies allowing markers to ignore errors in writing unless they are “central to the assessment criteria”.Susan Lapworth, the OfS’s director of regulation, said: | The Office for Students, the higher education regulator for England, has announced a review of “inclusive” assessment at universities that overlooks spelling and grammar in marking student work.The move follows controversy around a small number of universities that have adopted policies allowing markers to ignore errors in writing unless they are “central to the assessment criteria”.Susan Lapworth, the OfS’s director of regulation, said: |
| The regulator said its review would identify “future regulatory concerns as well as areas of good practice”. | The regulator said its review would identify “future regulatory concerns as well as areas of good practice”. |
| The latest edition of the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast is out. Heather Stewart and Gaby Hinsliff look at the latest news out of Westminster. Plus: as we mark the fifth anniversary of the Brexit referendum, has it transformed British politics forever? Laura Parker, James Starkie and Anand Menon look back. If you listen carefully you’ll hear a Janet Jackson lyric quoted to discuss Brexit ... | The latest edition of the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast is out. Heather Stewart and Gaby Hinsliff look at the latest news out of Westminster. Plus: as we mark the fifth anniversary of the Brexit referendum, has it transformed British politics forever? Laura Parker, James Starkie and Anand Menon look back. If you listen carefully you’ll hear a Janet Jackson lyric quoted to discuss Brexit ... |
| Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf has insisted that the county’s nurses “are the best paid in the UK” as the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland lodged a formal trade dispute for the first time in the union’s history. | Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf has insisted that the county’s nurses “are the best paid in the UK” as the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland lodged a formal trade dispute for the first time in the union’s history. |
| Describing the RCN’s action as “unprecedented”, Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie said: | Describing the RCN’s action as “unprecedented”, Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie said: |
| But Yousaf insisted that his government had an “exceptional record” on pay; in May it confirmed a NHS pay deal that will see most workers receive a 4% rise, with an additional £500 thank you payment. He said the government was committed to investing in its workforce, including supporting their mental health. | But Yousaf insisted that his government had an “exceptional record” on pay; in May it confirmed a NHS pay deal that will see most workers receive a 4% rise, with an additional £500 thank you payment. He said the government was committed to investing in its workforce, including supporting their mental health. |
| The RCN has been calling for a 12.5% pay increase in recognition of the urgent need to fill vacancies as well as the complexity and responsibility of the job. | The RCN has been calling for a 12.5% pay increase in recognition of the urgent need to fill vacancies as well as the complexity and responsibility of the job. |
| Zahawi ends by saying the “Dunkirk Spirit” is playing a role in ensuring people are coming together and getting the vaccine. | Zahawi ends by saying the “Dunkirk Spirit” is playing a role in ensuring people are coming together and getting the vaccine. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| Q: One in six people in Pakistani or Bangladeshi communities is still not getting the jab. Why are you failing to reach these people? | Q: One in six people in Pakistani or Bangladeshi communities is still not getting the jab. Why are you failing to reach these people? |
| Zahawi says work is being done to reach these communities. | Zahawi says work is being done to reach these communities. |
| He says they are learning from what works. In Haringey in London officials have been helping people book appointments. In other places walk-in centres and advertising is being used. | He says they are learning from what works. In Haringey in London officials have been helping people book appointments. In other places walk-in centres and advertising is being used. |
| Kanani says media voices can play an important role too. | Kanani says media voices can play an important role too. |
| Q: In the Pakistani community messages are being spread saying vaccines could kill you, or stop you having a child. What is being done to combat this misinformation? | Q: In the Pakistani community messages are being spread saying vaccines could kill you, or stop you having a child. What is being done to combat this misinformation? |
| Zahawi says claims like this are completely untrue. He says the system used to check the safety of vaccines is very thorough. | Zahawi says claims like this are completely untrue. He says the system used to check the safety of vaccines is very thorough. |
| A unit in the Cabinet Office is looking at disinformation, and working with the social networks to get this removed as quickly as possible. | A unit in the Cabinet Office is looking at disinformation, and working with the social networks to get this removed as quickly as possible. |
| The important thing is to spread true information, he says. | The important thing is to spread true information, he says. |
| And he says through the G7 the UK is working to get true information circulated. | And he says through the G7 the UK is working to get true information circulated. |
| Q: Could the Delta Plus variant derail the reopening next month? | Q: Could the Delta Plus variant derail the reopening next month? |
| Zahawi says viruses always continue to mutate. | Zahawi says viruses always continue to mutate. |
| The vaccines being deployed now are “incredibly effective” against the Delta variant after two doses. | The vaccines being deployed now are “incredibly effective” against the Delta variant after two doses. |
| And he says the UK has one of the largest genomic sequencing capacities in the world. That is why the UK picks up these variants early, he says. | And he says the UK has one of the largest genomic sequencing capacities in the world. That is why the UK picks up these variants early, he says. |
| Ramsay says we have only seen 41 cases of the Delta Plus variant. Enhanced testing is being done, she says. She says she thinks they are on top of this. | Ramsay says we have only seen 41 cases of the Delta Plus variant. Enhanced testing is being done, she says. She says she thinks they are on top of this. |
| Q: Why not introduce vaccine passports? Wouldn’t that encourage people to get vaccinated? | Q: Why not introduce vaccine passports? Wouldn’t that encourage people to get vaccinated? |
| Zahawi says people can either use the app, or get a letter, if they need to show they have been vaccinated for travel. | Zahawi says people can either use the app, or get a letter, if they need to show they have been vaccinated for travel. |