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| Covid live news: public in England will be expected to wear masks indoors when measures lift, says UK minister | Covid live news: public in England will be expected to wear masks indoors when measures lift, says UK minister |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Nadhim Zahawi says mask guidance indoors is likely to stay in England and denies story that gap between vaccine doses will half | Nadhim Zahawi says mask guidance indoors is likely to stay in England and denies story that gap between vaccine doses will half |
| Thailand’s health ministry has said that more than 600 medical workers who received two doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine have been infected with COVID-19, as authorities weigh giving booster doses to raise immunity. | |
| Reuters reports: | |
| Of the 677,348 medical personnel who received two doses of Sinovac, 618 became infected, health ministry data from April to July showed. A nurse has died and another medical worker is in critical condition. | |
| An expert panel has recommended a third dose to trigger immunity for medical workers who are at risk, senior health official Sopon Iamsirithawon, told a news briefing on Sunday. | |
| “This will be a different vaccine, either viral vector AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine, which Thailand will be receiving in the near term,” he said, adding that the recommendation will be considered on Monday. | |
| The announcement comes as the Southeast Asian country reported a record high of 9,418 community infections on Sunday. On Saturday authorities reported a record of 91 new daily coronavirus fatalities. | |
| Thailand has reported a total of 336,371 confirmed infections and 2,711 fatalities since the pandemic began last year. | |
| The majority of Thailand’s medical and frontline workers were given Sinovac’s shots after February with the viral vector vaccine from AstraZeneca arriving in June. | |
| Thailand is expecting a donation of 1.5 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines from the United States later this month and has ordered 20 million doses that will be delivered after October. | |
| Neighbouring Indonesia, which has also heavily relied on Sinovac, said on Friday it would give the Moderna vaccine as boosters to medical workers. | |
| Marr getting stuck in to Nadim Zahawi after his first interview on Sky News this morning. He compares Boris Johnson’s claim in PMQs this link that the link between infections, hospitalisations and deaths had been “severed” was at odds with the information given by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. | Marr getting stuck in to Nadim Zahawi after his first interview on Sky News this morning. He compares Boris Johnson’s claim in PMQs this link that the link between infections, hospitalisations and deaths had been “severed” was at odds with the information given by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. |
| When Zahawi suggests the question is “dancing on the head of a pin”, Marr shows why he is one of the best political interviewers in the game, saying: | When Zahawi suggests the question is “dancing on the head of a pin”, Marr shows why he is one of the best political interviewers in the game, saying: |
| Zahawi said: | Zahawi said: |
| Marr points out that Zahawi’s messsaging is “interestingly more cautious than some other ministers we’ve been hearing from recently”. | Marr points out that Zahawi’s messsaging is “interestingly more cautious than some other ministers we’ve been hearing from recently”. |
| Zahawi replies: | Zahawi replies: |
| Marr asked Spiegelhalter if people were doubly vaccinated, how safe were they: | Marr asked Spiegelhalter if people were doubly vaccinated, how safe were they: |
| You’re not completely safe, but probably at least 20 times safer than if you were not vaccinated. | You’re not completely safe, but probably at least 20 times safer than if you were not vaccinated. |
| He said compared to a 67-year-old like himself, an unvaccinated 30-year-old still had less chance of dying. | He said compared to a 67-year-old like himself, an unvaccinated 30-year-old still had less chance of dying. |
| Asked how worried young people should be about long Covid, he said: | Asked how worried young people should be about long Covid, he said: |
| Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show this morning. | Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show this morning. |
| Talking about the relaxing of restriction on July 19 he said: | Talking about the relaxing of restriction on July 19 he said: |
| Asked about hospitalisations, which Marr said were running at 460 a day “which is higher than the government originally expected”, Spiegelhalter said: | Asked about hospitalisations, which Marr said were running at 460 a day “which is higher than the government originally expected”, Spiegelhalter said: |
| In Savid Javid’s Sunday Telegraph interview he said people in crowded enclosed spaces should continue to wear masks, “and if someone is not doing that, frankly, they’re just being irresponsible, they’re not playing their role as a responsible citizen” | In Savid Javid’s Sunday Telegraph interview he said people in crowded enclosed spaces should continue to wear masks, “and if someone is not doing that, frankly, they’re just being irresponsible, they’re not playing their role as a responsible citizen” |
| Responding, Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary said: | Responding, Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary said: |
| Israel has said it will begin offering a booster shot of Pfizer Inc’s vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but it was still weighing whether a third round of shots should be given to the general public, Reuters reports: | Israel has said it will begin offering a booster shot of Pfizer Inc’s vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but it was still weighing whether a third round of shots should be given to the general public, Reuters reports: |
| The rapid spread of the Delta variant has sent vaccination rates in Israel back up as new infections have risen over the past month from single digits to around 450 a day. | The rapid spread of the Delta variant has sent vaccination rates in Israel back up as new infections have risen over the past month from single digits to around 450 a day. |
| Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said that effective immediately, adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get a booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution. | Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said that effective immediately, adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get a booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution. |
| Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE, the main suppliers in a swift Israeli vaccination rollout that began in December, said on Thursday they will ask U.S. and European regulators within weeks to authorize booster shots.The two companies cited an increased risk of infection after six months in seeking permission for a third shot. | Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE, the main suppliers in a swift Israeli vaccination rollout that began in December, said on Thursday they will ask U.S. and European regulators within weeks to authorize booster shots.The two companies cited an increased risk of infection after six months in seeking permission for a third shot. |
| Drawing criticism from some scientists and officials, the companies did not share the data showing that risk, but said it would soon be made public.Speaking on Kan public radio Horowitz said: | Drawing criticism from some scientists and officials, the companies did not share the data showing that risk, but said it would soon be made public.Speaking on Kan public radio Horowitz said: |
| About half of the 46 patients presently hospitalised in Israel in severe condition are vaccinated, according to health ministry data. Israel’s coronavirus pandemic response coordinator, Nachman Ash, said on Wednesday the overwhelming majority of them are from risk groups, over the age of 60 and have prior health problems. | About half of the 46 patients presently hospitalised in Israel in severe condition are vaccinated, according to health ministry data. Israel’s coronavirus pandemic response coordinator, Nachman Ash, said on Wednesday the overwhelming majority of them are from risk groups, over the age of 60 and have prior health problems. |
| Horowitz said that separately, the health ministry would plug a Pfizer supply gap for ongoing two-dose inoculations of the general adult population by using Moderna Inc vaccines already in stock. | Horowitz said that separately, the health ministry would plug a Pfizer supply gap for ongoing two-dose inoculations of the general adult population by using Moderna Inc vaccines already in stock. |
| Israel has almost exclusively administered Pfizer shots to around 60% of its 9.3 million population. But a batch of 700,000 doses due to expire at the end of July was sent to South Korea, as a recent slowdown in the pace of vaccinations would likely have seen the doses go to waste. | Israel has almost exclusively administered Pfizer shots to around 60% of its 9.3 million population. But a batch of 700,000 doses due to expire at the end of July was sent to South Korea, as a recent slowdown in the pace of vaccinations would likely have seen the doses go to waste. |
| Under the swap deal, Seoul will return the same number of shots, already on order from Pfizer, in September and October. | Under the swap deal, Seoul will return the same number of shots, already on order from Pfizer, in September and October. |
| Horowitz said: | Horowitz said: |
| Israel hopes earlier deliveries will enable more youngsters to be vaccinated before the start of the school year in September. | Israel hopes earlier deliveries will enable more youngsters to be vaccinated before the start of the school year in September. |
| Under health ministry regulations, Israeli youths can receive Pfizer shots but not yet those produced by Moderna. | Under health ministry regulations, Israeli youths can receive Pfizer shots but not yet those produced by Moderna. |
| Russia reported 25,033 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, including 5,410 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 5,783,333. | Russia reported 25,033 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, including 5,410 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 5,783,333. |
| The government coronavirus task force said 749 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 143,002. | The government coronavirus task force said 749 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 143,002. |
| The federal statistics agency has kept a separate death toll. It said on Friday it had recorded around 290,000 deaths related to COVID-19 between April 2020 and May this year. | The federal statistics agency has kept a separate death toll. It said on Friday it had recorded around 290,000 deaths related to COVID-19 between April 2020 and May this year. |
| UK National Statistician Ian Diamond said the data showed an increase in cases, with one in 160 in England testing positive and that the figure was going up “quite quickly” although case number remained “slightly less than a third of where we were on the second of January this year”. | UK National Statistician Ian Diamond said the data showed an increase in cases, with one in 160 in England testing positive and that the figure was going up “quite quickly” although case number remained “slightly less than a third of where we were on the second of January this year”. |
| The increase was driven largely by cases in the North East and North West, with the lowest number in the East of England and the South East. | The increase was driven largely by cases in the North East and North West, with the lowest number in the East of England and the South East. |
| Asked if he ruled out the possibility of there being 100,000 cases a day he said: | Asked if he ruled out the possibility of there being 100,000 cases a day he said: |
| Professor Sir Ian Diamond, the UK’s National Statistician has told Sky News that about nine in ten people in England and Wales have antibodies against coronavirus, up from two in ten in January. | Professor Sir Ian Diamond, the UK’s National Statistician has told Sky News that about nine in ten people in England and Wales have antibodies against coronavirus, up from two in ten in January. |
| The group with the lowest at around about 60%, is those age of 15 to 24, he said. | The group with the lowest at around about 60%, is those age of 15 to 24, he said. |
| The vaccination program remained “incredibly important” but added: | The vaccination program remained “incredibly important” but added: |
| Diamond said the link between infections and being admitted to hospital, having serious disease and even dying has been “severely weakened”: | Diamond said the link between infections and being admitted to hospital, having serious disease and even dying has been “severely weakened”: |
| Zahawi denied a story running in the Sunday Times this morning, which claimed that the gap between coronavirus vaccine doses is set to be halved to four weeks to accelerate the administration of second jabs. | Zahawi denied a story running in the Sunday Times this morning, which claimed that the gap between coronavirus vaccine doses is set to be halved to four weeks to accelerate the administration of second jabs. |
| The story states: | The story states: |
| Responding, Zahawi said: | Responding, Zahawi said: |
| Zahawi said the Government was looking at ways to tweak the NHS app which was “developed and operationalised at a time when we didn’t have vaccines”: | Zahawi said the Government was looking at ways to tweak the NHS app which was “developed and operationalised at a time when we didn’t have vaccines”: |
| Vaccines minister Nadim Zahawi is doing the rounds this morning. | Vaccines minister Nadim Zahawi is doing the rounds this morning. |
| Speaking on Sky News this morning said that despite the expected lifting of all restrictions on July 19 Zahawi said the public would be “expected to wear masks indoors in enclosed spaces.” | Speaking on Sky News this morning said that despite the expected lifting of all restrictions on July 19 Zahawi said the public would be “expected to wear masks indoors in enclosed spaces.” |
| Zahawi said he is “confident” that the country will move to the next stage of lifting coronavirus restrictions next week. | Zahawi said he is “confident” that the country will move to the next stage of lifting coronavirus restrictions next week. |
| He told Trevor Phillips On Sunday that Boris Johnson would make an announcement on Monday.But he said: | He told Trevor Phillips On Sunday that Boris Johnson would make an announcement on Monday.But he said: |
| He added: | He added: |
| There is no perfect timing, we “just have to remain cautious”, he said. | There is no perfect timing, we “just have to remain cautious”, he said. |
| Zahawi said these were “the hard yards”, when asked if vaccination rates were slowing down. | Zahawi said these were “the hard yards”, when asked if vaccination rates were slowing down. |
| China administered around 9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine on July 10, taking the total to 1.374 billion doses, data from the National Health Commission showed on Sunday. | China administered around 9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine on July 10, taking the total to 1.374 billion doses, data from the National Health Commission showed on Sunday. |
| A growing cross-party group of MPs and peers is demanding an urgent overhaul of the services offered to sufferers of long Covid amid warnings that thousands of new cases will emerge every day as coronavirus restrictions are lifted this summer, write my colleagues Michael Savage and James Tapper. | A growing cross-party group of MPs and peers is demanding an urgent overhaul of the services offered to sufferers of long Covid amid warnings that thousands of new cases will emerge every day as coronavirus restrictions are lifted this summer, write my colleagues Michael Savage and James Tapper. |
| The group states that lifting restrictions when case numbers are rising and the impact of the vaccine on long covid is not known “risks placing a large and unsustainable burden on the health service”. In a letter to England’s health secretary Savid Javid they write: | The group states that lifting restrictions when case numbers are rising and the impact of the vaccine on long covid is not known “risks placing a large and unsustainable burden on the health service”. In a letter to England’s health secretary Savid Javid they write: |
| Just under one million people in the UK were living with long Covid in June. Around 700,000 were of working age and 33,000 were children. The number with the condition for a year or more has increased to 385,000, according to official statistics. | Just under one million people in the UK were living with long Covid in June. Around 700,000 were of working age and 33,000 were children. The number with the condition for a year or more has increased to 385,000, according to official statistics. |
| Read the full story here: | Read the full story here: |
| England’s health secretary Sajid Javid has warned that NHS waiting lists in England could more than double in the coming months. | England’s health secretary Sajid Javid has warned that NHS waiting lists in England could more than double in the coming months. |
| A backlog of around 5.3m people are waiting for routine operations in England is growing after delays to procedures during the pandemic. | A backlog of around 5.3m people are waiting for routine operations in England is growing after delays to procedures during the pandemic. |
| Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph he was “shocked” when officials warned him that the backlog could reach 13 million patients. | Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph he was “shocked” when officials warned him that the backlog could reach 13 million patients. |
| He said the crisis would be helped by the lifitng of most remaining curbs in England on 19 July. | He said the crisis would be helped by the lifitng of most remaining curbs in England on 19 July. |
| Javid stepped into the role of health secretary two weeks ago after his predecessor Matt Hancock resigned. He was caught on CCTV breaking social-distancing rules. | Javid stepped into the role of health secretary two weeks ago after his predecessor Matt Hancock resigned. He was caught on CCTV breaking social-distancing rules. |
| Javid told the Sunday Telegraph: | Javid told the Sunday Telegraph: |
| Javid said the NHS would pay more private healthcare providers to continue to treat NHS patients, and keep virtual doctors’ appointments as part off a range of measures to tackle the backlog. | Javid said the NHS would pay more private healthcare providers to continue to treat NHS patients, and keep virtual doctors’ appointments as part off a range of measures to tackle the backlog. |