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Covid live: no contingency measures for UK despite high deaths; Pfizer jab 93% effective in keeping children out of hospital Covid live: no contingency measures for UK despite high deaths; Pfizer jab 93% effective in keeping children out of hospital
(31 minutes later)
UK reports further 223 deaths but UK government says no to plan B for now; US study shows success in preventing hospitalisation of 12- to 18-year-oldsUK reports further 223 deaths but UK government says no to plan B for now; US study shows success in preventing hospitalisation of 12- to 18-year-olds
Good evening, Tom Ambrose here and I will be bringing you all the latest Covid news from the UK and around the world for the rest of this evening.
Let’s begin with the news that the South African drug regulator has rejected the Russian-made coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, citing some safety concerns the manufacturer wasn’t able to answer.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, or SAHPRA, said in a statement that the request for Sputnik V to be authorised could “not be approved at this time,” referring to past failed HIV vaccines that used a similar technology.
A late-stage study published in the journal Lancet last year in more than 20,000 participants found that Sputnik V was safe and about 91% effective in preventing people from becoming severely ill with Covid, the Associated Press reported.
Sputnik V uses two types of harmless viruses known as adenoviruses to carry the spike protein into the body, which then primes the immune system to produce antibodies against Covid.
SAHPRA said concerns have been raised about the safety of Adenovirus Type 5, which is used in one of the Sputnik V doses. The other dose contains Adenovirus Type 26, which is also used by Johnson & Johnson.
South African officials pointed to two failed research studies testing an HIV vaccine also using Adenovirus Type 5, which found men who were vaccinated had a higher risk of being infected with HIV.
The regulators said they had asked the Russian makers of Sputnik V to provide data proving the vaccine’s safety in a country with high rates of HIV but that “the applicant was not able to adequately address [their] request.”
Dr. Julian Tang, a virologist at Britain’s University of Leicester, was perplexed by the decision. “It’s a strange connection to make,” he said, explaining that while past concerns have been raised about using the particular virus vector in Sputnik V, much remains uncertain. “It’s not the vector that caused HIV so you can’t just blame it on that,” Tang said.
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is 93% effective in preventing hospitalisation among 12-18-year-olds, according to new research by the US government. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study was conducted between June and September when Delta was the most dominant variant.
Bath and North East Somerset has the highest Covid case rate in the UK and 86% of local authority areas have seen a week-on-week rise, according to a new analysis. Figures from the Press Association show that in the seven days to 15 October, 323 of 377 local areas saw a rise in cases and just 54 - or 14% - saw a fall.
The UK government has claimed it was “not complacent” about rising coronavirus cases but that it had no plans to bring in any contingency measures yet. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the plans, set out in the autumn/winter strategy, would only be brought in if there was a “significant risk of the NHS being overwhelmed.”
Bulgaria is to make Covid passes mandatory for entry to indoor restaurants, cinemas, gyms and shopping malls amid rising coronavirus infections. The health minister announced that the EU green certificate will be required to enter indoor public spaces from Thursday.
The UK has registered 223 further deaths in the last 24 hours - the highest daily reported toll since 9 March. There were also 43,738 new Covid cases since yesterday. The latest case figures are slightly lower than expected after a daily rise in new infections over the previous days.
The Moscow city government has ordered elderly people to stay at home for the next four months as Covid cases and deaths surge in Russia. The new rules will take effect from Monday
Ireland will allow nightclubs to reopen for the first time since March 2020, but clubbers must wear face masks, while other going out restrictions are extended.
The number of pupils in England who are off school because of Covid has risen again, according to the fortnightly Department for Education attendance statistics.
The UK government has said it is “keeping a very close eye” on the AY4.2 coronavirus variant but insisted that there is no evidence that it spreads more easily than other variants.
Coronavirus infections in Romania have hit a new daily high. According to government data, 574 people have died from Covid in the last day, a record for the country.
Latvia is to go into a nationwide lockdown, including a nightly curfew, for nearly a month in an attempt to slow Covid infections. From Thursday, a curfew will be imposed between 8pm and 5am, most shops will be shut, indoor and outdoor gatherings banned.
That’s it from me for today. Handing over now to Tom Ambrose. Thanks for reading.
Thousands of workers in the US face potentially losing their jobs as increasing numbers of states, cities and companies bring in mandatory coronavirus vaccination mandates.
The latest high profile example, reports Reuters, came on Monday from Washington State University which fired its head American football coach, Nick Rolovich, and his four assistants for failing to get vaccinated.
Thousands of police officers and firefighters in cities including Chicago and Baltimore could also lose their jobs as mandates requiring employees to either report their vaccination status or agree to regular testing are introduced.
About a third of Chicago’s 12,770 police employees missed a Friday deadline to report their vaccination status, some of whom will no longer receive pay.
The controversial policy has so far been effective at persuading workers to get vaccinated. So far 77% of eligible Americans have had at least one dose, the White House said last week.
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is 93% effective in preventing hospitalisation among 12-18-year-olds, according to new research by the US government.The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is 93% effective in preventing hospitalisation among 12-18-year-olds, according to new research by the US government.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study was conducted between June and September when Delta was the most dominant variant, reports Reuters.The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study was conducted between June and September when Delta was the most dominant variant, reports Reuters.
The data from 19 children’s hospitals found that of the 179 patients who were hospitalised with coronavirus, 97% were unvaccinated.The data from 19 children’s hospitals found that of the 179 patients who were hospitalised with coronavirus, 97% were unvaccinated.
Around 16% of patients required life support, all of whom were also not vaccinated.Around 16% of patients required life support, all of whom were also not vaccinated.
The authors of the study said that the data “reinforces the importance of vaccination to protect US youths against severe Covid-19.”The authors of the study said that the data “reinforces the importance of vaccination to protect US youths against severe Covid-19.”
The vaccine is authorised for children aged 12-plus, but the companies are looking to get it authorised for children as young as five.The vaccine is authorised for children aged 12-plus, but the companies are looking to get it authorised for children as young as five.
Bath and North East Somerset has the highest Covid case rate in the UK and 86% of local authority areas have seen a week-on-week rise, according to a new analysis.Bath and North East Somerset has the highest Covid case rate in the UK and 86% of local authority areas have seen a week-on-week rise, according to a new analysis.
Figures from the Press Association show that in the seven days to 15 October, 323 of 377 local areas saw a rise in cases and just 54 - or 14% - saw a fall.Figures from the Press Association show that in the seven days to 15 October, 323 of 377 local areas saw a rise in cases and just 54 - or 14% - saw a fall.
Bath and North East Somerset had the highest rate in the UK, with 1,723 new cases over the period - equivalent to 877.5 per 100,000 people.Bath and North East Somerset had the highest rate in the UK, with 1,723 new cases over the period - equivalent to 877.5 per 100,000 people.
The second highest rate was in Somerset West and Taunton which had 1,356 new cases (872.5 cases per 100,000 people) and third was Ipswich with 1,171 new cases (861.2 per 100,000 people).The second highest rate was in Somerset West and Taunton which had 1,356 new cases (872.5 cases per 100,000 people) and third was Ipswich with 1,171 new cases (861.2 per 100,000 people).
The five UK areas with the biggest week-on-week rises were: Stroud, Cheltenham, Bath and North East Somerset, Tewkesbury and Swindon.The five UK areas with the biggest week-on-week rises were: Stroud, Cheltenham, Bath and North East Somerset, Tewkesbury and Swindon.
The UK government has claimed it was “not complacent” about rising coronavirus cases but that it had no plans to bring in any contingency measures yet.The UK government has claimed it was “not complacent” about rising coronavirus cases but that it had no plans to bring in any contingency measures yet.
According to the Press Association, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said the plans, set out in the autumn/winter strategy, would only be brought in if there was a “significant risk of the NHS being overwhelmed.”According to the Press Association, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said the plans, set out in the autumn/winter strategy, would only be brought in if there was a “significant risk of the NHS being overwhelmed.”
He said: “We are not at that point. Because of the vaccination programme, the levels we are seeing in both patients admitted to hospital and deaths are far lower than we saw in previous peaks.”He said: “We are not at that point. Because of the vaccination programme, the levels we are seeing in both patients admitted to hospital and deaths are far lower than we saw in previous peaks.”
He added: “We are at an order of magnitude lower - that is not to say we are complacent, we are monitoring this very carefully and we recognise that the NHS will be facing challenges as we come into the winter months which normally are a busier period for our health service.”He added: “We are at an order of magnitude lower - that is not to say we are complacent, we are monitoring this very carefully and we recognise that the NHS will be facing challenges as we come into the winter months which normally are a busier period for our health service.”
American women who contracted Covid while pregnant are urging others to get vaccinated after a sharp rise in pregnant women becoming severely ill with the virus.American women who contracted Covid while pregnant are urging others to get vaccinated after a sharp rise in pregnant women becoming severely ill with the virus.
In August, a record 22 pregnant women died from Covid. Just 31% of pregnant women in the US are vaccinated.In August, a record 22 pregnant women died from Covid. Just 31% of pregnant women in the US are vaccinated.
Kyndal Nipper, from Columbus, Georgia, who lost her unborn son after getting the virus, told the Associated Press:Kyndal Nipper, from Columbus, Georgia, who lost her unborn son after getting the virus, told the Associated Press:
“He was supposed to come into the world in three weeks or less. And for them to tell you there’s no heartbeat and there is no movement.”“He was supposed to come into the world in three weeks or less. And for them to tell you there’s no heartbeat and there is no movement.”
Nipper added: “We made a commitment that we would do anything in our power to educate and advocate for our boy, because no other family should have to go through this.”Nipper added: “We made a commitment that we would do anything in our power to educate and advocate for our boy, because no other family should have to go through this.”
Italy reported 2,697 new coronavirus cases and 70 deaths on Tuesday.Italy reported 2,697 new coronavirus cases and 70 deaths on Tuesday.
Both mark a rise on Monday’s figures which were 1,597 and 44 respectively.Both mark a rise on Monday’s figures which were 1,597 and 44 respectively.
The US is considering introducing a “test-to-stay” programme in schools instead of using quarantine, CNN reports.The US is considering introducing a “test-to-stay” programme in schools instead of using quarantine, CNN reports.
The scheme, reportedly under consideration by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is for students who may have been exposed to coronavirus in school so that they can still go to in-person classes as long as they test negative and show no symptoms.The scheme, reportedly under consideration by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is for students who may have been exposed to coronavirus in school so that they can still go to in-person classes as long as they test negative and show no symptoms.
Bulgaria is to make Covid passes mandatory for entry to indoor restaurants, cinemas, gyms and shopping malls amid rising coronavirus infections.Bulgaria is to make Covid passes mandatory for entry to indoor restaurants, cinemas, gyms and shopping malls amid rising coronavirus infections.
The health minister announced that the EU green certificate will be required to enter indoor public spaces from Thursday, reports Reuters.The health minister announced that the EU green certificate will be required to enter indoor public spaces from Thursday, reports Reuters.
Interim health minister, Stoicho Katsarov, said:Interim health minister, Stoicho Katsarov, said:
He also urged those who are not vaccinated to get inoculated.He also urged those who are not vaccinated to get inoculated.
Bulgaria has the lowest vaccinations in the whole of the EU and for the last two weeks has had the highest mortality rate. Just 25% of Bulgaria’s 7 million population has had at least one dose.Bulgaria has the lowest vaccinations in the whole of the EU and for the last two weeks has had the highest mortality rate. Just 25% of Bulgaria’s 7 million population has had at least one dose.
New coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have soared by 44% in the last week, forcing multiple hospitals to make cuts to regular care to deal with Covid cases.New coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have soared by 44% in the last week, forcing multiple hospitals to make cuts to regular care to deal with Covid cases.
The number of people with coronavirus were at their highest level since July in the last week with 25,751 cases, reports Reuters.The number of people with coronavirus were at their highest level since July in the last week with 25,751 cases, reports Reuters.
The country recorded 48 coronavirus deaths in the same period - twice as many as the previous week - and hospital admissions rose by one-fifth.The country recorded 48 coronavirus deaths in the same period - twice as many as the previous week - and hospital admissions rose by one-fifth.
Cases rose for the third week in a row after social distancing measures were eased in the country last month.Cases rose for the third week in a row after social distancing measures were eased in the country last month.
“Most of those in hospital with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated,” the Dutch Institute for Public Health said. “At intensive care units this is the case for 4 out 5 patients.”“Most of those in hospital with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated,” the Dutch Institute for Public Health said. “At intensive care units this is the case for 4 out 5 patients.”
Government data shows that 83% of the country’s adult population has been fully vaccinated.Government data shows that 83% of the country’s adult population has been fully vaccinated.
The UK has reported its highest number of Covid deaths for seven months, with 223 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test for the virus.
The daily death rate, which has not been as high since 9 March, brought the weekly toll to 911, a near-15% rise on the week.
A further 43,738 coronavirus cases were reported, down slightly on Monday’s figure, though daily hospitalisations continued to rise, reaching 921, up 10% on the week.
After a bumpy September, confirmed cases have risen steadily in October with Covid rates soaring among largely unvaccinated secondary schoolchildren, and infections spilling over into older, more vulnerable age groups.
The spread of infections beyond younger people has driven up cases in those aged 50 and over, a trend that has started to push up hospitalisations and death rates.
The UK has registered 223 further deaths in the last 24 hours - the highest daily reported toll since 9 March.
There were also 43,738 new Covid cases since yesterday. The latest case figures are slightly lower than expected after a daily rise in new infections over the previous days.
Regulators in the US are expected to authorise mix and match coronavirus booster shots this week in a move that it is hoped will allow for greater flexibility.
The Moscow city government has ordered elderly people to stay at home for the next four months as Covid cases and deaths surge in Russia. The new rules will take effect from Monday
UK government minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has defended the prime minister’s Christmas “childcare bubble” with a friend of Carrie Johnson’s, saying she has no doubt they followed the rules during a “really rough time”.
School assemblies across England are being cancelled in a bid to fight rising coronavirus infections, reports i. Among the affected local authorities, it reports, are Wiltshire council and Staffordshire county council.
Ireland will allow nightclubs to reopen for the first time since March 2020, but clubbers must wear face masks, while other going out restrictions are extended.
The number of pupils in England who are off school because of Covid has risen again, according to the fortnightly Department for Education attendance statistics.
The UK government has said it is “keeping a very close eye” on the AY4.2 coronavirus variant but insisted that there is no evidence that it spreads more easily than other variants.
The Duchess of Cambridge said the pandemic has had a “devastating impact” on addiction rates. Speaking at the Bafta headquarters in London, where she was launching the Taking Action on Addiction campaign, Kate said families and children are having to cope with addiction “in greater numbers than ever before”.
Coronavirus infections in Romania have hit a new daily high. According to government data, 574 people have died from Covid in the last day, a record for the country.
Latvia is to go into a nationwide lockdown, including a nightly curfew, for nearly a month in an attempt to slow Covid infections. From Thursday, a curfew will be imposed between 8pm and 5am, most shops will be shut, indoor and outdoor gatherings banned.
Regulators in the US are expected to authorise mix and match coronavirus booster shots this week in a move that it is hoped will allow for greater flexibility.
An announcement by the Food and Drug Administration is expected to be accompanied by authorisation for boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, reports the Associated Press.
Booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine were authorised for many Americans last month.
The Moscow city government has ordered elderly people to stay at home for the next four months as Covid cases and deaths surge in Russia.
Businesses in the capital will also be required to have at least 30% of staff working from home, reports Reuters.
The new rules, which will take effect from Monday, come as Russia reported 1,1015 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday – a single day record – and 33,740 new Covid infections.
Government minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has defended the British prime minister’s Christmas “childcare bubble” with a friend of Carrie Johnson’s, saying she has no doubt they followed the rules during a “really rough time”.
Jessica Elgot reports:
School assemblies across England are being cancelled in a bid to fight rising coronavirus infections, reports i.
Blaming the slow pace of the vaccine rollout among 12- to 15-year-olds, headteachers told the newspaper that staff absences were leaving them with no option but to cancel non-crucial activities.
Among the affected local authorities, it reports, are Wiltshire council and Staffordshire county council.
More on the situation in Romania (see also 12:06), where one person has died from Covid every five minutes this month, from Reuters:
Ireland will allow nightclubs to reopen for the first time since March 2020, but clubbers must wear face masks, while other going out restrictions are extended, reports Reuters.
The government had hoped to lift most restrictions this week, but will retain some protections amid rising infections.
Social distancing and vaccine certificates will be extended for bars and restaurants until February.
Meanwhile, clubbers will be required to wear masks expect while eating, drinking and dancing.
Theatres and music venues will only be allowed to open if audiences are fully seated.
Children aged 12-15 will be able to use the national booking service to arrange their Covid vaccines, the UK health secretary has said.
Sajid Javid told MPs that the government is “ramping up” its vaccination programme.
He added: