Coronavirus news – Oxford vaccine begins rollout TODAY as Boris holds crunch meeting to decide on 3rd national lockdown

ARMY CALLED IN TO GREATER MANCHESTER

The Army will assist with targeted coronavirus testing throughout Greater Manchester as part of its biggest homeland operation in peacetime.

From today, over 800 personnel deploying from nine regiments will prepare to work across all of Greater Manchester to carry out asymptomatic testing of specific populations.

Those targeted will be people at higher risk of infection like social care staff, key workers, bus drivers, and those in care homes and shared accommodation for the homeless.

The task follows similar asymptomatic community testing in Liverpool, Lancashire, Merthyr Tydfil, Medway, and Kirklees.

The Armed Forces involvement was requested by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach called for a move to remote learning for all pupils nationwide.

He said: "The NASUWT is completely committed to ensuring that children can return to school as quickly as possible.

"However, it is now abundantly clear that the pandemic is seriously impacting on the ability of all schools and colleges to continue to operate normally.

"The NASUWT is calling for an immediate nationwide move to remote education for all pupils in primary, secondary and special schools and colleges."

EDUCATION UNIONS DEMAND MEETING WITH BORIS OVER TEACHER SAFETY

In a joint statement, unions in the education sector said staff were at "serious risk" of infection by returning to schools and called on the Prime Minister to meet to discuss safety.

The statement, signed by GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, Unison and Unite, said: "The Government's chaotic handling of the opening of schools has caused confusion for teachers, school staff and parents alike.

"Bringing all pupils back into classrooms while the rate of infection is so high is exposing education sector workers to serious risk of ill-health and could fuel the pandemic.

"Unions have called for a pause in the reopening of schools for anyone other than vulnerable children and children of key workers, and a move to remote learning for all while Covid-secure working arrangements are reviewed. All school staff continuing to work in schools should be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccinations.

"Instead of casually asserting that schools are safe, the Prime Minister should sit down with unions to discuss a joint approach to ensuring safe working arrangements in all schools and prioritising enabling all pupils to have the equipment and access they need to receive a high standard of remote learning until the safety of them and the staff in their school can be guaranteed."

HEALTH SEC "DELIGHTED" AT VACCINE ROLLOUT

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was a "vital step" in the fight against coronavirus.

He tweeted: "Delighted that today we roll out the @UniofOxford / @AstraZeneca vaccine across the whole UK.

"It's a vital step in our fight against this pandemic. This is a national mission. Thank you to everyone involved."

STURGEON TO DISCUSS FURTHER MEASURES IN SCOTLAND

Holyrood has been recalled to discuss further measures due to "a rapid increase in Covid cases" causing "very serious concerns".

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to meet her government on Monday morning after fears were raised about how rapidly the new strain of coronavirus is spreading.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss any additional measures that may be required to reduce the transmission of coronavirus, ahead of a debate in Parliament.

In a series of tweets, Ms Sturgeon said: "Following a meeting of the Scottish government resilience committee yesterday to assess latest situation, the Cabinet will meet tomorrow am to consider further action to limit spread and I've asked for Scottish Parliament to be recalled tomorrow afternoon so that I can set out our decisions in a statement."

JABBY MONDAY

The first of 530,000 Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs will be dished out today — a vital shot in the arm in Britain’s Covid fight.

Boris Johnson pledged to vaccinate tens of millions within three months and said: “We can see how we are going to get out of this with great clarity now.”

Five thousand troops will begin “Operation Freedom” — with 530,000 Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs ready to roll out in the war on coronavirus.

Hospitals at six NHS trusts across London, Brighton, Oxford, Morecambe and Nuneaton will be the first to give the vaccine.

It will reach more than 500 GP surgeries and community centres by the end of the week — with PM Boris Johnson saying “we are going as fast as we can”.

SOUTH AFRICAN COVID VARIANT 'SPREADS FASTER' THAN UK MUTATION

South African Covid variant ‘spreads faster’ than UK mutant strain

The new mutant strain of coronavirus from South Africa could be resistant to the vaccine, an expert has warned.

Sir John Bell said a "big question mark" remains over whether the super-infectious new strain can be prevented with the vaccines being rolled out across the world, but added if that was the case it would not take long to develop an effective one.

The Oxford University scientist also said the South Africa strain is "more worrying" than a mutant strain discovered in the southeast of England because it is more infectious.

He told Times Radio: "The mutations associated with the South African form are really pretty substantial changes in the structure of the protein."

He added: "I think it's unlikely that these mutations will turn off the effects of vaccines entirely – I think they'll still have a residual effect.

"It might take a month, or six weeks, to get a new vaccine, so everybody should stay calm. It's going to be fine"

CHART: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY

'PIVOTAL MOMENT' AS OXFORD/ASTRAZENECA VACCINE BEGINS ROLLOUT

The first doses of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine are set to be administered in what has been described as a "pivotal moment" in the UK's fight against coronavirus by the Health Secretary.

Just over half a million doses of the newly approved vaccine will be available from Monday, with vulnerable groups already identified as the priority for immunisation.

Jabs will be delivered at some 730 vaccination sites already established across the UK, with more opening this week to take the total to over 1,000, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The vaccine will be administered at a small number of hospitals in England for the first few days, including at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where it was developed.

Five other hospital trusts - two in London, and then in Sussex, Lancashire and Warwickshire - will also start delivering the vaccine on Monday.

BORIS TO DECIDE 'IN DAYS' IF ENGLAND TO GO INTO FULL LOCKDOWN

BORIS Johnson will decide if all of England will be plunged back into a strict national lockdown that could last for months at crunch talks on Monday.

The PM - who is currently facing calls for another full-scale shutdown from Labour - has already admitted the current tier system will get even tougher.

And in hours he'll meet officials to decide whether the mutant strain of coronavirus surging through the country will mean a return to a March-style lockdown, with schools shut, non-essential shops shuttered and most travel banned.

Cabinet sources say they expect the Government's 'Covid-O' committee, which makes decisions on restrictions, will meet to decide on the next steps to take, the  reports.

Mr Johnson is expected to make an assessment of the latest infection numbers by Wednesday that will include the first signs of the effect of easing social distancing over Christmas.  The PM has previously warned Brits they'll face tougher rules in the coming weeks and refused to rule out 'Tier 5' restrictions or a full national shutdown.

WATCH: TOM JONES SAYS HE HAS HAD CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

CANADA: CASES RISE FORM 500,000 TO 600,000 IN TWO WEEKS

Canada surpassed the grim milestone of 600,000 coronavirus cases Sunday, two weeks after passing half a million, underscoring the pandemic's persistence in the country during the end-of-year holiday period.

On Sunday afternoon, Canada recorded 601,314 Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic and 15,860 deaths, according to data from provinces and territories reported by the public television station CBC.

Ontario, Canada's most populous province, recorded 2,964 new cases in 24 hours on Sunday, and Quebec registered 2,869, a new daily record for the French-speaking province, which also has the country's highest death toll.

There have been 4,650 Covid-19 deaths to date in Ontario and 8,347 in Quebec.

BRAZIL SEES 17,341 NEW CASES IN 24 HOURS

Brazil has recorded 17,341 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

The Health Ministry said on Sunday there were also 293 deaths from Covid-19.

Brazil has registered more than 7.7 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began 10 months ago.

The official death toll has risen to 196,018, according to ministry data

JONATHAN VAN TAM: 12-WEEK WAIT BETWEEN VACCINE DOSES WILL 'SAVE LIVES'

The scientist in charge of the UK's Covid vaccine programme has insisted the 12-week delay between doses is "the way we save lives".

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam defended the new 12-week wait between jabs, saying it will protect the vulnerable people most at risk from the killer virus.

He spoke amid the controversy after the delay between vaccine doses was changed from three weeks to 12.

Read more here.

GREECE DETECTS FOUR CASES OF NEW COVID VARIANT

Greece has detected four cases of the new coronavirus variant in people who recently travelled from Britain, according to a Health Ministry official.

The new variant of the coronavirus, now spreading around the world, was first found in Britain and is more transmissible than the original variant of the virus first identified in China a year ago. Another recent new variant was first found in South Africa.

"The four persons recently travelled to Greece from Britain. They are in quarantine," a Health Ministry Official who declined to be named told Reuters. It was the first time that Greece has reported cases of the new variant.

Greece tightened coronavirus curbs for a week from Sunday, closing hair salons and bookstores that had been allowed to reopen in the run-up to Christmas, to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

HEALTH EXPERT: FESTIVE PERIOD AND VACCINE NEWS HAS 'PROBABLY MADE PEOPLE RELAX'

Professor Robin Shattock, from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, said it was "pretty likely" that the festive period and positive vaccine news "probably has made people relax".

"I think it's pretty likely that both Christmas, New Year, and the thought that a vaccine is around the corner probably has made people relax and potentially people are becoming complacent to the news," he told BBC News.

"Because they hear repeatedly about coronavirus and they really need to make sure that they adhere to these precautions because this virus is very transmissible.

"And even though the NHS will move as fast as possible, two million vaccinations a week, if we can get to that level, is still going to be slow to provide the level of immunity on a population basis that will start to impact on hospital admissions."

ITALY REPORTS 347 COVID DEATHS AND 14,245 NEW CASES

Italy reported 347 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday against 364 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose to 14,245 from 11,831.

Some 102,974 swab tests were carried out in the past day, the ministry said, against a previous 67,174.

Italy has registered 75,332 COVID-19 deaths since its outbreak came to light on Feb. 21, the highest toll in Europe and the fifth highest in the world. The country has also reported 2.155 million cases to date, the health ministry said.

Patients in hospital with COVID-19 stood at 23,075 on Sunday, up by 127 on the day before. There were 154 admissions to intensive care units, compared with 134 on Saturday.

The current number of intensive care patients rose by 14 to 2,583, reflecting those who died or were discharged after recovery.

POLICE MAKE ARRESTS IN NOTTINGHAM FOLLOWING CORONAVIRUS PROTEST

Three people were arrested in Nottingham after a coronavirus protest made its way through the city.

A Nottinghamshire Police statement confirmed three arrests and 12 fixed penalty notices, adding that it was likely those numbers would rise.

A protest was spotted at around midday at the Victoria Embankment, and according to local press it continued to move into the city centre.

An anti-Covid-19 vaccination leaflet and an anti-lockdown sticker were also spotted in the city - which is currently under Tier 4 restrictions - on Sunday.

Assistant chief constable Steve Cooper, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We had an increased police presence this afternoon as we looked to maintain security and offer reassurance, as well as engaging with those present at the protest including organisers.

MAPPED: ENGLAND'S NEW YEAR TIERS

NHS TO ROLL OUT OXFORD/ASTRAZENECA JAB FROM TOMORROW

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its coronavirus immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday, with vulnerable groups already identified as the priority for immunisation.

The jab will be administered at a small number of hospitals for the first few days for surveillance purposes, before the bulk of supplies are sent to hundreds of GP-led services to be rolled out, according to NHS England. Hundreds of new vaccination sites – at both hospitals and GP-led services – are due to launch this week, joining the more than 700 already in operation, NHS England added.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where the vaccine was developed, is expected to be among the first sites to administer it on Monday morning.

Five other hospital trusts, in London, Sussex, Lancashire and Warwickshire, will also start delivering the vaccine on Monday ahead of the wider rollout.

WATCH: KEIR STARMER CALLS FOR NATIONAL LOCKDOWN WITHIN 24 HOURS

MAPPED: CORONAVIRUS IN THE US

BORIS JOHNSON REFUSES TO RULE OUT NATIONAL LOCKDOWN OR 'TIER 5' RESTRICTIONS

Boris Johnson refused to rule out another full lockdown or Tier 5, when asked if we would go back to March's rules of limit exercise and school closures.

He told the Andrew Marr Show: "It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that."

The 56-year-old added: "There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider...

“You've spoken about Tier 5, I haven't said that. But there are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider."

EXPLAINED: WHAT IS TIER 5 AND WHAT WOULD THE RULES BE?

AS CORONAVIRUS cases rise across the UK, many are wondering what new measures the government could introduce to halt the spread.

Already more than three-quarters of the population are already living under the strictest Tier 4 rules, and there is now speculation that a Tier 5 is on the horizon - but what rules would be in place for this level?

Read more here.

TESCO AND BOOTS BOTH OFFER HELP WITH COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT

High street chains Tesco and Boots have offered to help with the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.

It is believed that Tesco has offered its distribution arm to help with the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine while Boots is opening three Covid-19 vaccination sites, in Halifax, Huddersfield and Gloucester.

The supermarket giant’s subsidiary Best Food Logistics, food delivery and supply chain specialists, has offered its support, which could include the use of its refrigerated lorries and warehouses to move the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which can be stored in a fridge.

Covid-19 restrictions, which have shut down many pubs and restaurants, may have opened up some capacity which could be diverted to the vaccine programme.

Boots, the high street chemist, said its three vaccination sites, set up with the local clinical commissioning groups, are to open to patients this month and more could be on the way.