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

BRITS FACE 'DIFFICULT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Brits they face a "difficult few weeks" until the vaccine becomes fully available.

He told the BBC: "My message to such councils is that they should be guided by the public health advice, which at the moment is that schools are safe in those areas where we're not being driven by the new variant to close them.

"That the priority has got to be children's education but obviously we want to work with them. I mean we've got to be humble in the face of the impact of this new variant of the virus.

"Let's face it, we face a very difficult few weeks and months until the vaccine comes on-stream."

UK TO TARGET TENS OF MILLIONS OF VACCINES IN NEXT THREE MONTHS

 Britain will have 530,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine ready to administer on Monday and hopes to provide "tens of millions" of vaccinations over the next three months, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today.

"We do hope that... we'll be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months," he told the BBC.

SCHOOLS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW - JOHNSON

Asked if primary schools would be closed if the situation did not improve in Tier 4 areas, Mr Johnson said: "We have got to keep things under constant review."

JOHNSON: LATERAL FLOW TESTS WILL HELP SCHOOLS RETURN TO NORMAL

Boris Johnson said he hopes lateral flow tests will help with the return of schools.

He said: "We're going to work with local authorities, work with schools and those responsible up and down the country.

"Our advice remains the same, which is that for public health reasons we think in the large majority of the country, large parts of the country, it is sensible to continue to keep schools open, primary schools, as you know secondary schools coming back a bit later.

"And the second thing is that we are going to be ramping up testing across the whole of the system and I don't think people have focused enough on this, if I may just for a second.

"One of the things we didn't have when we went into the first lockdown, where we sadly did have to close schools, was we didn't have this huge number of lateral flow tests.

"We now have hundreds of millions of lateral flow tests which I believe and hope can be used, deployed, particularly in secondary schools to assist the return of schools."

COVID RISK TO KIDS 'VERY, VERY SMALL' SAYS JOHNSON

Mr Johnson said: "We have really fought very hard throughout this pandemic across the country to keep schools open for lots of reasons.

"Schools are safe. It is very, very important to stress that.

"The risk to kids, to young people is really very, very small indeed.

"The risk to staff is very small.

"I would advise all parents thinking about want to do, look at where your area is, overwhelmingly you'll be in a part of the country where primary schools tomorrow will be open."

LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS COULD BE TIGHTENED FURTHER

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the Covid lockdown restrictions could be tightened further.

Speaking on BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show he warned the government might need to consider tightening lockdown restrictions, but declined to give examples of what that might look like. 

'SCHOOLS ARE SAFE' - JOHNSON

Parents should send their children to primary schools that are open in England on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

Johnson told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: "Yes, absolutely they should in areas where schools are open.

"What we are doing, clearly, is grappling with a new variant of coronavirus which is surging particularly in London and the South East.

"And that is why we have had to take exceptional measures."

Boris Johnson said "there is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe".

SHADOW CULTURE SECRETARY ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH COVID

Labour MP Jo Stevens has been rushed to hospital suffering with coronavirus.

The shadow culture secretary, 54, is being treated by medics after falling ill, aides have announced.

A tweet posted on the politician's account said: "From #TeamJoStevens - Jo has asked us to let you know that she is being treated in hospital for Covid.

"Thanks for all your good wishes. We will give an update when we can."

MANCHESTER MAYOR WARNS OF SCHOOL 'CHAOS'

The mayor of Manchester has warned schools could be plunged into "chaos" next week due to the government's Covid policy for schools.

Andy Burnham said: "It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.

"I think there are two options in front of the government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

"The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening."

He added: "What I would say to the Prime Minister... is it has to be one of those options.

"Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today."

DON'T FURLOUGH KIDS FOR MONTHS - OFSTED CHIEF

England's chief schools inspector says kids can't be "furloughed" for months on end as teaching unions lock horns with ministers over restarting lessons after the Christmas break.

Children are meant to return to class from Monday, but unions are trying to force schools to stay shut - and Sage experts say pupils might not fully return to lessons until February as the mutant Covid strain spreads across the UK.

Ofsted's chief inspector warned today that youngsters are being failed by yet more closures following the lockdown in spring.

Amanda Spielman said kids' time outside of class should be kept to the "absolute minimum" as militant unions join forces to keep schools shut.

Read more here.

MAN CITY STAR BROKE COVID RULES WITH NEW YEAR PARTY

Man City ace Benjamin Mendy hosted a party at his home on New Year’s Eve — just as five teammates were struck down with Covid.

The star admitted he may have breached rules as pals outside his household attended the bash, which came three days after Covid cases at his club forced their game against Everton to be called off.

Mendy last night apologised for breaking the Covid rules.

Mendy said he, his girlfriend, his niece and nephew — who all live with him — attended the bash.

But he admitted his girlfriend’s pal and her partner were also there, along with a chef. During the party, Mendy tweeted a ­message at 11.23pm urging people to take ­caution. It read: “Happy New Year. Take care of you and yours.”

Read the full exclusive here.

GIVING COVID JABS 12 WEEKS APART WILL 'SAVE MANY LIVES'

The scientist in charge of the UK's Covid vaccine programme has insisted the change in time 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.

The scientist, who appears often with the Prime Minister in briefings, told the : "Simply put, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time.

"It means we are missing an opportunity to greatly reduce the chances of the most vulnerable people getting severely ill from Covid-19."

Read more here.

RECORD LEVELS OF COVID CASES SET TO RISE HIGHER - DOC WARNS

The record levels of coronavirus cases seen this week are "mild" compared with where they are expected to be next week, a top doctor has said.

Yesterday saw the UK record its largest daily jump in cases since the start of the pandemic, with 57,725 positive tests reported.

It was the fifth day in a row that the figure had topped 50,000 and brought the total number of positive tests in Britain to 2,599,789.

Speaking to the , Professor Andrew Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, said the current case count was "mild" compared with where it will likely be next week.

"There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact," he said.

"It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that."

JET SKI ROMEO FELT LIKE 'CRAPPY JAMES BOND' AS HE GOT LOST ON TERROR RIDE ACROSS IRISH SEA - BUT SAYS 'I DID IT FOR LOVE'

A jet ski Romeo caged for crossing the Irish Sea to meet his girlfriend on the Isle of Man says he felt like a "crappy James Bond" as he was battered by huge waves.

Roofer Dale McLaughlan, 28, made the treacherous 4.5-hour trip from Irvine, Scotland to the island earlier this month to see girlfriend Jessica Radcliffe.

The pair had met just weeks earlier - but smitten Dale forked out £5,500 for a jet ski so he could travel the 27 miles between them.

Dale told  he'd been "crazy" to undertake the whopping trip.

He said: “As soon as I hit open water I thought ‘Oh my God’. It was like getting a kick in the teeth. It was terrible. It wasn’t fun. I followed the GPS, but after half an hour a massive wave wiped it away. I didn’t have a clue where I was going.”

WHEN IS THE NEXT TIER 4 REVIEW

A review of the Tier 4 measure is expected to take place on January 13 - two weeks after the last review on December 30.

It's not guaranteed that the affected regions will exit Tier 4 on the review date.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock reviewed the tiered system on December 16 and changes were limited.

He also reviewed the system on December 23, placing large swathes of the South of England under the toughest restrictions from Boxing Day, December 26.

And the review on December 30 was even more far-reaching - putting the majority of the country into effective lockdown.

DOCTORS SAY WARDS ARE NOT FULL OF CHILDREN WITH COVID FOLLOWING 'IRRESPONSIBLE' CLAIMS MADE BY NURSE ON BBC RADIO

Doctors have said hospital wards are not full of children with coronavirus following "irresponsible" claims made by a nurse in a radio interview.

It comes amid concern over the spread of the new strain of coronavirus throughout the UK and the impact it is expected to have on the country's hospital wards in the coming weeks.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday, Laura Duffell, a paediatric matron at a London hospital, said: "It was minimally affecting children in the first wave.

"We have a whole ward of children here, and I know that some of my colleagues are in the same position, where they have whole wards of children with Covid."

But paediatrician Dr Ronny Cheung called out the claims as "simply not true" and "irresponsible in the extreme".

NHS WORKERS WARN OF COVID MENTAL HEALTH TIMEBOMB WITH 'PROFOUND FALLOUT'

Exhausted frontline NHS workers have warned of a mental heath timebomb.

Battling Covid is putting them under massive strain — with one paramedic grimly predicting: “The fallout will be profound.”

Will Broughton, 29, said he and colleagues are crammed into the back of ambulances for hours on end with infected patients gasping for breath.

Hospitals are buckling under the pressure of the new strain, with critically low space to treat victims.

And experts said it was “like watching a car crash in slow motion” — while warning of an even bigger wave of cases next week.

COVIDIOT ANTI-VAXXERS WHO LEFT NHS WORKERS IN TEARS BRANDED 'IRRATIONAL AND DANGEROUS'

A baying mob of anti-vaccine demonstrators who harangued NHS heroes were today branded “irrational and dangerous”.

Furious MPs called for police to step in after a former health minister claimed the crowd’s behaviour was bordering on criminal activity.

About 60 protesters hurled abuse at staff as they left a busy hospital after long and exhausting shifts treating coronavirus patients.

Some medics were close to tears after being jostled and intimidated in the street by a noisy rabble, none of whom was wearing a mask.

Health secretary Matt Hancock was livid when told of the shameful incident by The Sun on Sunday.

SCHOOL CLOSURES PUT US AT RISK OF CREATING 'LOST' GENERATION OF CHILDREN, SAYS DAVID BLUNKETT

Writing for The Sun, former Labour Education Secretary David Blunkett warns that school closures put Britain at risk of creating a 'lost' generation of children.

He writes: "School plays a vital role in every child’s life. That’s why the huge disruption to lessons over the past nine months is so worrying.

"Millions of children have seen their life chances take a blow from which it will be hard to recover. And without urgent action to open schools — and keep them open — there is a serious risk of creating a lost generation.

"There is now a real danger the crisis will undo enormous progress made in boosting school standards over the past 25 years.

"If we don’t act swiftly and get children back to school we will regret this for generations to come."

PAUL SCHOLES FACES NEIGHBOURS' FURY AS KIDS FLOUT COVID RULES WITH NEW YEAR'S PARTY

Paul Scholes’ neighbours complained after his grown-up kids threw a new year’s fancy dress party with a gang of pals — breaching coronavirus rules.

The Man United legend’s daughter Alicia, 19, put pics on social media.

Dressed as an angel, she posed with eight pals at Paul’s mansion in Tier 4 Oldham.

Her brother Arron, 21, was also pictured alongside half a dozen pals.

Paul was not in any of the snaps - his agent did not respond to a request for comment.

OXFORD VACCINE TEAM BACK SUN'S CAMPAIGN TO HELP JAB ROLL OUT

The Oxford University team that helped develop the new Covid vaccine has backed our appeal for 50,000 volunteers to help roll out the jab.

They were joined by stars such as Harry Redknapp, Penny Lancaster, Shane Richie and AJ Pritchard, who called on readers to join the nationwide “Jabs Army”.

The Sun has joined the NHS and the Royal Voluntary Service to find volunteer stewards to assist in the campaign to make sure 15million people get a vaccine by March.

So far, 5,871 of you have pledged to join the effort — but more of you are needed.

Sign up .

MAN CITY STAR BENJAMIN MENDY BROKE COVID RULES BY HOSTING NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

Man City ace Benjamin Mendy hosted a party at his home on New Year’s Eve — just as several teammates were struck down with Covid.

The star admitted he may have breached rules as pals outside his household attended the bash, which came three days after Covid cases at his club forced their game against Everton to be called off.

Covidiot Mendy went ahead with a rule-breaking New Year’s Eve party despite the virus threatening to curtail the Premier League season.

The Man City defender’s bash — three days after his side’s clash with Everton was postponed due to the bug — was attended by at least three people outside his household.

MPS SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO MUM-OF-TWO JO STEVENS AFTER COVID HOSPITALISATION

MPs have taken to Twitter to send messages of support to Jo Stevens MP after the mum of two was hospitalised with Covid.

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer took to the social media site to send his regards.

He said: "Get well soon Jo, a dear friend and colleague."

And Labour MP and shadow foreign office minister Wayne David tweeted: "Thinking of you Jo. Get better soon."

Tory minister Conservative minister Nadhim Zahawi has also taken to social media wish Ms Stevens well.

LABOUR SHADOW CULTURE SECRETARY JO STEVENS, 54, ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH COVID

Labour MP Jo Stevens has been rushed to hospital suffering with coronavirus.

The shadow culture secretary, 54, is being treated by medics after falling ill, aides have announced.

A tweet posted on the politician's account tonight reads: "From #TeamJoStevens - Jo has asked us to let you know that she is being treated in hospital for Covid.

"Thanks for all your good wishes. We will give an update when we can."

CHRISTMAS WILL HAVE A 'BIG IMPACT' ON COVID CASES, WARNS TOP DOCTOR

Speaking to the BBC, Professor Andrew Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, said the current case count was "mild" compared with where it will likely be next week.

"There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact," he said.

"The new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible.

"So I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in south Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country.

"It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that."