Coronavirus news UK – Indian variant cases double as jabs ‘work against’ it and lockdown set to be lifted next week
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ENGLAND is still on course to lift the last of the lockdown restrictions despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM is still expected to allow Brits to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time.
Pubs and restaurants can finally reopen indoors, while family and friends will be able to hug for the first time in more than a year.
Meanwhile, Covid vaccines appear to work against the Indian variant - after jabbed care home workers in Delhi got infected but none died.
In promising reports from India, 33 people who had been given the AstraZeneca jab caught Covid but didn't become seriously ill or die from the virus.
It is unclear how the Indian variant reacts to vaccines, but this suggests the mutated virus won't cause high numbers of hospitalisation or death in protected people.
Pfizer thinks its vaccine will also work against the variant - but there is no real-world evidence on any large studies for any vaccines yet.
Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates...
VACCINES TO BE OFFERED TO ALL ADULTS IN BLACKBURN FOLLOWING RISE IN CASES
All adults are to be offered the coronavirus vaccine in Blackburn with Darwen amid rising cases of the Indian variant.
The Lancashire authority has the third highest rate of coronavirus cases in England, with 149 new cases in the seven days up to May 8.
The council and NHS partners have secured extra doses of the Covid-19 vaccine which will be made available to anyone in Blackburn with Darwen aged over 18 from next week, a spokeswoman for the authority said.
The rise in cases has been attributed to the Indian variant, which has also been detected in Bolton and Sefton in the North West, as well as in London.
A programme of additional testing and enhanced contact tracing is also being prepared for the area.
BRITS COULD BE TURNED AWAY FROM PORTUGAL DUE TO EU RULES
Thousands of British tourists hoping to head to Portugal next week could be turned away at the border due to EU rules banning non-member states.
Under current EU restrictions, only people from seven countries, including Australia and Singapore, are allowed to enter the bloc for non-essential reasons - this does not currently include the UK.
The UK's green list, which includes Portugal, doesn't require Brits to quarantine when returning to the UK.
Following the announcement, holiday bookings soared by as much as 600 per cent, with easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 adding hundreds of thousands of seats due to demand.
However, despite Portugal also saying they are ready to welcome Brits back this month, EU rules could mean the country is forced to turn away holidaymakers.
According to it will be difficult to reverse the EU ban on non-member states currently recommended, as Lisbon holds the EU presidency.
COVID CASES SOAR, BUT CASES ARE MILD
New daily Covid cases have risen by 65 per cent in one week, data suggests.
But experts say the good news is vaccines are making cases milder, as those infected who have had a jab reported fewer symptoms.
They also claim the rise in cases is not a reason to worry because it is expected as lockdown eases.
The ZOE Covid symptom study app has been tracking the coronavirus outbreak for a year using data from millions of mobile app users.
It says an estimated 2,782 people are getting ill with Covid symptoms every day.
The figure – which does not include asymptomatic cases – is a rise from 1,685 a week ago.
TESTING TIMES
Surge testing has been deployed in 15 spots across the country as cases of the Indian variant double in a week.
More than 800,000 PCR kits have been distributed after more than 4,000 cases have been detected.
Over 200 existing test sites and 130 schools have distributed test kits, with Mobile Testing Units deployed to provide PCR testing for people without symptoms.
The Surge Rapid Response Team in Bolton will include 100 nurses, public health advisers and environmental health officers, and will provide support to the local authority through door to door testing and encouraging residents to take a PCR test.
PHE said there is currently “insufficient evidence” to indicate that any of the Indian variants cause more severe disease.
NO NEED TO PANIC!
The country is on course to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time — despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM said he still expected to tear up lockdown restrictions on Monday and on June 21.
Upbeat health chiefs also cautioned against panic as they said there was no evidence vaccines did not work against the strain.
WHAT IS THE NEW GUIDANCE FOR WEDDINGS?
New government guidance on weddings has been published ahead of Monday's easing of lockdown rules.
Current rules allow weddings and civil partnerships to take place with up to 15 people, but from May 17 the guidance in place since the Covid pandemic will change again.
Under Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, the number of guests allowed at wedding ceremonies will double from 15 to 30 on Monday.
From May 17, up to 30 people will be allowed to attend weddings and civil partnership ceremonies or receptions.
Venues holding the events must be Covid-secure.
LAST ORDERS
A virus far more deadly than Covid-19 could spark a devastating pandemic which would "kill off"; pubs for good, a scientist warns.
The shocking claim refers to the threat of unknown bugs that can transmit to humans which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed Disease X.
Professor Lidia Morawska, of Queensland University of Technology, said governments around the world need to learn the lessons from the coronavirus pandemic and install better ventilation in public buildings.
Last year, neatly 10,000 licensed premises, including pubs and restaurants, were killed off during the lockdown which crippled the hospitality sector.
Prof Morawska said British pub goers should pressure the government to introduce new laws to keep us safe in public spaces - a move she claims would save the NHS "billions".
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES?
The second stage of the lockdown roadmap kicked off on 12 April 2021.
Pubs and restaurants are now able to open for outdoor dining - but social distancing rules still apply.
Hairdressers and barbers are also allowed to open, as well as zoos.
Stage three is set to go ahead on May 17 - which should see nightclubs and music venues open.
WHEN WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING END?
Mask wearing and Social distancing will end on June 21 in another huge lift for fed-up Brits.
Matt Hancock claimed last month that England is on course to end all social distancing measures in mid-June.
The Health Secretary was asked whether the vaccine rate combined with falling hospitalisation and death offers offer 'real hope' that it could happen.
He simply replied: "Yes."
In February, Boris Johnson unveiled his lockdown roadmap as he outlined his plans to ease restrictions.
He said: "Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews."
WHEN WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING END?
Mask wearing and Social distancing will end on June 21 in another huge lift for fed-up Brits.
Matt Hancock claimed last month that England is on course to end all social distancing measures in mid-June.
The Health Secretary was asked whether the vaccine rate combined with falling hospitalisation and death offers offer ‘real hope’ that it could happen.
He simply replied: “Yes.”
In February, Boris Johnson unveiled his lockdown roadmap as he outlined his plans to ease restrictions.
He said: “Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews.”
TESTING TIMES
Surge testing has been deployed in 15 spots across the country as cases of the Indian variant double in a week.
More than 800,000 PCR kits have been distributed after more than 4,000 cases have been detected.
Over 200 existing test sites and 130 schools have distributed test kits, with Mobile Testing Units deployed to provide PCR testing for people without symptoms.
The Surge Rapid Response Team in Bolton will include 100 nurses, public health advisers and environmental health officers, and will provide support to the local authority through door to door testing and encouraging residents to take a PCR test.
PHE said there is currently "insufficient evidence" to indicate that any of the Indian variants cause more severe disease.
NO NEED TO PANIC!
The country is on course to reclaim its long-awaited freedoms on time — despite cases of the Indian variant more than doubling in a week.
Boris Johnson admitted he was anxious at the surge in the number of people struck down by the super-infectious strain.
But the PM said he still expected to tear up lockdown restrictions on Monday and on June 21.
Upbeat health chiefs also cautioned against panic as they said there was no evidence vaccines did not work against the strain.
WEDDED BLISS
New government guidance on weddings has been published ahead of Monday's easing of lockdown rules.
Current rules allow weddings and civil partnerships to take place with up to 15 people, but from May 17 the guidance in place since the Covid pandemic will change again.
Under Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, the number of guests allowed at wedding ceremonies will double from 15 to 30 on Monday.
From May 17, up to 30 people will be allowed to attend weddings and civil partnership ceremonies or receptions.
Venues holding the events must be Covid-secure.
LAST ORDERS
A virus far more deadly than Covid-19 could spark a devastating pandemic which would "kill off" pubs for good, a scientist warns.
The shocking claim refers to the threat of unknown bugs that can transmit to humans which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed Disease X.
Professor Lidia Morawska, of Queensland University of Technology, said governments around the world need to learn the lessons from the coronavirus pandemic and install better ventilation in public buildings.
Last year, neatly 10,000 licensed premises, including pubs and restaurants, were killed off during the lockdown which crippled the hospitality sector.
Prof Morawska said British pub goers should pressure the government to introduce new laws to keep us safe in public spaces - a move she claims would save the NHS "billions".
FRENCH COVID-19 CASES SLOW FURTHER
French health authorities reported 19,461 new confirmed COVID-19 infections on Thursday, representing a weekly rise of less than 2% for the first time in almost a year.
The total number of hospitalisations for the disease fell by 598, decreasing for the 10th day in a row to 23,656, the lowest since October 31.
The country reported 131 new deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday for an overall toll of 107,205, the eighth highest in the world.
The gliding seven-day average of new deaths fell further to 200, the lowest since Oct 26, from a 2021 high of 450 in early February.
After exiting its third lockdown at the start of the month, France is hoping to lift its last anti-COVID-19 measures at the start of July.
WHEN WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING END?
Mask wearing and Social distancing will end on June 21 in another huge lift for fed-up Brits.
Matt Hancock claimed last month that England is on course to end all social distancing measures in mid-June.
The Health Secretary was asked whether the vaccine rate combined with falling hospitalisation and death offers offer 'real hope' that it could happen.
He simply replied: "Yes."
In February, Boris Johnson unveiled his lockdown roadmap as he outlined his plans to ease restrictions.
He said: "Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews."
WE NEED TO STOP PANICKING ABOUT EVERY NEW CORONAVIRUS VARIANT, SAYS SCIENTIST
]People need to stop panicking every time a new coronavirus variant is reported, a leading scientist has said, as Boris Johnson revealed he was "anxious" about the rise of the Indian variant in the UK.
B16172, which was first identified in India, was last week designated as a "variant of concern" by experts from Public Health England (PHE) after small clusters of cases were detected across the country.
Professor Robert Dingwall, who is a member of Nervtag (New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group) - an expert committee which advises the Government on the threat posed by new respiratory viruses - said that while B16172 may be capable of becoming the dominant variant in the UK, the risk of a surge in deaths or hospital admissions remains low.
He told the PA news agency: "B16172 seems to be slightly more transmissible and capable of outcompeting the B117 (UK variant) or B1351 (South African variant) to become the dominant variant in the UK.
"The consequence of this would be a greater number of mild illnesses with little risk of a surge in hospitalisations or deaths. This variant seems to be better managed by the vaccines than the South African variant so that vaccinated people have only a very low risk of infection that is likely to be mild."
BREAKING: UK RECORDS 11 NEW COVID DEATHS AND 2,657 FURTHER CASES
The Government said a further 11 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 127,651.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have been 152,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government also said that, as of 9am on Thursday, there had been a further 2,657 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.
It brings the total to 4,444,631.
VACCINES TO BE OFFERED TO ALL ADULTS IN BLACKBURN FOLLOWING RISE IN CASES
All adults are to be offered the coronavirus vaccine in Blackburn with Darwen amid rising cases of the Indian variant.
The Lancashire authority has the third highest rate of coronavirus cases in England, with 149 new cases in the seven days up to May 8.
The council and NHS partners have secured extra doses of the Covid-19 vaccine which will be made available to anyone in Blackburn with Darwen aged over 18 from next week, a spokeswoman for the authority said.
The rise in cases has been attributed to the Indian variant, which has also been detected in Bolton and Sefton in the North West, as well as in London.
A programme of additional testing and enhanced contact tracing is also being prepared for the area.
PRIME MINISTER REFUSES TO RULE OUT LOCAL LOCKDOWNS
Asked if local lockdowns were possible, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “There are a range of things we could do, we want to make sure we grip it.
“Obviously there’s surge testing, there’s surge tracing.”
He added: “If we have to do other things, then of course the public would want us to rule nothing out. We have always been clear we would be led by the data.
“At the moment, I can see nothing that dissuades me from thinking we will be able to go ahead on Monday and indeed on June 21, everywhere, but there may be things we have to do locally and we will not hesitate to do them if that is the advice we get.”
DR HILARY JONES IS WORRIED BY THE TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE NEW INDIAN COVID-19 VARIANT
Dr Hilary Jones is worried by the transmissibility of the new Indian Covid-19 variant and warns about the possibility of local lockdowns
COVID CASES SOAR, BUT CASES ARE MILD
New daily Covid cases have risen by 65 per cent in one week, data suggests.
But experts say the good news is vaccines are making cases milder, as those infected who have had a jab reported fewer symptoms.
They also claim the rise in cases is not a reason to worry because it is expected as lockdown eases.
The ZOE Covid symptom study app has been tracking the coronavirus outbreak for a year using data from millions of mobile app users.
It says an estimated 2,782 people are getting ill with Covid symptoms every day. The figure – which does not include asymptomatic cases – is a rise from 1,685 a week ago.
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN THE UK
WHAT IS YOUR RISK OF CATCHING COVID-19?
Prof Tim Spector said your risk of catching Covid right now is the following:
- Unvaccinated: One in 16,000
- One vaccine: One in 32,000
- Fully vaccinated: One in 46,000
BORIS JOHNSON HINTS ROADMAP COULD BE DELAYED SAYING HE’S ‘RULING NOTHING OUT’
S Johnson has said he “rules nothing out” to combat the spread of the highly infectious Indian Covid variant.
The PM admitted ministers were “very anxious” about the concerning strain – but hoped it would not derail the roadmap to lifting lockdown.
On a trip to Durham he said: “There is a range of things we could do, we are ruling nothing out.”
But he added: “At the moment, I can see nothing that dissuades me from thinking we will be able to go ahead on Monday and indeed on June 21, everywhere, but there may be things we have to do locally and we will not hesitate to do them if that is the advice we get.”
Surge testing in hotbeds where the variant is spreading will be deployed, the PM said.
