Coronavirus news UK – Indian variant cases double as jabs ‘work against’ it and lockdown set to be lifted next week

JAB'S A GOOD UN!

The Sun's brilliant Jabs Army won a top industry award tonight and has been praised by the head of the NHS for playing a “vital role” in bringing an end to the Covid crisis.

Our fantastic volunteers - part of the biggest civil mobilisation since the Second World War - have worked with the NHS to get a shot in the arm of nearly seven in ten UK adults.

So far, they have clocked up more than 60,000 shifts helping protect their fellow citizens from the pandemic.

More than 18.4 million people have now had both doses, with a total of 35.7 million adults having at least one shot.

MUTANT HUNT

People living in Worcestershire are being urged to take a Covid-19 test to catch cases of the South African variant.

NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing targeted in certain areas in Redditch, Worcestershire.

Multiple cases of the variant have been tracked down and their contacts have been identified.

People who live or work in the targeted areas have been strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

You can find out if your postcode is included on the Worcestershire council website.

WE'RE SO CLOSE

The head of the NHS has told The Sun “much brighter days” are now within reach thanks to the Covid vaccination blitz.

Sir Simon Stevens said there are just 142 coronavirus patients now in intensive care in England — 30 times fewer than in France and down from 3,700 three months ago.

The NHS supremo thanked our brilliant Jabs Army for helping to bring a “faster than expected” end to the crisis after clocking up more than 60,000 shifts.

And with social distancing and having to wear masks on the verge of being scrapped next month, Sir Simon said the darkest days of the pandemic are now behind us.

The Sun can also reveal millions of Brits will be given life-saving health checks this autumn alongside their Covid booster jabs.

JAB'S A GOOD UN!

The Sun's brilliant Jabs Army won a top industry award tonight and has been praised by the head of the NHS for playing a “vital role” in bringing an end to the Covid crisis.

Our fantastic volunteers - part of the biggest civil mobilisation since the Second World War - have worked with the NHS to get a shot in the arm of nearly seven in ten UK adults.

So far, they have clocked up more than 60,000 shifts helping protect their fellow citizens from the pandemic.

More than 18.4 million people have now had both doses, with a total of 35.7 million adults having at least one shot.

EXPERIENCE OF FAMILIES KEY TO EFFECTIVE COVID-19 INQUIRY, SAY BEREAVED

The involvement of bereaved families will be "absolutely key" to the success of the independent inquiry into the Government's handling of the pandemic, a campaigner has said.

Boris Johnson revealed on Wednesday that the inquiry would commence in spring next year and would put "the state's actions under a microscope".

Rivika Gottlieb, whose father Michael died in the first wave of the pandemic, has been among those calling for an inquiry since last year.

Speaking in front of the National Coronavirus Memorial in London, Ms Gottlieb told the PA news agency: "We've been campaigning since last May for a review.

"We wanted a rapid review last summer because we wanted lessons learned immediately ahead of a winter spike - that did not happen.

"I firmly believe that tens of thousands of lives could have been saved had those lessons been learned last summer. The idea of waiting yet another year for a public inquiry to even begin terrifies me, to be honest."

MUTANT HUNT

People living in Worcestershire are being urged to take a Covid-19 test to catch cases of the South African variant.

NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing targeted in certain areas in Redditch, Worcestershire.

Multiple cases of the variant have been tracked down and their contacts have been identified.

People who live or work in the targeted areas have been strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

You can find out if your postcode is included on the Worcestershire council website.

VIRAL LOAD

Covid-19 can linger in men's penises for six months after infection and can increase the risk of impotence, experts have warned.

The virus is known to attack the lungs as a result of blood vessels narrowing. This is known as endothelial dysfunction where the lining of the small blood vessels fails to perform all of its functions normally.

The tissues supplied by those vessels could undergo damage and experts in Miami have now claimed that this damage goes beyond the lungs.

Study author Ranjith Ramasamy, M.D., associate professor and director of the Miller School's Reproductive Urology Program said: "Our research shows that Covid-19 can cause widespread endothelial dysfunction in organ systems beyond the lungs and kidneys.

"The underlying endothelial dysfunction that happens because of Covid-19 can enter the endothelial cells and affect many organs, including the penis."

EASY DOES IT

Boris Johnson has warned potential new variants pose a “lethal danger” and could spark the worst Covid wave yet.

The Prime Minister urged caution as lockdown eases but added the data is looking positive - as the NHS reached a milestone of 45 million jabs.

He added the Indian strain is "something we are increasingly concerned about in the UK".

Cases of the variant are growing at a rapid rate, already making up an estimated quarter of new cases.

Mr Johnson stressed the need for caution and vigilance as lockdown is eased, with the next step on May 17.

MAPS REVEALS FOUR NEW HOTSPOTS WHERE INDIAN COVID CASES HAVE SOARED

This map reveals where the Indian Covid variant hotspots are.

Official data shows that in four regions, the strain is the most dominant circulating.

Called B.1.617.2, it is thought to be even more transmissible than the Kent strain, and could soon overthrow it.

Bolton is the UK’s current epicentre, where 47 positive Covid tests were caused by the Indian variant in the week to April 24.

It made up more than 55 per cent of all Covid cases in those seven days.

More on the story here.

JOHNSON: OUR INTENTION IS TO END WORKING FROM HOME GUIDANCE ON JUNE 21

Guidance to work from home will be lifted on June 21, Boris Johnson has indicated.

The Prime Minister said it was "certainly our intention" to take that step at the next stage of the Government's road map for England.

Encouraging people to work from home where they can has helped drive down the risk of passing on coronavirus, but shops and cafes in town and city centres which rely on office workers for trade have been hit by the change in working patterns.

Mr Johnson said the intention was to change the guidance "provided we stay on track" in efforts to tackle coronavirus.

BORIS JOHNSON CONFIRMS GOVERNMENT WILL SET UP INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO HANDLING OF CORONAVIRUS

Boris Johnson has confirmed the Government will set up an independent public inquiry with statutory powers into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the Commons: “This inquiry must be able to look at the events of the last year in the cold light of day and identify the key issues that will make a difference for the future.

“Free to scrutinise every document to hear from all the key players and analyse and learn from the breadth of our response.

“That’s the right way, I think, to get the answers that the people of this country deserve and to ensure that our United Kingdom is better prepared for any future pandemic.”

GRAPHIC: PROPORTION OF UK COVID CASES CAUSED BY THE INDIAN VARIANT

BORIS JOHNSON WARNS NEW COVID VARIANTS POSE ‘LETHAL DANGER’

BORIS Johnson has warned new variants post a “lethal danger” and could spark the worst Covid wave yet.

It includes the Indian strain which the PM said is "something we are increasingly concerned about in the UK".He said "the end of the lockdown is not the end of the pandemic".

"The World Health Organisation has said that the pandemic has now reached its global peak and will last throughout this year," Mr Johnson told the Commons today.

"Our own scientific advisers judge that although more positive data is coming in and the outlook is improving, there could still be another resurgence in hospitalisations and deaths.

"We also face the persistent threat of new variants and should these prove highly transmissible and elude the protection of our vaccines, they would have the potential to cause even greater suffering than we endured in January." 

SUNAK INSISTS HIS PLANS ARE WORKING AS UK FACES 'LONG AND DIFFICULT' RECOVERY

Rishi Sunak warned the UK faces a "long and difficult" recovery from Covid-19 but insisted it is "beyond doubt" the Government's economic plans are working.

The Chancellor told MPs that people losing their jobs is the thing which "weighs most heavily on me", adding he cannot guarantee there will not be more job losses in the coming months.

But Mr Sunak said figures suggest almost two million fewer people will lose their jobs than previously feared and his "plan for jobs" is aiding the recovery.

Speaking on day two of the Queen's Speech debate, Mr Sunak sought to strike an upbeat tone about the road ahead while recognising the setbacks faced by people and businesses.

He told MPs: "When the furlough scheme ends in September we will have helped to pay people's wages for a year and a half supporting at its peak the jobs of almost nine million people. We have protected the incomes of more than 2.7 million self-employed people, backed businesses to keep people in work with tens of billions of pounds of loans, grants and tax cuts and supported the most vulnerable through the crisis with a strengthened safety net, increased funding for local authorities and public services and help for the charity sector."

SERIOUS VIOLENCE FELL DURING LOCKDOWNS, RESEARCHERS SAY

Serious violence fell by almost a third in 2020 during coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, according to researchers.

Analysis from Cardiff University’s Violence Research Group shows 56,653 fewer people were treated in hospital for injuries related to violent acts in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Published on Wednesday, the data gathered from 133 NHS hospital emergency units in England and Wales showed 119,111 people were admitted for treatment of violence-related injuries last year, down from 175,764 in 2019.

Emergency treatment for the injuries among males and females fell by 33% and 29% respectively, representing the biggest falls since the researchers’ first report 20 years ago.

The declines were greatest among children aged under 11 (66%) and present in all age groups. Men aged 18-30 were twice as likely as females to receive emergency hospital treatment for violent injury.

30 CASES OF INDIAN VARIANT IN SCOTLAND (CONTINUED…)

Prof Leitch said: “They are in a few places, some of that is travel, most of it has been connected with inward travel and then of course spread within a group from that initial seeding, more troubles in the north of England, so they’ve got more and it’s spreading faster.

“We’re a little bit unsure about the nature of this individual variant, it’s at least as transmissible as the Kent variant, we hope it’s not worse, but we’re having to do lots of science to find out.

“That’s one of the big concerns, we’ve talked about that for months, a variant worse than Kent would set us back.”

EVICTION NOTICE PERIODS SLASHED FROM SIX MONTHS TO FOUR FROM JUNE PUTTING THOUSANDS OF RENTERS AT RISK

EVICTION notice periods will be slashed from six months to four from June, the government has announced.

The move will give Brits two months less notice to move, putting thousands of renters at risk.

Since August, landlords have had to give tenants six months notice before evicting them as part of an emergency measure to protect Brits during the pandemic.

But this will be cut to four from June 1.

The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions will be lifted from May 31.

GRAPHIC: UK COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS PER DAY

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY GEORGE EUSTICE SAYS GOVT CAN'T RULE OUT IMPOSING LOCAL RESTRICTIONS IN COVID HOTSPOTS

WORK FROM HOME ORDER SHOULD LIFT AFTER JUNE 21, BORIS JOHNSON SAYS

BRITAIN'S national work from home order should lift after June 21, Boris Johnson said today.

The PM has told everyone to continue to work from home if they can for the meantime, but has stressed we will be back in the office soon. He wants to lift all Covid rules after June 21, and the PM confirmed today it's his "intention" to rip up that rule too.

Speaking about the return of workers to offices around the country, he said: “I think it’ll come back remarkably quickly, but it does depend on keeping the virus down.”

Replying to a question from a Tory MP in the Commons, he said London and other cities "depend on people having the confidence on going to work”.

It will likely see millions of Brits return to their offices and come back to their desks after more than 14 months working from their living rooms and kitchen tables.

BORIS JOHNSON CONFIRMS GOVERNMENT WILL SET UP INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO HANDLING OF CORONAVIRUS

Boris Johnson has confirmed the Government will set up an independent public inquiry with statutory powers into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the Commons: "This inquiry must be able to look at the events of the last year in the cold light of day and identify the key issues that will make a difference for the future.

"Free to scrutinise every document to hear from all the key players and analyse and learn from the breadth of our response.

"That's the right way, I think, to get the answers that the people of this country deserve and to ensure that our United Kingdom is better prepared for any future pandemic."

TWO NEW COVID HOTSPOTS SEE CASES SURGE – CHECK RATES IN YOUR AREA

TWO Covid hotspots have emerged with a surge of new infections - this interactive map reveals if your area is one of them.

In the last seven days virus cases have risen by 12 per cent, data from Public Health England (PHE) revealed.

In the last 24 hours 2,427 new cases have been reported - with 15,895 infection in the last seven days.

Erewash in Derbyshire is currently the most infected area in the country, with 232 new cases in the seven days to May 7 - the equivalent of 201.1 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 21.7 in the seven days to April 30.

Bolton in Greater Manchester has the second highest rate, up from 74.4 to 152.0, with 437 new cases.

PEOPLE AGED 38 - 39 INVITED TO BOOK COVID VACCINES FROM THURSDAY MORNING

People aged 38 and 39 will be able to book their Covid vaccinations from Thursday morning in England, NHS sources have told the PA news agency.

In light of last week’s updated advice from the JCVI, 38-39s who book via the National Booking Service (NBS) will "automatically be directed to available appointments at vaccination centres and community pharmacy sites with supplies of either Pfizer or Moderna", the bulletin aimed at NHS ‘digital leaders’ added.

BAR CUSTOMERS URGED TO TAKE A TEST AFTER INDIAN VARIANT DETECTED

Customers of a popular Tyneside bar have been asked to take a Covid-19 test after a case of the Indian variant was linked to the premises.

Anyone who visited Allard's Lounge in Tynemouth between April 23 and May 3 has been urged to book a PCR test.

Public Health England and North Tyneside Council said "one of the cases in an outbreak linked to the premises has been identified as having the Indian variant".

North Tyneside director of public health Wendy Burke reassured people that coronavirus levels remained the lowest they have been since September.

She said: "We want to ensure we keep it that way and especially as we move to the next stage of the road map, with restrictions set to ease again on 17 May and allow for indoor mixing. This additional testing is really important to help to control the virus, reduce transmission and help North Tyneside return to normal. We continue to work very with Public Health England to monitor outbreaks, especially as variant cases begin to circulate across the country."

SERIOUS VIOLENCE FELL DURING LOCKDOWNS, RESEARCHERS SAY

Serious violence fell by almost a third in 2020 during coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, according to researchers.

Analysis from Cardiff University's Violence Research Group shows 56,653 fewer people were treated in hospital for injuries related to violent acts in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Published on Wednesday, the data gathered from 133 NHS hospital emergency units in England and Wales showed 119,111 people were admitted for treatment of violence-related injuries last year, down from 175,764 in 2019.

Emergency treatment for the injuries among males and females fell by 33% and 29% respectively, representing the biggest falls since the researchers' first report 20 years ago.

The declines were greatest among children aged under 11 (66%) and present in all age groups. Men aged 18-30 were twice as likely as females to receive emergency hospital treatment for violent injury.